We didn't have to leave the hall from which we came from to find out where our respective rooms were. It was less of a hassle due to the fact that our rooms were in front of each other.
Mrs Enoshima's room was on the left side of the hall, while my own was on the right side. I also noticed that the keys to our rooms were attached to the door, much to my brief chagrin.
That's risky. It truly was the right move to make a stop here. The Togami would probably take advantage of this to see the kind of punishment one would incure from breaking the rules.
"It looks like we are neighbours, eh?" The 'strawberry-blonde' quipped, much to my annoyance. Though... I can't tell a lie and say that a part of me wasn't happy about such a thing.
"It seems like it. That's… convenient." Was it though? I can't see how having her as near as possible could register in my brain as an actual plus. No matter how small of a feeling it may be the fact remains that I felt happy about it... comforted, even... "Anyways, I will see you in half an hour, Mrs Enoshima." I gave pleasantries to the fashion icon with my famous, award-winning smile.
"Sure! Catch ya later!" With a wave and an energetic dismissal, Enoshima went inside her own room.
Taking my keys, I followed the same course of action, curious to see what my resting place for the unforeseeable future would look like.
As soon as I got inside the room, I locked the door and dropped my smile while I opened my eyes. Once I did that, I, regrettably, allowed myself to let out a slight sigh of relief.
Tis was like I was releasing a deep breath that I had yet to let go of. Suffocating on such stuff and overbearing air as I had to deal with such an annoying ensemble cast. These stars of the show were quite a handful to deal with. Not even actual kids are as annoying as them. Sigh. Though I suppose that's what you should expect with such extremes.
And yet... I do not feel the same way for the Enoshima girl - at least not to the same degree as the others. How annoying.
Though I cannot tell a lie, she is, aside from Sakura, the most tolerable one here. Hell, even Mrs Enoshima's thought process was almost the same as my very own.
I didn't want to search my room and find a sudden visitor while I was in the middle of finding whatever 'surprises' Monokuma might have left here. He's a tricky one after all and I don't doubt that he'd try and get me in even more trouble with the rest of the group.
Putting me once again into the limelight. Damnit. This stage was never made for all of us. I was supposed to make my swift exit out of the story once I had helped the others understand the situation at hand as my role should entail.
And yet... And yet! It's all gone to shit because of her! That damn Kirigiri ruined everything for me! My entire plan, gone up in smoke at the snap of a finger.
Though... I suppose that was my own fault for forgetting about my condition. Yes, the only one to blame is myself and curse my terrible luck for creating such an alluring scene.
Tis truly a shame. I won't be able to watch from the sidelines for the time being. Might as well get comfortable as this week's MacGuffin and/or monster of the week. Here, here to the role forced upon me!
Oh, wait, what was I doing again... Ah, yes, I remember now.
Focusing my eyes on the space in front of me I began to take in my new environment.
That, and seeing that indeed each room had its own lock and personalized keys 'If my name in the keychain is anything to go by…', I wouldn't want to let the risk of someone 'accidentally' getting my own keys happen. It is true that I don't believe in the possibility of someone committing murder on the first day, but I'm also not stupid to allow a security breach of that kind in my own 'safe-haven'. Heh... Isn't that ironic?
Speaking of which, I was also pretty sure that the monochrome bear could trespass on the room at his will, but unfortunately, that's a different matter that I can't prevent. And knowing him, he probably has multiple ways of doing so too. Most likely has spares of all our room keys.
As for the surprises part… looking around, it seemed I was right about taking them into consideration.
At first glance, it appeared like a normal bedroom with the default furniture. A trash can. A single table in the middle of the room, where close to it one could find a bed along with a lint roller not so far from it. Behind said bed there was a desk which had a notepad and some pencils atop of it, with a chair lying on the near. On the opposite side of the room, there was a clock and an open wardrobe. From what I could see, there were three sets of clothes and religious garments that were no different from the one I was currently wearing. 'That's… certainly a bit weird', I thought narrowing my eyes at the wardrobe. 'It's one thing to be able to kidnap us, another thing to have our exact clothes'. In the corner next to the desk, there was a door apart from the one I came from, which had a note attached to it.
Aside from all those identical sets of clothes, that was where the normal aspect of the room ended. The next was what I couldn't help but consider as 'disappointing but not really surprising'.
That included a monitor next to the new door, which is similar to the ones I have seen all around the 'school' working as part of the broadcasting system for Monokuma's announcement. There was also a surveillance camera and, of course, more metal plates.
Which, given previous scenes, would indicate that there are windows behind those plates.
Lastly, it seemed that the rooms were personalized to fit the talent of the person assigned to the room. Which made me feel assured that the whole 'taking the surprises into consideration' was the correct choice after all.
The small blessing, if I could call it that, was that everything in this category while worrying and somewhat suspicious, wasn't overall incriminating although it was incredibly polarising.
They just consisted of 'furniture', like a throwing knife target with a human shape in the wall between the wardrobe and the desk, although no blades nor darts could be seen anywhere around to make use of the said target.
Next to it, there were three maps. Lethality points to be more precise for gunshot, stab, and bludgeoning wounds respectively.
A small three-sectioned bookshelf filled with books on history and religions fixed to the wall by the table and on the same side of the room as the door that led to a place yet explored.
Finally, between the desk and that other door with the note, my o' so 'favourite' item: An item. An item that looked quite differentfrom the others around it.
It had quite a simple design to it which was intentional. I will not give too much information on it as that would ruin the surprise. But I will tell you this. There was a white cross on it no different than the ones around the cuffs of my gloves. Finally, the cherry on top of this illusory cake was an acronym under said cross.
H.
S.
S.
H S S.
…
…
…Hmm, problematic would be putting it lightly. Perhaps even underselling it a little.
Of course, Monokuma put memorabilia for anyone to notice at a glance once they enter my room, and to be easily recognizable should anyone know what to look for. Sure, why not?
Out of all my classmates, the most likely candidate for recognizing this item was the Togami, with Celeste being a close second though that is to say that she'd even know about such people… which makes it weird that said Togami hadn't made the connection with the cross I wore on my neck. Or at least he hasn't revealed it to our other prisoners. Though, knowing them, they'd probably keep it hidden and try to use it against me if I were to ever get in his way.
Maybe he had seen me as too much of an inferior being to pay attention to these types of details, or he does still not know about Them, perhaps? I knew I shouldn't take things for granted, but for now, I was not going to a gift horse in the mouth. The script decided he wouldn't pry or try to expose me yet and I will dutifully follow along until it is.
Now, when it came to my other red-eyed classmate, she had a lot of experience dealing with the deepest places of the underground world. It wouldn't be out of the possibility that she had heard enough things to know about Them. I mean, even since we met, she always had this glint in her eyes, both before and after knowing about my talent. Prior to today, that is.
I can't discard the possibility that, unlike Togami, she does recognize the symbol in some way. That she hasn't said anything about it meant nothing. She isn't the Queen of Liars for show.
Besides those two, smart people like... Mrs Kirigiri… actually, forget only her, anyone with a sense of curiosity would ask questions about what's up with that item, given it stood out, and what it represented if I allowed them the chance to see it. I wasn't planning to of course, but the risk that one way or another they found out about it without my consent existed.
…If I am honest, while it would be troublesome if everyone found my connection with Them, it wasn't the kind of secret that I had to kill to keep it that way.
At least not when it came to my fellow... classmates.
After all, them finding out about its existence was bound to happen if I attended Hope's Peak normally. They may be a lot of things, but being ignorant and impulsive to the point of letting me come here without having some leniency for students within that school was not one of them… even if only because of its reputation and influence.
But that didn't apply to our captor. No, not even a little. So, how much did he know? The more time I spent in this place, the more of a threat said person was becoming. You don't just stumble across Them. They either seek you out or you are referred to them by someone who's already in the know. That or our captor has an incredibly good information network. But who could have such a wide-spanning reach like that?
Tch, It doesn't help that I won't be getting an answer to any of my questions anytime soon…
Putting that aside for now, all this extra stuff was, as I pointed out before: Worrying and suspicious, but not incriminating. At least not fully.
From what I had seen so far from Monokuma, I wouldn't put it past him to fill my entire room with all kinds of weapons and poisons. Now that had a big chance of becoming a can of worms that I definitely didn't need nor wanted. It was bad enough having that Kirigiri woman in my room.
Sigh. I may have allowed myself to become the evil that must be vanquished, but I will not let another person bend the script to their whims.
Anyway, with the initial assessment of this room finally done, I was beginning to feel my hands itching to finally check the metal plates, so with nothing else on the way, I went to one of them.
For all my self-made hype for this, there wasn't much for me to try with them. For the sake of it, I attempted to remove the plate. Unsurprisingly, it didn't work. There wasn't even a sign that it would. Which would naturally mean that they were screwed in extremely well.
Then, I moved to the bolts that keep it sealed, I tried to unscrew them until my hands hurt… again, with nothing to show for it.
I repeated the process with the other plates, with the results coming as not-so-varying levels of failure.
Once I made sure that there wasn't anything else to see, at least not in plain sight, I approached the door with the note stuck to it. Taking off said note I observed its contents.
Which was as follows:
[ Announcement from Headmaster Monokuma:
Each room's lock has been designed to completely protect against tampering or lock picking.
Remaking an individual key is quite troublesome so please make sure not to lose yours. Your room comes furnished with a shower, but please note that the water is turned off at nighttime.
Also, the bathrooms in the girl's rooms include a lock of their own.
Finally, we've prepared a small gift for each of you.
For the girls, a sewing kit.
And for the boys, a toolkit.
The sewing kit includes a map of the body's vital organs. One stab will do the job, girls!
For the boys, we believe a strong blow to the head with any of the tools should be ample.
Don't think! Just feel! And let's all enjoy ourselves!
Oh, and one more thing…
As you may have noticed, this room has a throwing knife target, befitting of the student who owns this room.
Never be said that a bear can't be a responsible Headmaster! I took the liberty to leave an extra gift so that the owner of this room doesn't get left behind in the development of his talent pupupu!
And if this note is being read by someone else…
Well, sorry not sorry! Seriously, what kind of Ultimate Assassin is so careless to allow that? Consider this a lesson, young man!]
…
...
I had half a brain to just crumple the paper and throw it in the trash can, but no, this would cause trouble and given that I'm having Celes and the Kirigiri over, It'd be shortsighted of me to do so. Be so it may, I kept it with myself until I could find a place to destroy the evidence permanently. Looking from the paper to the door in front of me, made me wonder one thing.
Don't tell me Monokuma went as far as putting a whole extra room full of weapons? I know it says it's only a shower, but…
Deciding to confirm it now better than later, I opened the door and pushed past it, where I was greeted by…
A bathroom. An ordinary one at that. So he really can tell the truth, huh?
It consisted of a sink with a mirror on the left side and next to it, there was a cabinet, with a hand towel hanging under it. On the left front side of the room, there was a glass wall along with a glass door. Inside it, there was a shower with some basic products, such as shampoo and soap. Finally, the right front consisted of a toilet with toilet paper next to it, hanging in a holder.
Another important thing that I noticed was the lack of surveillance cameras. Seems that I found the first blind spot and it was inside a shower room no less. I lacked evidence to make a solid enough case, but I can't discard the possibility of similar places existing. Perhaps also in places that would be considered as bathroom areas.
That being said…
It's not a weaponry room, then? Well... Alright.
I moved to inspect the cabinet, throwing it open to find that inside of it was…
A toothbrush, toothpaste, and... more soap bars.
So… Basic hygiene items
...
So, not a cabinet full of all kinds of poisons, then? Okay… I was not one to deny when I was a little disappointed.
Well... After deciding that I was more grateful than disappointed with these developments, I decided that my next course of action under the watchful eye of my captor was to inspect the desk I was given. But before I went to leave the bathroom and began to look at the desk.
I took the note that I had inside one of the pockets within my garments, ripped it to pieces and threw said pieces inside the toilet, and, with a mighty flush of the toilet's hand, finally, I had been freed of its contents.
Well… at least I got rid of it pretty fast, didn't I?
After leaving the bathroom and putting my sight on the desk, I saw that it had four compartments. I decided to check them in descending order.
The first two had absolutely nothing in them. However, it was the remaining two who carried the true prize within the room.
The third drawer had the toolkit Monokuma mentioned in the note. Its contents, from what I could see, consisted of a hammer, screwdriver, wrench, and a side cutter.
Curious. The bear wasn't lying with the blow to the head thing. All of this can certainly be lethal when you hit in the right place and with the right amount of force, but still… maybe I can find a non-lethal use for these tools. Perhaps dislocate someone's shoulder
With the assessment done, I inspected the last compartment, where I saw…
…
…
…
…Huh.
I was never going to admit it to his face, nor would I ever show it on my face, but... that bare bear bastard did know how to leave a gift.
Actually, rather than a gift, he was merely giving something back. So, in retrospect, no need to admit anything here.
Reaching down for the drawer's contents, on my hands there now were a pair of cross-shapped daggers. Or rather... crosses hiding daggers.
While most people would see a simple set of crosses, that couldn't be further from the truth, with a simple twist and flick of one's wrist, the blades hidden in their holy sheaths are set free. Their special black coating denies their natural metallic glint that would otherwise expose the blades in... certain circumstances. Does this make me look even more sketchy and discredit my disowning of being the SHSL Assassin, yes. Yes, it does. But it's not as if anyone would find out about them.
I know using daggers and the like is cliche and sometimes a stigma about an assassin using daggers of all things in media, but given that so far, they have got the job done, I saw no reason to feel bothered by such notions.
That's not me admitting to being the SHSL Assassin by the way I'm just clarifying something since a lot of people get all uppity about a historical fact. And besides, I only use them when I'm in danger. I would never use these to kill someone.
Anyways, seeing that I was done inspecting my office tools, I was about to conceal the weapons in the inner pockets of my garments where they belonged when… only for a last piece of trivia regarding them to catch my sight.
Those being the inscriptions respectively marked on the blades.
The first set of them had inscribed on them IN NOMINE SANCTI DOMINI.
The second went as follows: AMODO NE QUIS MIHI MOLESTUS SIT QUIA STIGMATA EIUS IN CORPORE MEO PORTO.
The third set said SIC EAMUS UT CUM EO MORIAMUR.
The final set had inscribed on them UT DENTES ABLI DRACONIS TIMET.
Based on the gothic mysticism found in them, I guessed that most people would find that detail interesting, or 'cool' for that matter.
For me, all it caused was a tired breath to escape my mouth while holding back a grimace.
"That name… They truly like their roleplaying, don't they? It's almost pitiful hehe."
Well, Instead of dwelling too much on it, I let the matter rest as I put my sight on the clock while concealing the weapons. This time for real, promise. Noticing that the thirty minutes Enoshima and I accorded were about to finalize, I prepared to make good on my promise.
Although, going back to the third drawer…
Before leaving the room and reconvening with the Fashionista, I took one thing from the toolkit that I was sure would come in handy soon.