*I woke up on the hospital bed in the nurse's office.*

... It looks like I fell asleep...

*I looked at the time as it was 11 PM.*

Anna: Nighttime... I must have slept on accident...

Wait... shouldn't I have been punished because of this? One of the rules was that I can't be caught sleeping outside the dorms. Did something happen? Well... I should probably head to my room...

*I got up and walked out of the nurse's office when I suddenly heard a noise.*

Anna: Huh?

The noise was faint. I could barely hear it but I knew it was there as it sounded like two blades clashing.

*I turned to go and follow the noise. The closer I got to the source, the louder it got as I found it all the way in the gym entrance. The door was slightly open and I took a peek inside as I was shocked by what I saw. Inside the gym was a battle taking place between Elijah and Monokuma as Elijah was holding the sword we found on the third floor.*

What the what?! What's going on?! Why are Monokuma and Elijah fighting?!

*Monokuma's claws clashed with Elijah's blade as they pushed each other back.*

Elijah: Dammit! This doesn't make sense! Why can't I get a single good hit in?!

Monokuma: Nice try, but it seems like you have no real power here. Though I am a bit disappointed. I went all the way to giving you your powers back and the first thing you do is challenge me? Honestly, what kinda baloney have you been eating? Now then, prepare to die!

*The two of them continued to fight and I started to back away from the gym door.*

If I get between them, I might get myself killed.

Anna: ... ... ...

*Without saying a word, I headed to my room. Hoping this was all a dream I quickly hopped on my bed and drifted to sleep.*

Monokuma Theater

Monokuma: I know what makes the world go around. Food. Food is something everyone craves for. You can have all the money in the world but you could never have enough juicy steaks or fried fish. It's so big they made a holiday for it. All hail food!

Monokuma Theater (End)

Ding Dong Bing Bong

Monokuma: Good morning everyone! It is now 7 a.m. and nighttime is officially over. Time to rise and shine!

*The intercom turned off as I woke up. I sat in my bed still a bit depressed from yesterday. I started to think about everything that had happened. I then started to think about what I saw.*

Was all that... just a dream? I hope so... because if not... Elijah may be in trouble.

Anna: I better go see... everyone should be in the cafeteria.

*I got out of bed and left my room. I then went straight to the cafeteria where I saw something I didn't think I'd ever see. It was Ruby in the cafeteria with Celestial as she put an ice pack on her head.*

Anna: Huh?

Celestial: Hm? Ah, well if it isn't Anna. I see you're up already.

Anna: Celestial? And Ruby?

Ruby: Ruby was walking when she saw Celestial falling down the stairs... Ruby decided to help her since she helped Ruby during the trial...

Anna: Oh um I see... speaking of that, why did you decide to suddenly help Celestial? You really didn't have anything to do with it...

Celestial: Hmph. I had two reasons... the first was that I wanted to confirm something so I needed that trial to get done quickly.

Ruby: And the second reason?

Celestial: ... ... ...

Anna: I see... still aren't talking...

Celestial: ... That is too... embarrassing to speak of...

Anna: Huh?

Celestial has something to be embarrassed about?

*The others started coming in one by one. Everyone except Collin and Elijah.*

Lisa: Hm? Anna?

Anna: Yeah?

*Everyone's eyes suddenly turned to me.*

Anna: Um... is something wrong?

Joseph: No. Just a bit surprised. We honestly thought you'd never leave that room.

Lisa: Are you alright? Three people just died not too long ago and two of 'em were important to you. That ain't something you get over within one night.

Anna: ... ... ...

She's right... the death of my friends... of my sister... I'm still not able to get over it... probably not in a long time... but still...

Anna: ...Nothing's going to get done if I sit back and do nothing...

Lisa: Heh. Couldn't have said it any better.

Pix: Today seems to be full of surprises... I certainly wasn't expecting Celestial of all people to be here.

Celestial: Hmph. Shouldn't you fools be more concerned about something else?

Ruby: Something else?

Celestial: You all should be having a breakfast meeting... normal everyone but me and Collin shows up. However... where is Elijah?

Joseph: Now that I think about it... you're right.

Anna: Um... about that-

*Before I could say anything, Monokuma suddenly popped up out of nowhere.*

Anna: Woah!

Lisa: What the fuck?!

Monokuma: Grrr. I've never been this pissed off since I watched that disappointing Suicide Squad movie! Where is he?! When I get my hands on that blur I'll grind him in two!

Ruby: Blur?

Pix: I do wonder who are you talking about?

Monokuma: Elijah of course! He dares attack me?! Well a bear never forgets. He can't run for long.

Joseph: What? Elijah attacked you?

Monokuma: Yep. Meaning it's punishment time once I get my hands on him he's gonna regret wrestling with a bear!

Lisa: Tch. That dumbass.

Joseph: Is there any way for you to let this go?

Monokuma: Hmm... I guess there is one way... if he survives by the time the next murder happens, I will no longer seek to punish him.

Joseph: ... ... ... *sigh* I see...

Monokuma: Speaking of... there is something you all should know...

*Nebula suddenly stormed out of the kitchen.*

Nebula: Hey! Where the hell is all the food?!

Anna: Huh?

Pix: The food?

Lisa: Don't tell me...

Monokuma: Puhuhuhuhu. Don't worry there is a simple explanation for this. You see, there seem to be two demons in our midst.

Celestial: Demons? Really?

Monokuma: That's right. So far I've gone through all the trouble of putting the souls of your dead classmates in their food just to feed them. But I'm getting kinda tired of it. So I took away the food so at least one of them would starve to death.

Lisa: Why didn't you just stop putting souls in the fucking food?

Monokuma: That would be too easy. Why should I let two people suffer when I can have everyone suffer? So for this new motive, there will be no food until one of these two demons are dead!

Nebula: The fuck?!

*With that... Monokuma disappeared. Leaving us with the most despair-inducing motive yet...*

Pix: So... what now? I am sure there isn't one among us who can survive without food.

Nebula: Tch. That fucking bear pisses me off.

Lisa: We're just gonna hafta deal with it for now... we survived another class trial... meanin' another floors been opened. So everyone needs to get up and look for a way outta this hellhole.

Everyone: Right!

*Everyone started to leave the cafeteria. I turned to face Aqua and Strawberry... only to remember they were no longer with us.*

Anna: Oh... right...

*Ruby suddenly tapped my shoulder from behind.*

Anna: Huh?

Ruby: Let's explore the next floor together!

Anna: Oh um sure...

Ruby: Celestial, you can come too!

Celestial: Sorry but I have better things to do...

*Ruby pouted. Making it clear she wouldn't take no for an answer.*

Celestial: ... *sigh* Very well. But let's make it quick.

Ruby: Yay! Now let's go!

*And so the three of us headed to the 4th floor. The first thing we saw was the bathrooms to our left. None of us had to use the bathroom so we just passed them. We then made it to a room labeled the data processing room. I tried to open it but it wouldn't budge.*

Ruby: Huh? It's locked?

Anna: That's odd...

Celeste: It appears there's something in this room Monokuma doesn't want us to see.

Ruby: Hmm... that seems suspicious...

Anna: Nothing we can do for now. Let's go.

*The three of us walked off. We found two classrooms and walked into one of them. There we found Joseph and Pix.*

Pix: It looks like you've come here too.

Celestial: Let me guess... still can't get that metal hatch off...?

Joseph: Tch. It's harder than it looks...

Anna: I see... well um good luck...

Pix: We will try our best.

Ruby: ... ... ...

*The three of us walked out of the classroom. We passed the second one to save time as we made it to the chemistry lab. There we found Lisa looking at bottles on a shelf.*

Ruby: Um Lisa? What are you doing...?

Lisa: Ha! It's been awhile since I've had chemicals in my hand! If I mix the right ones together I could cause a fuckin' explosion!

Anna: Um... let's not do that...

Lisa: Hah! Don't worry. This stuff is far too dangerous for the inexperienced so I'll be keepin' an eye on this stuff myself!

For some reason, I didn't like that idea as much either.

Celestial: We better leave before she actually causes an explosion...

Ruby: R-Right...

*With that, the three of us left Lisa alone with the chemicals. We walked from the chemistry lab to the faculty office. There were a lot of flowers and computers that were probably broken. But the one thing that caught my attention was a single picture laying on the ground. I walked up to it and picked it up. I was surprised by what I saw. It was Kaedi and Honey Angel... they were smiling and eating cookies.*

Anna: Huh?

Ruby: What is it?

Anna: ... I found another picture... come look at this...

*Ruby and Celestial both came my way and took a look at the picture.*

Celeste: Hmm... that is interesting...

Ruby: A picture? Of Honey Angel and Kaedi?

*Monokuma suddenly popped up out of nowhere and snatched the picture out of my hands.*

Anna: Hey!

Monokuma: Don't hey me! Jeez, I can't go around letting you steal my stuff you know.

Anna: Hey, what's the deal with the pictures? First the last one now this? Are they even real?

Monokuma: Puhuhuhuhu. I can't give you the answers all at once now can I?

*Monokuma disappeared with the picture.*

Ruby: W-What now?

Celestial: Hmm... this does raise some questions... who took that picture? How did they take it? When did they take it? And how did it end up on the fourth floor of this school? Teeheehee how curious it makes me.

Ruby: C-Curious?

Anna: For now... we better tell the others about this later... come on... let's check the rest of the floor...

*The three of us left the faculty office and made our way to the Headmaster's office. I tried to open it but couldn't.*

Anna: It's locked.

Celestial: Well this does seem to be Monokuma's office it seems so I believe that makes sense. Still, I do wonder what he could be hiding in there.

Anna: Anyway... nothing we can do about it now... let's go...

*We left there and continued to explore until we found the music room. Inside we found Nebula. There were a lot of instruments. Including a giant piano on top of a stage.*

Nebula: Tch. We still didn't find a way out... With this new motive... this isn't looking good for any of us...

Anna: Hey, we shouldn't give up too easily.

Nebula: Hm? Anna, Ruby, and Celestial? That's a strange combo.

Ruby: Anna um looked down so Ruby decided to explore with her and Celestial.

I see... she knows I'm used to exploring with Aqua and Strawberry... so she decided to explore with me instead to cheer me up...

Nebula: Heh... still, what will happen if we don't find a way out of here? This motive... kill someone or die of starvation? ... Hell... I couldn't blame anyone for going for a motive like that...

Celestial: ... ... ...

Ruby: Hm? Um... Celestial?

Celestial: What is it?

Ruby: Do you want to... play the piano...?

Celestial: Why do you ask?

Ruby: You've been... well... staring at it for a while... so Ruby took a guess...

Celestial: Hmph. I'm afraid you must be surely mistaken.

Nebula: Heh. Now that I think about it...you used to love the piano. Don't tell me that was a lie too.

Celestial: ... ... Oh very well... if you insist I shall play a little tune.

*Celestial walked towards the piano. She sat down and played a little tune. It was a smooth one that seemed to warm everyone's hearts. I didn't know why but... I felt like this wasn't the first time I heard her play. I felt like she had done this a million times and it cheered us up each time. Not only that... but when I looked at Celestial... I saw she was smiling. It was different from the other smiles she's given us... it felt... real. When she was done she got up and bowed before heading back towards us.*

Celestial: And seen.

Ruby: That was amazing!

Celestial: Of course it was.

Nebula: Heh. Never expected her to brighten up the mood.

Anna: Anyway, I believe that's everything on this floor. Let's head back and discuss what we found.

Ruby: Right.

*And so we headed to the cafeteria and met up with everyone. Everyone was trying to stay upbeat and not think about food.*

Pix: It seems our quest may be harder than we thought.

Lisa: Tch. What a load of bullshit. Alright, everyone discuss what y'all found. I'll start! I found a chemistry lab that's fuckin' awesome! There are too many chemicals that can be used for you know what so I'll be guarding that lab from now on.

Pix: I see... Joseph and I found more classrooms with Iron plates blocking the windows. As usual, we failed to remove them.

Celestial: There was a music room too with a wide variety of instruments. There was also another blocked stairway. Perhaps leading to the fifth floor. It makes me wonder how big this school really is.

Ruby: That's not all. We found something... odd.

Lisa: Odd?

Anna: ... It was a picture... of Honey Angel and Kaedi...

Lisa: Tch...

Pix: Another picture that doesn't make sense I see... by this point there's only one explanation.

Joseph: Yeah... they have to have been fakes made to try to confuse us... let's not worry about it too much...

Anna: Yeah...

But still...

Ding Dong Bing Bong!

Monokuma: Attention. It is now 10 PM. Which means it is officially bedtime. Good night. Don't let the bedbugs bite.

*The intercom turned off*

Nebula: Tch. Nighttime already huh?

Ruby: Day one of no food...

Lisa: Nothing we can do about it now. Best thing is to just suck it up and go to bed.

Anna: Right...

*With those words, we all headed to our rooms. I looked into my room and sat on my bed. My stomach growled as I laid down. The only thing I could think about was food. Trying to keep those thoughts out my head, I drifted to sleep.*

-TO BE CONTINUED-