Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

[Image of Hope's Peak]

[OST: Beautiful Days]

Hope's Peak Academy. Home to the world's best and brightest.

If you have a talent of any description, they won't just foster it, they'll set up your perfect career path for you, and give you the ultimate recommendation.

To be invited to Hope's Peak is to be set up for the rest of your life.

Or at least, it used to be.

But after Junko Enoshima's 'School Life of Mutual Killing'...

The school was closed down.

Just recently, however, it reopened, with the hopes that it will continue to foster the talents of students from across the country.

The school's been open for five years now, and among the invitations they sent out for the sixth class of students...

One made its way to my letterbox.

I'm so happy to have gotten in...

...But at the same time, I'm not quite sure why.

My name is Hanako Minami. I'm not especially gifted at anything...

I don't have superpowers or anything like that...

If anything, I'm a lot more sarcastic than most other people.

...But sarcasm isn't a talent.

When I heard I'd been invited to Hope's Peak, at first I thought it was some kind of sick prank.

I waited for my brother to jump out from behind the door to my room and say, "Gotcha!"

But he didn't. It was real.

[Image of Hope's Peak]

So the question is...

Why would a normal, boring girl like me get enrolled in such a prestigious school as Hope's Peak?

I did as much research as I could on the Hope's Peak internet forums, but there wasn't a scrap of information that could help me.

All the other students were listed there... but not me.

I even tracked down some graduates to see if they could help, but they all drew a blank.

Of course, I had no choice but to go. I needed to find out just what the hell was going on.

[OST: None]

But when I took that first step past the school gates...

[Image of Hope's Peak becomes distorted and warped]

I suddenly felt my whole body go numb.

What... is... goin... o...

Hell... o?

Hell...

...

[Fade to black]

[Fade in to Minami lying on a pristine white bed, just starting to wake up]

Minami: Ugh. My head... Damn, I need to find some medi...

Wait a sec... Where am I?

[We see a white room with a cabinet hanging over a desk. There are various bottles lined up along the back of the desk. There is a loudspeaker and a security camera hanging from the ceiling. There is no window to the room, just a large steel plate.]

Looks like a nurse's office. At least, that's what it seems, anyway. Aside from the steel plate.

I guess someone brought me here after I fainted.

Talk about setting a bad impression right from the get-go, huh?

Doesn't look like there's a nurse anywhere...

I'll just get an aspirin for my headache myself.

Then I guess I should go find the principal's office.

[OST: Welcome to Despair Academy]

[Examine Cabinet]

Damn, it's locked. You probably need the nurse's permission to get any medication.

I hate those types of rules.

[Examine Bottles]

None of these are what I'm looking for.

Hold on... this one is labelled cyanide! And this one arsenic!

What the hell kind of nurse's office is this, anyway?

[Examine Loudspeaker]

I suppose this is how they make announcements to the school.

...Not much else interesting about it. It's just a loudspeaker.

There's probably more like it throughout the rest of the building.

[Examine Camera]

OK, this is kinda creepy.

Why would they need to watch the students in the nurse's office?

Then again, what with the poison there, maybe they NEED the security.

...Great, I just scared myself more.

[Examine Steel Plate]

What the hell? Why is there a big steel plate bolted to the wall here?

It's not like it's there to block out light. If that were the case, there'd probably just be a curtain there.

Then again, who really knows with this crazy school...

[Examine Door]

Well, I can't spend my first day at Hope's Peak hanging around the nurse's office.

With any luck, I'll find the principal's office quickly, and we can pretend this whole thing never happened.

[OST: None]

But just as I was about to leave...

A boy in a leather jacket and backwards baseball cap came barging in.

Backwards Cap Boy: [Smiling] Oh, good! You're finally awake!

Minami: AAAAAH!

Geez... You scared the crap out of me!

Backwards Cap Boy: [Apologetic] Sorry, sorry! It's just that we found you here before, and I wanted to make sure you were OK!

[OST: Beautiful Days]

Backwards Cap Boy: [Nervous] How about we start with a proper introduction?

[Smiling] My name's Hideki Fujihara. Nice to meet you.

Minami: Hanako Minami... Wait, you're THE Hideki Fujihara!?

Hideki Fujihara... The wizard of the cinema world.

[Image of Fujihara, smiling, receiving an award]

He could direct any genre, from comedy to horror, in any style, and it would turn out to be a masterpiece.

Most film critics said he was right up there with Kurosawa and Kubrick. A few believed he'd already surpassed them.

He'd even gotten an Oscar for his talents...

[Back to Medical Room]

Fujihara: [Laughing] Guilty as charged! I'll be honest, I was worried hearing that all the time would get boring.

Thanks for proving me wrong, I guess!

Wow, he's got a bit of an ego...

Then again, if I was the world's best at anything, I'd be a little proud, too.

Minami: So, um...

Fujihara: Wait! I wanna get this on tape!

[Pulling out a handheld camcorder] Aaaaand... Action!

Minami: Huh? Why are you filming me?

Fujihara: [Bashful] Um... Record it to memory, I guess?

[Putting camcorder away] I use this little baby for all my filming purposes.

[Smiling] I made it myself! It can do anything from action shots to black-and-white!

Minami: But it's handheld, right? What about steady shots, pans, those kind of things?

Fujihara: [Laughing] No need to worry! My hands are steadier than a rock dipped in cement!

What kind of metaphor is that!?

Fujihara: [Smiling] So, you've obviously heard about me, but what about you?

Minami: Me?

Fujihara: Of course! I don't want our friendship to start on the wrong foot, you know! I want to get to know you!

For starters, what's your Ultimate Talent?

Minami: Well... um...

In all honesty, I don't really know...

They didn't give me any information on the invitation.

Fujihara: [Concerned] Really? That's strange. But then again, this is a very strange situation we're in right now...

Minami: Situation?

Fujihara: [Surprised] Oh, of course! You don't know a thing, do you?

[Smiling] It's probably best if you go meet up with everyone else. There's... let me think... fourteen people here? Other than us, I mean.

They're kinda doing their own investigating, looking around the place, that sort of thing.

I can't really tell you much, to be honest...

But what I can tell you for sure is...

[OST: None]

Fujihara: [Serious] This definitely isn't Hope's Peak.

What?

Fujihara: [Smiling] Well, guess I'll leave you to it. See you around, Minami!

He just walked off...

I'd better take his advice.

"Isn't Hope's Peak"... I wonder what he meant by that...

[OST: Beautiful Morning]

[Examine Door]

[We see a hallway, with four grey doors staggered throughout, and another door at the end. The Medical Room Minami has just left is at the opposite end, and has a bright white door. The hallway looks like that you see in a fancy hotel. The hallway, the door at the other end, and the carpet, are all the same shade of bright neon green.]

Jeez, what a hideous shade of green...

There's a couple of people hanging around in this hallway. A nervous-looking blonde guy in a hoodie, biting his nails, and a black-haired girl in some really traditional clothing...

I guess I should try talking to them...

[Talk to Nervous Boy]

Nervous Boy: [Biting thumbnail] Damn it, this is weird... Where the hell are we? This isn't what it looked like on the invitation...

Minami: Hello?

Nervous Boy: [Shocked] AAH! Please don't hurt me!

Minami: Hurt you? I just want to say hello!

Nervous Boy: [Sighing] Ah... OK. Sorry, I'm just a little jumpy because of this whole situation, you know?

[Nervous smile] My name's, uh... Junpei Enoshima. But, um... please call me Junpei, alright?

Oh, OK...

So this is the guy who won the invitation lottery. I remember reading about it in the paper...

[Image of Junpei holding the winning ticket in a newspaper]

Every year, Hope's Peak picks one kid out of a lottery to be specially admitted to the academy.

I guess Junpei got lucky.

...You know, I never understood how they foster the talent of a lucky student...

I mean, you can't exactly teach someone how to be lucky, can you?

[Back to Hallway]

Minami: Wait, what did you say your last name was?

Junpei: [Shocked] Ah! Wait a minute! I know what you're thinking! But you're wrong! Wrong wrong wrong!

[Biting thumbnail] I know it sounds bad, for an Enoshima to be at Hope's Peak...

[Angry] B-but that was a different Enoshima family completely, OK!? There are tons of people named Enoshima in Japan, OK!?

Minami: OK, OK! I get it! I wasn't accusing you of anything!

Junpei: [Shocked] You weren't? Oh. Um...

[Nervous smile] ...Well, um, I'm gonna go now... So, um... See ya!

Wow. He tore off pretty quickly...

Still, he seems nice enough. If a bit jumpy, that is.

[Talk to Traditional Dress Girl]

Traditional Dress Girl: [Gentle smile] It is good to see you finally awake, classmate.

Man, she's wearing some seriously odd clothing...

Traditional Dress Girl: [Annoyed] There is nothing wrong with my outfit.

Minami: Gah!

What, can she read my thoughts or something?

Traditional Dress Girl: No, I cannot read your thoughts.

[Smiling] You are just very obvious.

...Damn, she's good.

Traditional Dress Girl: [Gentle smile] Ah, but I haven't introduced myself yet. Sorry.

My name is Shoko Hagino. I am the Ultimate Priestess.

Oh yeah, I think I read about her on the forums...

[Image of Hagino, concentrating deeply, at a ceremony]

She'd come from a family full of priests and priestesses.

I guess that helped out her spiritual energy, or something like that...

...because she's done private ceremonies for diplomats, celebrities, and they say even the Prime Minister himself.

To be honest, I'm not really that involved with religion or anything...

...but I still think that's really impressive.

[Back to Hallway]

Hagino: [Smiling] I'm glad you find my story impressive. But you have yet to actually tell me your own.

Minami: Oh! Well... um... My name's Hanako Minami, and I have no idea why I was invited to Hope's Peak.

Hagino: I'm pleased to meet you, Minami. Now, since you've only just woken up, I think it would be best if I just left you to your own devices for a while.

How could she tell I only just woke up?

Hagino: [Smiling] You have terrible bed hair.

...Part of me is getting annoyed by the whole "ESP" gimmick, and the other part wants to test its power...

Hagino: [Gentle smile] Well then, it's best if you go meet the others, Minami.

Minami: Oh! Sure. Right.

She seems nice, at least, but...

Does no one want to help me get my bearings?

I guess I should look for some more people, then...

[Examine Grey Door]

Damn, it's locked.

Maybe it'll open later once something important happens...

...

What am I saying? This isn't a video game!

[Examine Green Door]

[We see a large foyer, painted sparkling white. There is a central load-bearing pillar, and in front of it, a statue of a man posing dramatically. Aside from the green door Minami just left, there are red, yellow, and blue doors located at each of the corners of the room. The yellow door faces the green one, and the blue faces the red. The green and red doors are on one side of the room, and the blue and yellow on the other. Aside from these doors, there are two in the middle of each pair. In between the blue and yellow doors, there is a large white double door, and a black door in between the green and red doors. There is also an elevator at the back, behind the pillar.]

What an impressive-looking room. It's so dazzlingly white, my eyes hurt...

Let's see... There's a guy in a long-sleeved T-shirt looking at the statue in the middle, and a cheerful-looking girl in a tuxedo and fishnets...

This group just gets weirder and weirder.

Still, it can't hurt to introduce myself.

[Talk to Tuxedo Girl]

[OST: Beautiful Days]

Tuxedo Girl: [Excited] Hey, a new face! Yes! Thought I'd met everyone here already! This is sick!

Well, she's certainly... perky.

Tuxedo Girl: OK, OK, OK! You say your name first, then I'll go!

Minami: Well, I'm Hanako Minami, and I'm --

Tuxedo Girl: [Striking pose] Pleased to meet you, Minami! I'm Kaede Okazaki and I am SO HYPED!

Surprisingly enough, I think I heard of her before I read the Hope's Peak forums...

[Image of Okazaki, a huge smile on her face, dancing on stage]

She was in a documentary last year, speaking on behalf of dancers everywhere.

She's really outspoken against abuse, low pay, and other kinds of mistreatment against dancers.

After that interview, I guess something stuck with the public, because she became quite popular, especially with teenagers, for her energetic dancing.

Girls want to be her, and boys want to be her boyfriend.

[Back to Foyer]

I wasn't expecting her to be quite so chirpy, though.

Okazaki: [Smiling] So, enough about me. What about you? Like, what's your talent, and things like that?

Minami: Well, actually, I'm not quite sure...

They didn't say in the invitation.

Okazaki: Yeah, well, who cares about that stuff anyway?

[Striking pose] It's the person that's important, not the talent!

If that's the case, why'd you ask to begin with?

Okazaki: So, have you met everyone else yet?

Minami: Ah, no, actually, not yet.

Okazaki: So what are you waiting for? Go do that!

[Blowing kiss] I'll be waiting right here, cutie!

...I don't know how to respond to that.

Maybe I should just go talk to someone else.

[Talk to Statue Boy]

Statue Boy: [Contemplative] It's an impressive way to display a sculpture, isn't it?

The way the veined marble perfectly complements the dazzling pillar behind it...

[Passionately pointing] I'd give it an A plus for presentation!

...It's just a statue. I don't see the big deal...

Statue Boy: I should probably let you know who I am, yeah?

[Smiling] Sumio Urayama, at your service.

Urayama, huh? Yeah, I think the forums had something to say about him...

[Image of Urayama next to a statue of himself]

He's a sculptor on a meteoric rise.

He's been featured in exhibitions around the world for his intricate and elaborate sculptures.

Wax, marble, steel...

If you can carve a shape into it, Urayama has, and he's won at least three awards for it.

He's definitely a great artist...

...though I haven't seen a single one of his works in person.

[Back to Foyer]

Urayama: [Hand on chin] So, what do you think of the statue? It supposedly depicts Hope's Peak Academy's original founder.

If I made it, I think I would be more symbolic than simply representing the client...

...but that's just me. What about you?

Minami: I didn't really think too much about it. It's just nice to look at.

Urayama: [Dismissive] Hmm. If you say so.

Minami: ...

Urayama: [Shocked] Wait! I forgot to ask your name!

Finally.

Minami: Hanako Minami. Nice to meet you.

Urayama: [Smiling] Likewise. Sorry I didn't ask before.

[Contemplative] It's just that my mind is singularly focused on this sculpture at the moment.

Sorry for asking, but do you mind leaving now? I need to see how the light lands on the chest area, and you're casting a shadow.

Minami: ...Sure. OK. Bye.

How rude!

But at the same time, I suppose a one-track mind is important for an artist...

What should I do now?

[Examine Statue]

"Dedicated to Jin Kirigiri, Hope's Peak Academy's original founder."

You know, he did kind of make a lot of mistakes...

Like letting Ultimate Despair breed in his school, that was a pretty big mistake.

And yet this statue still commands some sort of authority.

Maybe it's the pose...

[Examine Elevator]

Huh? For some reason, this elevator doesn't have any buttons to go up or down.

For that matter, there isn't even a floor indicator.

What kind of weird elevator is this, anyway?

[Examine Black Double Door]

Damn it, locked. I don't know what I was expecting, to be honest...

This door just leapt out at me for some reason.

There's another one on the other side of the foyer. Maybe I should give that one a check.

[Examine White Double Door]

[We see a large cafeteria. Tables are arranged somewhat randomly throughout the room, with a counter against the back wall. Along the counter are various food and drink products. Behind this, there is a door on the left painted with red and orange strokes, so as to resemble a fire. The door opposite it on the right is a gunmetal grey.]

This cafeteria's huge! And there's some more students here.

Hmm... A muscular guy in a tank top flexing his muscles, a bored-looking skinny guy in jeans and a T-shirt, and a girl with cropped red hair and a sleeveless jacket...

Great to see everyone's normal here.

OK, Minami, you can't just stand here and be sarcastic to yourself all day. You have to talk to people!

[Talk to Bored Boy]

[OST: Beautiful Ruin]

Bored Boy: Hey, how's it going? You must be the girl who was sleeping in the medical bay.

Minami: Yeah, actually. That's right. My name's Hanako Minami.

Bored Boy: [Shrugging] Nice to meet you, I guess. I'm Satoshi Chiba. If you want to know what my talent is...

[Smiling half-heartedly] I'm the Ultimate Clown.

Wow. Talk about a complete contrast between personality and hobby.

Satoshi Chiba... That's right, he did a couple of comedy shows a while back...

[Image of Chiba in full makeup, performing]

He went through his entire clowning repertoire, from juggling to acrobatics to throwing cream pies.

On top of that, he explained the development of the clown throughout history.

Not only was it an interesting documentary, but he genuinely was really funny...

[Back to Cafeteria]

Which is why I'm struggling to figure out how this apathetic guy in front of me is the same person.

Chiba: [Exasperated] Hey, what's with the evil eye? Trying to stare me down or something?

Minami: No! Not at all! It's just... um, how do I say this...

Chiba: [Smiling coyly] I'm not very funny, right?

Minami: Eep!

Chiba: It's fine. I get that a lot.

[Shrugging] Truth is, I'm terrible without a script to perform with. I have to put a lot of effort into my act.

Anyway, if you need me, I'm not going anywhere, so...

[Smiling] See you around, yeah?

Minami: Sure.

In a way, his deadpan nature is almost funny. Almost.

So... Who's next?

[Talk to Muscular Boy]

Muscular Boy: [Shouting] Pleased to meet you, fellow classmate!

Minami: Yikes! Could you control your volume a bit?

Muscular Boy: [Shouting] I'm afraid that's not possible! I'm too busy overflowing with MANLY, POWERFUL ENERGY!

Minami: Goddamn it, you're hurting my ears...

Muscular Boy: Let's introduce ourselves! I am Daisuke Akutagawa! It is my job to eliminate your self-doubt, and PUSH YOU TO THE MAX!

Well, that certainly explains the volume, at least...

[Image of Akutagawa passionately instructing a class in rowing]

I remember hearing about Akutagawa on the forums...

Apparently, he is the best motivator on the planet.

His training can whip anybody into shape, regardless of their original physical state.

He's even mentored some of the best sportspeople in the world...

All based on his ability to fill you with energy.

[Back to Cafeteria]

Akutagawa: [Shouting] Your turn! Tell me your name, now!

Minami: Hanako Minami!

Akutagawa: [Pointing] And your Ultimate Talent, now!

Minami: I don't know!

What the hell? A few words from him and I just blurted out everything...

Akutagawa: [Surprised] Huh? You don't know? That's interesting. But more importantly...

[Shouting] Do you now see the power of my instructing?

Minami: Yes I do!

Akutagawa: [Pointing] You may leave now, classmate Minami! And thanks for the chance to exercise my voice!

Minami: You're welcome!

...My voice hurts after talking to him. How loud was I speaking?

He's definitely very commanding...

Let's see... Who should I talk to next?

[Talk to Cropped Hair Girl]

Cropped Hair Girl: [Smiling] 'Sup, girl?

Minami: ...Um, hi?

Cropped Hair Girl: [Smirking] Yo, why ya bein' so shy? What, am I scarin' ya or somethin'?

Minami: N-no, I'm just...

Cropped Hair Girl: [Laughing] Why don't we start again with the intros? So, nice ta meet ya! I'm Rie Tamura, the Ultimate Field Athlete, OK?

She didn't really need to say her talent, to be honest.

There's probably not a person in Japan who doesn't know Rie Tamura.

[Image of Tamura, drenched in sweat, throwing a discus]

The first student in the country to be banned from athletic carnivals for being too good.

Shotput, javelin, discus, hammer toss...

She'd won every event in all of them.

She was already in the runnings to go to the Olympics as soon as she was old enough...

She's an idol to kids all over.

[Back to Cafeteria]

Tamura: [Scratching ear] So, whaddabout you, huh? Who're you supposed ta be?

Minami: I'm Hanako Minami. I don't know what my Ultimate Talent is.

Tamura: [Laughing] Ah, it doesn't matter! As long as I know your name, 'at's fine by me!

She doesn't seem very bright, but she's friendly, at least...

Tamura: [Smiling] Anyway, see ya round, Minami!

Minami: Yeah, see you later.

No one else hanging around here.

[Examine Gunmetal Door]

...

OK, this is beyond a joke.

Is every door in the whole damn building locked!?

[Examine Fire Door]

[We see a kitchen, stocked to the brim with utensils of all kinds. Knives hang from the walls, pots and pans from the ceiling. Cutlery is lined up along the counter. The whole room is a dedication to food.]

Just being here is reminding me of my brother's cooking...

There's someone else here. A girl slouching against the wall, wearing overalls.

Nothing better to do, I guess...

[Talk to Slouching Girl]

Minami: Um... How are you?

Slouching Girl: [Frowning] What in tarnation do y'all think you're doing?

Minami: Huh?

Slouching Girl: [Angry] Y'all don't jus' walk up to someone and start askin' questions! S'all about the introduction!

[Annoyed] So, seein' as you're too in-competent to organise your conversations proper... I'll start.

Name's Yuina Degawa. Nice to meetcha, and all that that entails...

Well, from the accent, I was guessing some kind of farming job...

But Yuina Degawa? That's a whole different level.

To put it simply, she's a genius.

[Image of Degawa with a massive pumpkin in a greenhouse]

Her research into sustainable farming has led to one of the biggest economic booms in the country's history.

All across the world, people have started buying Japanese produce.

Japanese beef, Japanese eggplants, Japanese potatoes...

It's all thanks to the work of Yuina Degawa.

[Back to Kitchen]

Degawa: [Annoyed] So are y'all jus' gonna stand around all day, or am I gonna hear an introduction at some point?

Minami: Huh? Oh, right. Hanako Minami. Nice to meet you.

Degawa: [Annoyed] Yeah, yeah, likewise. Now listen in, Minami: I don't like people like you, OK? City folk from Kyoto or Tokyo or some such place...

It ain't their fault; I jus' can't stand that smug, arrogant look on their face when they hear my accent, alright? That whole "she's dumber than a barrel o' bricks" look!

[Angry] It really pisses me off!

Minami: Whoa, OK, calm down!

Degawa: [Annoyed] Ya see what I mean!? You're already ruinin' this here conversation fer the both of us!

So if y'all want both of us to have a good time here...

[Angry] Y'all stay outta my way, got it!?

Minami: OK! OK! I'll stay out of your way!

Jeez... That was terrifying!

Who knew someone with so relaxed a job as "farmer" could be so wound up?

Or, "agriculturalist", I guess...

I should probably leave her alone for the moment...

[Auto-move to Cafeteria]

[Move to Foyer]

[Examine Yellow Door]

[We see a hallway identical to the green hallway from before. However, there are two changes. Firstly, the predominant colour of the hallway is the same shade of lemon yellow which hurts your eyes. Secondly, the white door that contained the Medical Room is instead a blue door with white circles on it, resembling bubbles.]

I mean, structurally, it's the same as the green hallway I was in before...

But this has to be the most hideous shade of yellow on the planet. It hurts my eyes...

Only one person here, huh? A guy with a cool leather glove...

I suppose he's the only person who can stand this yellow.

[Talk to Glove Boy]

[OST: Junk Food for a Dashing Youth]

Minami: Hey.

Glove Boy: [Arms crossed] Hmph. Another one.

Minami: Huh?

Glove Boy: [Looking away] Your name. Now.

Minami: Uh... Hanako Minami.

Glove Boy: Asuka Noguchi. Ultimate Falconer.

He sure is blunt.

Let's see... Oh yeah, the forums were talking about this guy...

[Image of Noguchi with a falcon on his arm, staring coldly into the distance]

Asuka Noguchi is one of the world's best falconers. By which I mean...

Not only can he train birds of prey well, but he knows just about everything to do with them.

He's won numerous competitions for his skilful manipulations of his pet hawk, earning over a million yen in prize money, and on top of that...

he comes from a family with enough wealth to rival even that of the Togamis.

He's definitely what you'd call "upper crust"...

[Back to Hallway]

Noguchi: Minami, where are you from?

Minami: Ah, Tokyo, originally...

Noguchi: Private school or public?

Minami: Public. Why?

Noguchi: [Smirking] I see. In that case, do they teach the concept of "personal space" in Tokyo public schools?

In case you're unaware, at the moment, you are invading my "personal space".

[Frowning] A falconer works best when he is alone. So please leave.

Minami: ...But you don't have a bird. How can you be... um... "falconing"?

Noguchi: [Annoyed] The correct term is "falconry". And while you may be correct in that I am currently not doing any falconry...

That doesn't change the fact that I don't want to talk. Leave.

Minami: Fine!

Prick. Now I know why he's alone.

I should calm down a bit before I talk to anyone else...

[OST: Beautiful Dead]

[Examine Bubble Door]

[We see a room with washing machines lined up against the walls. Benches are in the middle, presumably for people to sit on while their laundry is still being done. As with the Medical Room, there is a large steel plate bolted onto the wall.]

Looks like your everyday laundry room. Aside from the steel plate, that is. And the security camera. And the loudspeaker.

...OK, so it's not QUITE like your average laundry room...

Hmm. No one else here.

[Examine Washing Machine]

It's a run-of-the-mill washing machine.

...No more, no less.

...Just a washing machine.

...Going round and round.

...

OK, I'm leaving before the boredom kills me.

[Auto-Move to Yellow Hallway]

[Move to Foyer]

[Examine Red Door]

[We see a hallway identical to the previous two, save, of course for the colour, which is an orange-red neon colour, like on a cheap fluorescent light. Furthermore, the door at the end, which held the Medical Room in the green hallway, is now a solid black.]

God, what a garish shade of red...

OK, two more students. A guy in a black jacket with badges pinned on to it, and a girl with some heavy-looking glasses holding a brush of some kind...

These two look fairly normal, at least...

[Talk to Jacket Boy]

[OST: Beautiful Morning]

Jacket Boy: An unfamiliar face. I was wondering if t'was to be another to cross my path.

Minami: What?

Jacket Boy: Ah, forgive me. My family insisted on a very traditional education, and thus, my dialect can be a little impenetrable at times. My apologies.

[Bowing his head] My name is Yoshida Muramoto. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

So this is Yoshida Muramoto...

[Image of Yoshida drawing a bow in utter concentration]

According to the Hope's Peak forums, he's a very talented archer.

By "very talented", I mean "won a competition once with a broken arm". That kind of "very talented".

Some say it's because of his samurai heritage. After all, his is a very old family...

Others claim it's genetics. He was just born to do well.

There's one subset who seem to think he's a reincarnation of the warrior Benkei...

[Back to Hallway]

But that's all just speculation.

Muramoto: If I am not intruding, may I please ask your name? And your Ultimate Talent, if you so choose.

Minami: Uh... Hanako Minami. I don't know what my talent is.

Muramoto: [Eyes closed in thought] "Don't know what my talent is"... Hmm.

His face hasn't changed expression once this whole conversation...

He's being really quiet, too. Is he a robot or something?

Muramoto: Well then, Miss Minami, best of luck for finding your talent.

Minami: Oh! Thanks.

He kinda scares me...

So... Who else can I talk to here?

[Talk to Glasses Girl]

Glasses Girl: [Nervous] Um...

Do you mind if I cut to the chase?

Minami: Huh? "Cut to the chase"?

Glasses Girl: You know. Just to get this done quickly.

Minami: Uh... I guess not?

Glasses Girl: Good. In that case...

[Smiling] Hey, nice to meet you! I'm Umeko Takanashi.

Umeko Takanashi? Let me see... Oh, right! That's where I know her!

[Image of Takanashi, smiling, surrounded by hand-painted kanji]

She actually did the logo for my old school!

Her unique style flows when she needs it to, but she can also draw pretty rigid letters too.

I remember hearing that when she designed the school's lettering, she did so for free.

Apparently, to her, the art is more important than the money.

Definitely an admirable stance to take...

[Back to Hallway]

Takanashi: [Gesturing with brush] Enough about me, though. Who're you? What's your talent?

Minami: Hanako Minami. I... don't know my talent.

Takanashi: [Hand covering mouth, surprised] Oh! OK. Sorry.

[Neutral] ...

Minami: ...

Takanashi: [Nervous] Um...

Was that conversation long enough? I'm not quite sure with these things...

Minami: It was... fine. Why?

Takanashi: [Biting brush bristles] Well... um... I don't have anything else to say.

Minami: ...OK. I'll... leave you to it.

Takanashi: [Relieved] Thanks.

Well, she's certainly... interesting.

Hmm... What now?

[Examine Black Door]

There's a ninety per cent chance this door's locked.

...

I was wrong. It was a one hundred per cent chance.

...Damn it.

[Move to Foyer]

[Examine Blue Door]

[We see a hallway similar to the others. However, there are a few key differences. First is the colour, which is a neon blue that hurts to look at. The second is the design on the door at the end of the hallway, which is green and displays a yen symbol. The third, and most interesting, is that there appears to be a stairwell at the end, opposite the yen door.]

Whoever made this building was really good at picking out the worst colours possible...

...Listen to me, talking away like an interior designer. Anyway...

Two people here. A small girl with dark hair in riding gear, and a boy in a silvery coat staring at the air.

Wow, we sure are a motley crew here, aren't we?

[Talk to Short Girl]

[OST: Beautiful Days]

Short Girl: [Cheerful] Hi! How are you! How's it going! You good? Good!

Minami: Whoa, slow down a little...

Short Girl: [Crocodile tears] Aww, but I like being fast! It's cute!

Minami: Take a deep breath and start again.

Short Girl: [Thinking] ...

[Cheerful] 'Kay! My name's Mai Hanabayashi, but everyone calls me Mai, 'cause "Mai" is soooooo much cuter than "Hanabayashi"! So you can call me Mai too!

Thought I asked her to slow down...

"Hanabayashi"... That's right, the forums said she was a jockey.

[Image of Mai on a horse, outspeeding all the other racers]

Actually, just calling her a "jockey" is a bit of a disservice.

She's the best in her age level in show jumping, dressage, and just straight racing.

Together with her horse, Tsunami Rider, she broke the world record for speed on horseback.

...Then she broke it again the next year.

There's nothing she can't do with a horse.

[Back to Hallway]

Mai: [Cheerful] Your turn!

Minami: Huh? Oh, right. I'm Hanako Minami. Nice to meet you.

Mai: [Surprised] What!? How can someone as incredible as you have so boring a name as "Hanako Minami"?

"Incredible"? We met about two minutes ago! Not even that!

And also... how the hell is my name "boring"!?

Mai: [Thinking] Your new name is...

[Cheerful] Hanni! Get it? It's the first part of "Hanako" and the last part of "Minami" put together!

[Bashful] Except I changed the 'm' to an 'n' to make it easier to say, so it's not a perfect nickname, but it'll do!

Minami: ...I'm gonna go now, OK, Mai?

Mai: [Cheerful] 'Kay! Bye, Hanni!

That girl REALLY needs to lay off the sugar.

Hmm... Who else is there to talk to around here?

[Talk to Staring Boy]

Staring Boy: [Intently staring] ...

...

...

Is... Is he staring at my chest?

Staring Boy: [Contemplative] Hmm... Yeah, I think it is.

Wow, he can actually talk!

...And in such a surprisingly cool voice...

Staring Boy: [Smiling] You know, you don't have to wait for me before you start the introductions.

Minami: Oh! Uh... OK. Hi, I'm Hanako Minami.

Staring Boy: [Smiling] Nice to meet you. Kentaro Matsuoka.

Head of Matsuoka Jewellery? No way! That's awesome!

I hate to admit it, but I'm a huge jewellery fan. And the Matsuoka line is one of the best in the business.

[Image of Matsuoka examining a gemstone intently in a jeweller's]

Matsuoka started out as an assistant at a jewellery store...

But his appreciation for cut and quality quickly sent him to the top of the food chain.

He designs every item in his product line by himself...

...Or at least, so say all the advertisements. You never know how much is true...

[Back to Hallway]

Matsuoka: [Contemplative] I was just looking at your necklace. One of mine, I believe. From the "Fire in Ice" line.

Minami: Actually, yeah! Spot on!

Matsuoka: [Smiling] You know, I'm thinking of making a new addition to the series, and you happen to wear that style so perfectly.

[Winking] If I do, promise you'll model it for me?

Minami: Of course! No problems whatsoever! Modelling is A-OK!

Matsuoka: [Sly smile] ...Are you blushing?

Minami: Eep! Gotta go!

Wow... What an experience!

OK, Minami, calm down... You can talk with him later.

[Examine Stairwell]

Just like everything else in this stupid building, it's locked off.

Hmm... I don't see any stairs going up.

Then again, I can't actually see much of the stairwell, seeing as it's bordered off.

Still, if I can't see any up stairs, maybe we're on the top floor of something?

[Examine Yen Door]

[We see a kiosk-style room, green as an American dollar. Merchandise litters the counter in front of us, and there's a small vending machine sitting on the counter as well.]

Oh, this must be the school shop. At least the colour is a little easier on the eyes this time...

Let's see, looks like someone's hanging out here. an overweight girl in a black dress who looks like she's trying to be ignored.

Nothing better to do than talk, I guess...

[Talk to Hiding Girl]

Hiding Girl: [Eyes averted] ...

Minami: ...

Hiding Girl: ... Um... Can you go, please?

Minami: Huh?

Hiding Girl: I don't really want to talk right now...

So, um... Yeah.

Minami: I'm not leaving till I get your name, at least.

Hiding Girl: Uh... OK... If I have to, I mean...

[Reluctant] I'm Tsutsuji Washio. Nice to meet you, I guess...

THIS is Tsutsuji Washio? I was expecting someone more... bombastic.

[Image of Washio, laughing, behind a mic in a studio]

Whenever you turn on the radio in Japan, the voice you hear usually belongs to Tsutsuji Washio.

But when you listen to her in the car, announcing the news or the hit new pop song... she sounds so much more lively and energetic!

I guess it really IS like they always say...

Radio hosts are so much different in person to when you hear them on the airwaves.

[Back to School Shop]

Washio: [Playing with hair] So, um...

[Eyes averted] Can you go now, please? I don't really like people looking at me...

Minami: Oh! Sure. OK.

Well, that was... different.

She's trying to look at me and away from me at the same time...

It's kinda creepy.

Still, not much I can do about that.

[OST: None]

I think I've talked to everyone else here. Fujihara said there were fourteen, so...

Maybe I should try to find him again.

But before I could move, the loudspeaker suddenly crackled.

A voice came on. A voice that... to be honest, I'm struggling to describe.

It was like hearing a voice from a children's cartoon...

Only there weren't any cartoons I know of that had voices with such sinister undertones.

It pierced through me like a knife. That voice...

Once I heard it, I knew that nothing was going to be alright from now on.

???: Ahem... Is this thing on? OK, good... Hr-hm!

Attention all students! You look like you've all finished introducing yourselves, and all that crap...

So we're gonna have a meeting in the assembly hall!

You know the double doors across from the cafeteria? They're open now, for your "entering-the-assembly-hall" convenience!

Please report there as soon as possible!

Don't keep me waiting too long... Upupupu...

And just like that, the PA system turned back off.

The other students nearby looked just as confused. Some were even a little scared as I passed them, shooting nervous glances at each other.

But standing around wasn't going to fix anything, so we made our way to the double doors.

As the voice had said, they were open now.

But... if you had to describe the feeling stuck in our minds as we went through those ominous doors...

I suppose you could call it "despair".