(3rd Person's POV)

"See? Right here." Shirokuma said as he goes and flips a switch. The shutter in front of them opens up to reveal a wide area with dozens upon dozens of adults.

"Whoa!" Komaru sounded surprised.

"Okay, come on in, you guys!" Shirokuma made a "get over here" gesture with his arm as the three girls went inside.

"So many adults here!" Komaru exclaimed.

"I never expected there'd be an underground base like this..." Toko mumbled.

"It's an old warehouse where they used to store water tanks. The kids don't know about it!" Shirokuma informed.

"...What's with those trailers?" Akira asked, pointing at them.

"I brought them here to make it a little easier for everyone to live." Shirokuma answered. "Ehehe, aren't I strong? I might not look like it, but I'm built the same way as a Monokuma."

""Might not look like it"? You look exactly like a Monokuma..." Toko corrected.

"Since you're here, you might as well talk to everyone! You can talk to me after." Shirokuma advised as he walked off.

"You one-sided idiot... It's not like I want to talk to them..." Toko grumbled.

---

"Ones who just came in look pretty young..." A man mused as he slightly narrowed his eyes. "You better not be on the side of the kids."

"O-Of course not! Exactly what part of this voluptuous body is childish!?" Toko pointed out.

"Well, if Shirokuma brought you guys, we don't have to worry. We can trust him."

"Were you also brought here by Shirokuma?" Komaru asked.

The man nodded. "Yeah, all the people here were. We were all saved by Shirokuma." He pursed his lips. "But hey, sorry to be rude but, I don't really feel like talking. You can chat with someone else." He said as he walked off.

"Was that guy in a bad mood or something...?" Komaru wondered.

"Hmph, he just doesn't understand, acting all aloof." Toko scoffed. "He doesn't know real cool. I want Master Byakuya to teach him a lesson..." She grumbled before realizing her mistake. ...Wait, no! I want Master Byakuya to teach me a lesson!"

"...Somehow I think the first part was better..." Akira mumbled, sweatdropping.

---

"Um, are you hurt?" Komaru and the girls walked up to an injured woman. "Are you okay?"

"Ah, it's pretty bad, don't you think? The kids did it. If Shirokuma hadn't been there to save me, I would have been..."

"He risked his life? Shirokuma?" Toko blinked in surprise.

"Shirokuma saved our lives! If he weren't around, everyone here would be dead by now. You saw his wounds, right? He got those trying to help us all. I can't thank him enough..."

"Hmph, actually thanking a Monokuma..." Toko mused, a small scowl on her face.

"Don't do that! Don't lump him in with the other Monokumas!" The woman reprimanded her as she limped off.

"Toko... You don't have to be so prickly." Komaru frowned.

"I just said how I feel! Jeez, what kind of world is this?" Toko complained.

---

"Why, hello there!" A man greeted. "You three must be new. I hope we get along well together."

"Yeah, same here." Komaru nodded with a smile.

"Is now really the time for friendly greetings? Stuffed inside this dust-covered hole..." Toko pointed out.

"Well, there's nowhere else to go. You guys saw how terrible they are, right? To actually...kill people for fun..." The man shook his head, waving away memories. "They're all insane. I hate them. Even if they're kids, if they push me..."

"You what? You're just sitting around waiting for an opportunity to fight back? Is that it?" Toko guessed.

"No! It'd be reckless to attack now, they have an army of Monokumas. We couldn't win..."

"Yeah, so just as I thought. You're all talk. I figured."

"What's with you guys!? If you're just here to offend people then...goodbye!" He ran off with a huff.

"Hmph, just looking at those kinds of people frustrate me. They're just giving up." Toko let out a frustrated sigh.

"But that's...probably because it can't be helped." Komaru said, trying to defend them.

Toko narrowed her eyes. "It can't be helped? Why?"

Komaru let out a sigh. "They...know how powerless they are. The only thing they can do...is admit they can't do anything."

"And that's why we're all cooped up inside this dust-covered dungeon--" Toko felt her nose twitch. "I mean...this place is...really dusty. I... I might just...sneeze..."

Komaru felt a shiver go down her spine. "N-No, don't! Hold it in!"

"..." Toko took a deep breath. "I-It's okay. I got it, I got it... That was close!"

"What a relief..." Komaru said.

---

The girls then walked behind a pink-haired middle age woman. "U-Um... Hello." Komaru timidly greeted.

The woman didn't even turn around. "...Yeah...."

Toko clicked her tongue. "What a rude woman... Not so friendly, is she?"

"...Well, sorry 'bout that."

"Huh? You heard that!?"

"I have sharp ears. I can even hear things I don't want to hear. It's a pain. If you two plan on staying here, it might be better if you cover your ears as much as possible. ...Because eventually, you'll get sick of it."

"Sick of it...?" Komaru tilted her head.

"I can't really get along with the people here..." She explained.

"If you're so unsatisfied with this place, why don't you just leave?" Toko asked.

"Well, that's a good point." The woman shrugged. Staying here isn't going to improve the situation any. But what I can accomplish by myself is limited. Since that's the case, I'm better off being here." She said as she turned around and showed the girls a black wristband.

Komaru and Akira immediately recognized it. "Ah, that wristband!"

"Your wristband's the same too, right?" The woman guessed. "This is my first time meeting allies."

"Are you a target in those brats' game too?" Toko assumed.

The woman nodded. "Yeah, how about that...? Of all people, I can't believe I was turned into a toy for those kids."

"Um... Are there others like us who have wristbands on them?" Komaru asked.

The woman pursed her lips. "Well, I'm not sure about the precise number, but there are plenty. The others are somewhere in this town, probably shuddering in fear. If possible, I want to save them...and bring them here."

"Save? You?" Toko raised an eyebrow.

The woman shook her head. "No, of course not me personally. But some of the adults here... Listen, everyone other than Shirokuma isn't allowed outside, but they can sneak out. Actually, sometimes I have adults bring back cigarettes from the outside." She mentioned with a playful wink.

"I can't believe they actually listen to you..." Toko mumbled.

"It's not hard. I use a woman's special charm. It's especially effective in situations like this. Of course, you girls aren't full adults yet, so you won't be able to really use your charm..."

"Y-Yeah..." Komaru blushed while Akira raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"But anyway, that's the gist of it. If you ever see someone with a wristband or clues, let me know. We have to save them before they get killed off by the brats." The woman said.

"...Yeah, understood." Komaru nodded.

"Oh, that's right, I almost forgot." The woman adjusted herself before introducing herself. "The name's Hiroko Hagakure. I'm once-divorced and currently single. My age is a secret."

"My name is Komaru Naegi, and the one next to me is Akira Shirayuki. Pleased to meet you." Komaru greeted with a smile.

"H-Hagakure..." Toko muttered. "What a surprise. Doesn't seem like the older sister, maybe the mother...?"

"The one muttering over there..." Hiroko turned to Toko. "What's your name?"

"I-It's Toko Fukawa..."

"Okay, noted. You're Koko, Rara and Fufu." Hiroko winked playfully.

"Wh-Why did you use my last name?" Toko asked.

Hiroko shrugged. "Who cares? Worrying over little details is bad for the skin, hun." 

"Jeez, half-assing it... You two are definitely related." Toko rolled her eyes.

---

"...So?" Shirokuma said as the girls walked up to him. "Everyone here is so nice, there's nothing to worry about, right?"

"If these irritating cowards are nice people, this world must not be made up of bad people. And that "stranger danger" warning would no longer be needed..." Toko grumbled.

"Wow, such an amazing world! That's the epitome of my ideal!"

"...I was being sarcastic."

"Well then, it's about time we went back to the important stuff." Shirokuma gestured to the door next to him. "This place is used as a conference room, so let's talk inside. Here, come in!"

---

The four went into the room, only to see it empty. "Huh? He's not here. He's usually here, though..." Shirokuma mumbled.

"Who's not here?" Komaru asked.

"The leader of the Resistance. I wanted to introduce you guys to him. Can you wait here a little while? I'm sure he'll be back soon." Shirokuma said.

"Leader? He's probably some old geezer who thinks he can run the show." Toko assumed with a scoff. "I won't hold my breath. What kind of leader would a pitiful place like this even have? Definitely a useless old man. If he really is a superior man, he would be in a superior organization. Just like Master..." She looked at Komaru and Akira. "And you shouldn't have high expectations either, Omaru. The same applies to you too, Aki."

"Whatever you say..." Akira sighed.

"Expectations...? What kind of expectations?" Komaru scratched her cheek.

The four then walked around before finding some sort of paper.

---

"List of Victims. Names of the dead are listed here."

"List of Missing. Names of the missing are listed here."

---

"The victims and the missing are divided into two lists..." Komaru paled. "They're both pretty long..."

Toko lightly bit her thumb. "I-It's not even murder at this point... This is war."

"The kids call it "revolution."" Shirokuma spoke up.

"That's just semantics!" Komaru snapped her head around.

Shirokuma nodded. "Exactly. Call it whatever name you please, in the end, there's still a mountain of bodies. But by calling it a revolution, they justify it in their minds, and become even more brutal."

"By how you're talking, you seem to know these brats pretty well." Toko noticed.

"You're talking about the Warriors of Hope who lead the "Monokuma Kids," right?" Shirokuma guessed. "From what I know, they were apparently students of an elementary school affiliated with Hope's Peak."

Toko gasped. "Hope's Peak Academy!? Why would that name come up now?"

"What about it? Did something happen before?" Komaru questioned.

"Not just "something"..." Toko shook her head. "But forget about it for now. It's a very long story. But more on the subject, I never expected the academy to also have an elementary..."

"They're not technically affiliated. Attending Hope's Peak Academy still requires being scouted. But the elementary was still prestigious. Many Hope's Peak Academy students came from there. The elementary studied the talents of children. Only child prodigies could attend." Shirokuma explained.

"And how exactly are they prodigies? They're just a bunch of mental brats." Toko argued.

"I guess that just shows that having a great mind does not always make a great person. Or child." Shirokuma responded. "A child's talent can easily be corrupted into something evil. Those five are the worst example. Actually, the Warriors of Hope were all in the classroom with the "trouble" children."

"Troublemakers, huh?" Toko said with a "hmph". "Just as I thought, they were all deviants from the start."

"It might be more accurate to say that they owned talent not even the teachers could control. And what makes it more horrifying is that they're still kids. They kill without guilt or mercy." Shirokuma narrowed his eyes before his expression turned into a horrified one. "You remember what you were like when you were children? How many cruel things you did? Insane because they're too pure. Uncontrollable because they're too innocent. Children with more potential than adults, with such cruel natures... How horrifying it would be if they were truly out of control. Towa City is an example of that."

"..." Komaru's face went blank, her eyes turning dull.

"Y-You... You think it's fun to threaten us?" Toko narrowed her eyes.

Shirokuma frantically shook his head. "I-It's not like that! I'm just trying to tell you to be careful!"

"Hmph. That's none of your business."

---

"Yo, Shirokuma! Heard you were looking for me." A man with disheveled long hair walked in.

"Ah, Haiji!" Shirokuma exclaimed.

"I heard you went outside again without my permission. Didn't I tell you it's dangerous?" The man, apparently named Haji, reminded before turning his head to the girls. "So, three more newcomers?" He sat down on one of the chairs. "Name's Haiji Towa. I'm the leader of the resistance here."

"Wh-what a surprise... he's pretty handsome..." Toko smirked.

"Huh?" Komaru turned to her.

"Didn't you say that he was a useless old m-" Akira said before Toko put a finger to her lips.

"Shh, shut up!" Toko hushed her before turning to Haiji, blushing and pushing her index fingers together. "I-I'm Toko Fukawa. I hope we get along well..."

"I'm...Komaru Naegi." 

"...Akira Shirayuki. But you can just call me Aki."

"U-Um, so, a girl who's filthy and a girl who's clean, which one do you pref--"

"Um, if your last name is Towa, does that mean that you're...?" Komaru inquired, interrupting Toko.

"Yeah... I'm from the Towa family." Haiji confrmed with a sigh.

"Haiji's father is a chairman of Towa Group." Shirokuma explained.

"Then... You're a son of a distinguished family!? And the Towa Group, too... You must be very..." Toko's blushed reddened further. "Ah, I'm getting a little hot from all this excitement. I don't mind if you help me cool--"

"Got it! Leave it to my special cooling device!" Shirokuma said.

"I-I didn't ask you!"

Haiji sighed. "Well... I'll tell ya right now, I don't have status or money or anything. Those kids took it." He let out a small growl. "Thanks to them, I lost everything. Towa Group, and even the whole damn Towa City..."

"..." Toko blinked. "Ah, by the wayyy... Do you happen to know who's leading the children?"

"...Who knows?"

"Then... Do you maybe know why Towa City became a target?"

Haiji shook his head. "Sorry, but I don't really know much about Towa's situation. Didn't really do anything there. And the one who would have all the answers, my dad... He's been missing since the riots."

"Missing..." Komaru mused before letting out a sad sigh. "I... I'm the same. I don't know where my parents are, either." She looked at Haiji with a pleading expression. "So I... I want to go home no matter what! Please, tell me how to get out of this city!"

"...If there is a way to escape... I'd love to know." Haiji closed his eyes, giving Komaru his answer.

"...Huh?"

"All the roads that connect to the outside are blocked completely. And it wouldn't matter anyway. That wristband... Those kids put it on you, right?" Haiji reminded her.

"I know, it will explode if I try to leave, but... Does anyone know how to take it off, or something?" Komaru suggested, looking desperate.

"..." Haiji sighed, but gave no other response.

"N-No...?"

"I want to help, but...I'm sorry, it's just not possible." Shirokuma said, mushrooms growing on his head.

"However... No need to get too down about that. At least this place is safe. Those brats don't even know this place exists." Haiji assured them. 

"Y-You're telling us just to hide here?" Komaru reiterated.

"It's not like you can escape anyway." Haiji pointed out. "Staying put and keeping quiet is the best move right now."

Komaru nodded. "You're... You're right... At least, as long as I'm here... There's no need to worry..."

"...Why don't you fight?"

"...Hm?" Haiji looked at Toko.

"Isn't this a resistance? An organization created to fight these little brats, right? Then why don't you just fight?"

"Fight? That'd be suicide. We have no guns." Haiji explained before looking down on his right arm, covered in casts. "See this arm?"

"Your arm... Did a Monokuma do it...?" Komaru guessed.

Haiji nodded in confirmation. "Yeah. Got crushed, crumpled up like paper. The whole thing only took a split second. Those brats were...laughing. Like it was fun to them. While I was screaming, bleeding..." He snarled, his expression contorting into one full of pure hatred. "They're not kids... Not anymore. They're devils!"

"Devils...?" Komaru repeated, remembering the pile of corpses Masaru showed them, as well as the adults that Jataro showed them.

Haiji sighed, shaking his head and calming down. "Well, the bright side is, even my nerve endings were crushed, so I down even feel the pain. Of course that just means it'll never fully heal."

Toko narrowed her eyes. "So basically, your will got shattered along with that arm of yours, right?"

"...Huh?"

"And that's why you're sitting here, moping and pitying yourself, right?"

"What the...? You sure got harsh..."

"Th-That nice girl act was just for your benefit! I got information now, using my womanly charm!"

"Huh? An act...?" Komaru tilted her head.

"O-Of course! I belong to Master Byakuya only! And Mistress Sora on occainsion!"

"Seriously, what has Sora been doing at Hope's Peak...?" Akira mumbled.

"There's no way I'd give my heart to some mole of a man, hiding underground like a coward!" Toko fiercely pointed at Haiji.

"It's not like I'm going to hide forever! I'm just waiting...for the right opportunity to strike!"

Toko scoffed, not buying it in the slightest. "Excuses. Save 'em for your psychiatrist."

"What's the point of fighting back, knowing that you'd die!? It's all for nothing if you're dead!" Haiji tried to defend himself.

"The way you are now... You might as well be." Toko glared.

"Toko! That's too far!" Komaru scolded before Toko shifted her glare to Komaru.

"I'm saying it to you, too."

"...Huh?"

"Weren't you going to fight against those brats? What are you doing sympathizing with these people!? Yeah, okay, maybe you are just an average, common, ordinary character with no special talents! A drab girl who lacks presence and charm, with no athletic or intellectual skills!" Toko insulted.

"Wow. Just bash her over the head, why don't you?" Akira snarked.

"...But what's wrong with that!? Someone who just keeps making excuses and doesn't even try to fight back..." Toko shook her head in extreme disapproval. "You're worse than dead. Totally worthless."

"Wh-Why are you being so cruel!?" Komaru shrinked in her spot.

"H-Hey now! I'm sure Toko didn't mean it like that..." Shirokuma said, trying to ease the tension.

"Oh, yes I did." Toko said, not letting off the glare on Komaru. " Just looking at you frustrates me. You... remind me of myself, in the past."

"...Huh?"

"No matter how much pain or despair you feel, nothing will change if you keep denying it. So why don't you just try to change it yourself?" Toko's expression softened, memories flooding through her mind. "No matter how scary the situation was, he faced it head-on, and moved forward... Thanks to that, I'm alive today."

"...Wh-What are you talking about?" Komaru stared at her in confusion.

Haiji sighed, finally speaking up. "Rushing forward at full speed with no hope of success isn't courage, it's stupidity."

"Wh-Who's stupid!?" Toko hissed at him.

"Well? Do you have a plan? Do you know of some way to get out of here? Do you know how to remove a wristband?" Haiji shot back.

"Y-Yeah, of course! I-I'm sure Future Foundation technology can get it off easily!" Toko told him.

"...Huh?" Komaru widened her eyes.

"Ah, I was just saying... It's not like we can contact Future Foundation anyway." Toko realized.

"Wait, hold on. What did you just say about Future Foundation?" Haiji raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're just gonna leave it up to those guys." He growled.

"Wh-What do you mean...?" Toko turned to him in confusion.

"U-Um... Toko is a member of Future Foundation." Komaru explained.

"What...? What did you say?" Haiji grit his teeth.

"...Haiji?" Shirokuma tilted his head.

"If that's the case, then I'm sorry, but..." Haiji clenched his fist. "Get the fuck out of here. I refuse to cooperate with you." He stated as he stood up and walked out of the room.

"Ah! H-Hey!" Komaru called, but it was too late. "What happened? Why'd he get angry all of a sudden?"

"...Let's go." Toko said.

"Huh? But..."

"He told us to get out. We can't stay here."

"Y-You're right, but..." Komaru stuttered as she followed Toko as they left the room.

Chapter 9: End

To be continued...?