(3rd Person's POV)

After finally getting out of that hospital, the girls made their way towards the subway entrance. Though, in front of it, they saw a woman who looked to be panicking.

"A kid...actually using a monster like that... A monster like that shouldn't exist... A monster like that... It's impossible..." She muttered to herself.

"Um..." Komaru spoke up as the woman noticed them.

"Y-You three... You're not children, right?"

"No, we're not. We're also being hunted by the children..."

"Um, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but... What did you mean when you said monster...?"

The woman froze as she teared up. "I-I-I'm sorry, I... Just...saying it out loud is... I can't..."

"If you can't say it, that's fine!" Komaru assured her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." She apologized over and over.

"I-I said it's just fine!"

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please, don't kill me, don't kill me..."

"..."

"Jeez... What could break an adult down like this...?"

"...I don't like the feeling I'm getting from this..." Akira frowned.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

The three shared a grimace as they left the woman to her own devices and walked towards the subway shutter. 

"Alright, I'm going to try to open it with that key from earlier." Komaru said as she took it out. "Ugh, what if it's no good? I'm so nervous..." She mumbled as she entered the key in.

CLICK!

"Y-Yay! Yay! Toko, Aki, it worked! It's open!" Komaru cheered.

Toko sweatdropped. "I-I can see that..."

"Toko, Aki, let's open the shutter! Give me a hand!" Komaru urged them.

Toko sighed as Akira shrugged. "I-I guess I've got no choice, right?"

"Hmmph...!" The three girls grunted as they lifted the shutter open.

"...If we go down these stairs and through the subway, we're saved, right?" Komaru asked.

"Y-You can't know for sure... We might run into danger instead..." Toko countered.

"Well... Should we not go, then?" Komaru suggested.

"...I don't know." Toko sighed.

"I-If you say it's better not to go, then I'll trust you." Komaru said before her expression softened. "But... We've come all this way, and we don't have any better escape plans right now..." She pointed out.

"Argh, so indecisive..." Toko moaned before exclaiming. "Fine! I'll go! We're going this way, I decided, so now just do what I say! Happy?"

"Y-Yeah...?" Komaru confusingly replied.

The three head down the subway tunnel, and the more the went the more they saw children's drawings scribbled on the walls. Eventually, they found the door as the opened it and went right on in.

"Wh-why is it so dark? I told you, I'm afraid of the dark!" Toko shivered.

"It's OK. I'm telling you, it's not that dark." Komaru said.

"I never really got those people who're afraid of the dark. It's not that bad...is it...?" Akira commented.

"I-It is that bad! And it is dark!" Toko refuted before jerking her head upwards and shouting. "Aaaaaargh! Is anyone there? Turn on the light, damnit!"

Right as she gave that demand, the lights turned on as the three girls shielded themselves from the new adjustment. Once they did, they looked around to see that they were in a cage stadium of sorts, surrounded by hundreds of cheering Monokma Kids.

"Wh-what is this?" Komaru wondered.

"Hey!" A voice said as they turned to a familiar red-haired child. "Hey-hey! You totally fell for it! You really thought you could escape, didn't ya? Hahaha! But too bad! I totally saw that one coming!" He grinned as he jumped down and made his entrance while making a pose, with the Monokuma Kids that acted as judges giving him a 10. "I'm the super-duper Hero of the Warriors of Hope, the Li'l Ultimate P.E., Masaru Daimon!"

Komaru widened her eyes.

Masaru's grinning face turned into a frown as he fiercely pointed at the girls. "Hey! I won't let you escape, Demons!"

"Wh-What the hell? What's with this dorky little brat?" Toko wondered.

"I-It's him! He's one of the kids who put the wristband on me..." Komaru face paled.

"..." Akira simply stared up at the child.

"One of them!?" Masaru puffed his cheeks out, offended. "Don't treat me like some chump, I'm the leader of the Warriors of Hope!" He stomped his feet into the ground. "I'm not like those adults who call themselves leaders but hlde like cowards! The best leaders are the ones that stand bravely on the front lines! That's a true Hero, Lord Masaru Daimon!"

Lots of cheers can be heard from the peanut gallery.

"Ehe... Ehehehehe! That was cool, right? I looked totally cool right then, right?" Masaru folded his arms proudly. 

"What a narcissistic little ingrate... Brats like him always get what's coming to them." Toko rolled her eyes.

"Hey, didja freak out when the leader of the whole group just popped up like that!?" Masaru laughed. "Scary, right!? Pathetic! Just like I always say, stupid little girls with no wieners are total cowards!"

"W-Wieners!?" Toko gasped. "That kid... He said wiener... Wiener!? H-He j-just blurted out "wieners" like that! Ugh, h-how indecent! Reprehensible! Big... Stupid... Wiener!"

Both Komaru and Akira sweatdropped. "Um, Toko... You don't have to keep repeating it."

"Very mature..." Akira rolled her eyes.

"Alriiight! Brace yourselves, Demons! Even if you show your tummy like a dog and beg for mercy, you're gonna get it now!" Masaru cheered.

"Brace...for what?" Komaru took a step back.

"Isn't that obvious!? This is a Killesseum! I'm gonna kill you Demons!"

"K-Kill!?"

"Excuse you, you dolt..." Toko spoke up while scoffing. "You can't even say it right, there's no such thing as a Killesseum."

"...Wha?" Masaru looked down at her.

"It's pronounced colosseum, which is an amphitheater made in ancient Rome..." Toko smugly smirked. "Acting all cool like that and not even knowing how to pronounce it... You really are a kid!"

"I-I knew that!" Masaru stammered, slamming his foot onto the ground. "It was just...a special Hero joke! You really are one mouthy Demon!"

"What is this Demon thing in the first place? That better not be about us." Toko grumbled.

"It's not just us... Isn't he talking about adults in general?" Komaru clarified.

"...Huh?"

"Yeah, that's right... You adults are Demons... You are our enemies... Enemies of kids... That's why me and the Warriors of Hope are gonna hunt down every last one of you!" Masaru declared. "And then make a peaceful paradise just for children in this town!"

Another cheer went off from the stands. Then, a trap door opened up as a bunch of corpses fell and landed in one giant pile.

"Wh-What...is that...?" Komaru pointed at it.

Masaru laughed. "What, you can't tell just by looking!? These guys are the Demons I've hunted down! Ehehe! How 'bout it!? Isn't it awesome!? It's worth one trillion brazillion points!"

"Omaru...Aki..." Toko snapped her head away from the pile. "You can't look! Whatever you do, don't look at it..."

"Ugh... Oh Kami..." Komaru groaned as her face turned a bit green while Akira covered her mouth with her palms.

"I-I told you not to look!"

Masaru let out a hateful growl. "Just because they gave birth to us and raised us, they thought they could control us all! As Hero, I hunted them down and let everyone go free!"

Again, more cheers from the stands.

"Ehehe... Now now, don't praise me too much..." Masaru blushed in appreciation. "I just did what any good leader would do..."

"H-How could you do this...?" Komaru looked up at him. "You guys... You all realize that one day you will all be adults too, right?"

Masaru whipped her head at her and shot a harsh glare. "I won't become an adult! I made a promise to the Warriors of Hope! I made a promise to Monaca... If I'm gonna turn into a dirty, mean, ugly, smelly Demon, I'd rather die as a kid!" He roared as he heard the cheers of the Monokuma Kids. "You see...? You can hear it, right? Everyone loves me... They appreciate me... Because I'm their Hero... If I...hunt down every single Demon... Then nobody has to be afraid anymore! Th-They won't have to be afraid of the violence, and the pain! W-Won't have to... Afraid..." He placed his hands on his head, feeling tears well up as he sobbed. "I-I won't...be...afraid... I'm not...scared...at all... I don't hafta be scared of the... The dark and the pain and the alcohol smell... Not anymore... Not anymore, not anymore! No matter how much you beat me, I won't be afraid anymore! You hear me!? Not going...be afr...aid..."

The girls froze in shock as they looked at Masaru sympathetically. Suddenly, the boy's hand started to shake. 

"Huh? Wh-what is this? Hehehe... uh, yeah, that's weird." Masaru then started to punch his left arm with his free one. "Damnit! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! I said stop! I'm not scared! I'm not scared! I'm NOT scared! I'm not scared of anything!"

The three girls can only watch as this unfolds.

"I'm a hero! I'M A HERO! A hero isn't afraid of ANYTHING!" He yelled as he continued beating his arm. "He isn't afraid of dying! Of killing! NOTHING! So just STOP ALREADY!"

"P-please stop it!" Komaru pleaded, not wanting this self-harm to go on any longer while Toko and Akira simply stared in shocked silence.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, STOP ALREADY! STOP! STOP! STOP!" Masaru pounded on his arm repeatedly until it started to bruise. "STOP! STOP, DAMNIT, STOP!"

"No! Please stop that!" Komaru screamed as she felt like she was going to cry just by watching.

Eventually, Masaru stopped. "Hahahaha..." He laughed as he stared at his heavily bruised arm. "I-It finally...listened to me... Ha... Hahaha... Hahahahahaha!"

"Stop it already!" Komaru felt two tears roll down her cheeks. "Please, please stop... We're not Demons! We won't do anything to you guys. Please!"

Toko shook her head, a drop of sweat rolling down her face. "Th-These kids are completely insane! Talking to them isn't going to accomplish anything! They don't even respect life and death anymore... They're beyond sanity entirely."

"..." Akira grasped her arm, her forehead turning blue.

"You guys, you..." Masaru glared at them. "You look like you have lanky bodies, maybe you aren't...true Demons yet." He stated as he clenched his fist. "But you're almost Demons. You're going to be just like the Demons, I can tell... And that's why I have to defeat you now, before you turn into one!"

With that, Masaru snapped his fingers as some sort of control unit flew toward him. He grabbed it, gritting his teeth. The ground started to shake as a drill starts coming out of it. And then...a giant robot is revealed to be under it!

"Wh-what is that!?" Komaru exclaimed in shock.

"I-I didn't know there'd be robots! That's cheating!" Toko complained.

"What the hell..." Akira mumbled. "What're we supposed to do against something like that?!"

"Hey! Watch me, everyone! The leader of the Warriors of Hope! The Hero!" Masaru grinned as he made a thumbs down at the girls. "I am gonna defeat these wienerless Demons in no time!"

"Toko! What should we do?" Komaru grabbed her shoulder.

"W-we're going up against a machine, so... as long as you have that gun Master gave you..." Toko said.

"...I told you I don't usually fight, but I guess I don't have a choice this time. So..." Akira looked uneasy. "I'll be sure to provide you support."

Komaru looked at her Hacking Gun. "With this... we have a chance?"

"We'll be fine!" Toko nodded before turning her head away. "...Probably.

Komaru widened her eyes, hearing that last remark. "Why don't you sound sure!?"

"Go! Hero Robot Mark Guyver! Stomp all over these filthy Demons!" Masaru yelled.

Komaru gulped as she aimed her Hacking Gun at the robot.

https://youtu.be/1aAaEU97JLs

(Play BGM)

Hot-Blooded Hero - Masaru Daimon

"Once I kill you and get the high score, I'm gonna be the "Demon Hunting" champ!" Masaru said as Akira ran up to the robot. "Oh no you don't! Take this! Super Drill Puuunch!" He called as he threw the robots drill arm into the ground. 

"Woah!" Akira exclaimed as she jumped back. She then saw a chest piece with a Monokuma on it. "Hmmm..." She mused before kicking it, with the robot making a noticeable reaction.

"Looks like that chest piece is the weak shot..." Toko said as Komaru nodded and shot the chest piece multiple times with the Break bullets. 

The robot then started spinning around and chasing after Akira, but she would just backflip back before doing a dive and roundhouse kicking it.  She jumped back at seeing the robot doing another drill punch.

The robot then jumped to the back of the area before charging at the girls with full force, but Komaru would shoot the chest piece a few times before the robot got stunned, which left it open for Komaru to deliver more shots. Regaining its composure, the robot jumped back but the chest piece opened up and exposed its weak spot.

"There it is! Omaru, shoot!" Toko ordered as Komaru nodded and shot it with Akira delivering a hard punch soon after.

"Gggh...!" Masaru grunted as the robot started emitting static electricity. "No... I-I'm the Hero... Heroes can't lose!"

"Toko!" Akira approached her. "Think you can give me a boost?"

"I-I'll try..." Toko nodded as she held her arms together. Akira stood on it before Toko launched her arms up, flipping the blonde into the air.

"Here it comes...!" Komaru said as she started charging up the Hacking Gun.

"HIYYYAHHH!" Akira cried as she made a hard stomp on the robot's weak spot. She jumped back to the girls before the Hacking Gun finished charging as Komaru shot out a large energy blast straight at the weak point.

"GAH! NOOOO!" Masaru screamed as the robot started shaking with electricity pouring out of it.

(End BGM)

---

https://youtu.be/s6a1GHpC27Y

---

"W-What the...?" Komaru looked in shock. "Why...? They're all kids, why are they...?"

"It doesn't look like just infighting either, which means... N-No, it can't... This must be some kind of Punishment for losing the game..." Toko assumed as she grimaced. "How cruel..."

"Huh? What?" 

"N-Nothing, forget it! Now's our chance to get out of here!"

"Y-Yeah, you're right. Let's go!" Komaru said as they bolted out of there.

---

Komaru panted. "I-I thought I was a goner for sure that time..."

"..." Toko grit her teeth. "Ugh... Ugh!"

"Toko! What happened? Are you hurt?" Komaru asked in worry.

"E-Even though I met one of the ringleaders, I couldn't even get any information out of him... Like where Master Byakuya is, a-and about... That person as well..." Toko said.

"...That person?" Komaru parroted.

"Ugh, I'm no good... I'm such a worthless girl! Just trash! An idiotic piece of filth!" Toko yelled.

"No, no you're not!" Komaru refuted. "Hey! You're not no-good trash, and you aren't ugly either!"

"...I didn't say ugly! D-Don't throw stuff in there on your own!" Toko scolded.

"S-Sorry, that was just spur of the moment." Komaru awkwardly scratched her cheek with a finger.

Toko groaned. "Wh-While we bicker like this, those brats are probably torturing Master Byakuya... W-Writhing in..." She started to hug herself.

"Oh no..." Komaru and Akira sweatdropped in unison.

---

In Toko's fantasy...

"...Gah!  Haa... Ahh... Ahh... Agh! Ah! Haa... Ahh... Ahh... I-I won't give in! She's...on her way to save me right now! She'll save me... I...believe in her... I believe in Toko Fukawa!"

---

"Haa...Haa..." Toko deeply breathed. "Th-This is bad! This is really bad!"

"Y-Yeah that...sure sounds bad..." Komaru sweatdropped. "Anyway... Where do we go from here? The subway turned out to be a trap... Where else can we even go?"

Toko snapped out of it as she scoffed. "How about instead of asking me all the time, you use your own brain for once?"

"B-But..."

"Well, I guess you're better than you were before. At least now you want to survive. Just stay focused and pay attention to your surroundings." Toko pointed over to the metro.

"Huh? Isn't that...? If I remember right, that place should have been buried in rubble, right?" Komaru recalled.

"For whatever reason, it looks as if the debris was cleared away while we were fighting that brat." Toko said.

Komaru gasped in happiness as she held both Toko and Akira's hands. "Then we can get to the subway from here!"

"You really haven't learned your lesson!?" Toko shook her head. "Think about it... Isn't it a little too convenient? If this really is just a coincidence, then you're the luckiest girl on the planet."

"So you think this is a trap, too? B-But if you think about it, something that's obviously a trap might not be a trap, right!?"

Toko blinked. "...Just what is going on in that brain of yours?"

"I-If you say it's better not to go, then we won't do it. But..."

"I-It's not like I'm telling you not to do it! There's nowhere else to go anyway... I'm just telling you to prepare yourself if it's a trap."

"Prepare myself?" Komaru nodded. "O-Okay. Got it."

The girls turned around to enter the metro. "Ugh... I hope it has some light, at least. Because if it's as dark as I think it is, we are definitely turning around!" Toko said.

"It's gonna be alright. Me and Aki are with you, after all!" Komaru responded.

"S-s-so what? Are you just gonna magically turn the lights on or something?" Toko rolled her eyes.

Though meanwhile, unbeknownst to the girls, a mysterious white Monokuma with a bandage over one of its eyes were watching them.

Arc 1: Crying for Love in Hell...Complete!

 To be continued...?