Part 31: Update XXIX

♪ BGM: Wonderful Dead 003 ♫

Alright, time to make our way back through Towa Tower's lower floors again.



♪ BGM: Welcome To Towa Tower ♫

We have a pitch black room that looks pretty beat up...



...and the next door over we have a room with some of that Detect paint and a power panel. Let's Move that power panel and see what that does.



It turns the lights on!





Finally, we're out of that horrible darkness.
Yeah, all we gotta do now is get out of here.



Suddenly, a Monokuma kid bursts out of a locker!



This scares the everloving shit out of Toko.



Hey! That was mean! You scared Toko half to death!



Uh, I think she just scared Toko full to death.



A challenge? Again?



♪ BGM: Riddle Land ♫



♪ Jingle: Challenge from a Child ♫

I feel like...we've done something like this before.
Leave it to me! I'm in my element! I, the Riddle Queen!
Wh-Why would you want to give yourself such an embarrassing title?



It's challenge time!



So there's a few factors that go into this one. First of all, we have some Detect paint that shows us something was standing here.



When we go over to the next room and turn the lights off again...



...we see six numbers through the wall. We only need four numbers for the password, though.



S-Sure, but... You think there might be a hidden passageway behind the locker!?





Ugh, you sucker people into doing work for you with your nice words...



...

So we move the lockers here...



...and we're left with only four numbers!



So there's our password.



♪ BGM: We Can't Change The World ♫

Yeah, calm down lady, you only solved a child's riddle.



♪ BGM: Welcome To Towa Tower ♫

That brings us back to the main area of Towa Tower, and oh my that's a lot of Ball Monokumas. Well, I'm sure there's an efficient way to take them all out without giving them a lot of opportunity to kill me, but that would mean I couldn't get Nice Shots. So taking them out one by one it is.



Also, here's what happens when you get hit by the cup noodles the Ball Monokumas shoot. You get a bunch of stuff thrown on your screen that slowly goes away...



...and Komaru gets Kirigiri'd.



Also, sometimes, the Ball Monokumas, instead of shooting cup noodles in a straight line, shoot a bomb in an arc that does like two hearts of damage. Having multiple Ball Monokumas aggroed on you might cause some problems.





Problems like this. As a quick reminder, you don't always get Despair Time to save yourself, mainly when you get blown up or fall down a pit.



The second time around, I manage to make it through, though not without some major damage. A save point would come in handy, but there won't be one until we exit Towa Tower, so the ball-clenching is about to begin for me.



Also, more sparkles!



♪ Jingle: Hidden Kids Discovered! ♫



We also spot a Monokuma attacking a corpse which has a collectible near it.



Well, I guess that concludes the story of that guy. Poor bastard.



Our next stop is another Monoku-Man room.



♪ BGM: Absolute Terrified Girl ♫







Now this is a really dangerous room, with lots of Beast Monokumas lurking around. It appears the Beast Monokumas are controlled by the children's song... That's troubling. But don't be afraid! As long as you can find the singing child, you can disable all the Beast Monokumas.



However, choose the wrong one... And you'll get jumped by a Beast Monokuma! So look for the correct Maiden while you try to avoid the roaming Beast Monokumas. Beast Monokumas move in a specific pattern, so it would be a good idea to figure that out. Also, when you're looking for the right one, you should trust the kid's singing voice.





It's a pain in the ass, but it's better than fighting against them.



♪ Jingle: Challenge from a Child ♫

Alright, so this one is one where it's probably easiest to just watch the video.



♪ Jingle: Monoku-Man Activate ♫



Since I have only one HP left, I am not interested in messing this up. There's three Beast Monokumas in the three vertical halls, and they move in the pattern of "leftmost from top to bottom, middle from top to bottom, rigthmost from top to bottom, leftmost from bottom to top, middle from bottom to top, rightmost from bottom to top" and repeat. There's four of these Monokuma Maidens in chambers we need to check out.



When we enter that room, the music goes silent and we can faintly hear that "Let's Play With Monokuma" song being sung. The idea being that the closer we get to the Monokuma Maiden that contains the kid singing it, the louder it gets.



In the end, however, I just ended up relying on the visual indicator, since it's clear and definitive, and using the volume of the song is, uh, not.



And there we go!



♪ Jingle: Monoku-Man Success ♫



♪ BGM: Welcome To Towa Tower ♫

After finding the kid, the Beast Monokumas all overheat and stop moving, meaning we can set up Nice Shots with ease and get a ton of money, which is always welcome to me.



Exiting that room brings us to the ground floor of Towa Tower, which still has a lot of enemies around, all of which could easily kill me and force me to redo all that stuff.



But let's not think about that, let's think about this collectible instead.





You know, that's actually pretty intriguing.



♪ BGM: DSO_Beautiful Dead ♫

...Are you serious? There's no way I'd believe in ghosts and all that paranormal stuff. I may be liberal arts to the core, but I am capable of thinking logically.
Then why are you afraid of the dark?
...You sure come gouging at me.
Gouging?
Gouging at my brain to force me to remember my trauma! The reason I'm afraid of the dark is because of an experience I had, locked up in a dark place.
Oh, you did something bad so you got locked inside the closet? That happened to me as a kid, too. It's so narrow and dark, it really is scary, huh?
This is *me* we're talking about, my story is way more traumatic than that! I was locked up in a place I didn't even know for 3 days and 3 nights.
F-For 3 days!?
And not even a crumb of bread to eat. Ever since then, my mind connects "dark" and "trauma" subconsciously.
Ugh, just thinking about it now is giving me goosebumps.
Why were you locked up...? And who did that to you!?
... ...
Ugh, I... Remembering it is just...
S-Sorry... I shouldn't have asked.



♪ BGM: Welcome To Towa Tower ♫

Question: How do you deal with a bunch of enemies with no health? Answer: Very carefully. So next comes a whole bunch of carefully taking care of these Ball Monokumas and trying like hell not to get bombed. And I succeeded! I actually did not expect that - I figured I would fuck up somewhere.



With the enemies gone, we can grab the last collectible in here.



Well, sorry, Taichi, but that's not happening. Of course, with Chihiro having been dead for some time now, you were never going to succeed regardless. Random thought: At all times, Taichi refers to Chihiro as his "child", never as his "son". I guess that's a bit of fudging to ensure that we don't have to have the talk about Chihiro's situation a second time. Now, let's head out.



♪ BGM: DSO_Beautiful Dead ♫



It's a good thing we got out of there okay... But being trapped, and that sudden blackout? What's with that...?
It's those brats, obviously. They found out we contacted Future Foundation somehow. That's why they interrupted the communication.
After that, we... We really won't be able to contact Future Foundation ever again...
...Will Makoto come save us?
Like I told you, he can't! If Future Foundation shows up, Master will be in danger!



♪ BGM: DSO_All All Apologies ♫

I'm just a regular girl! I'm not part of Future Foundation or Hope's Peak or anything!
Yap all you want, you can't change the facts.
...Toko... What you said earlier... You weren't serious, were you?
Wh-What do you mean?
You said...you were gonna kill me.
If you're going to just go ahead and summon Future Foundation, I will prevent it.
So you were serious.
That's right, I am serious! I will do anything for the sake of my Master!
So you'd even kill...your friends?
What? Friends? Did you think I'd feel differently if you started using the word "friend"? Don't even try it... I won't be fooled.
B-But that's...horrible... I didn't mean it that way at all... I really... I really do trust you...
Hmph...

Uh oh. There seems to be a rift building between our two heroines.



♪ BGM: DSO_Mr. Monokuma's Extracurricular Lesson ♫

Meanwhile, we cut to the Warriors of Hope, where Kurokuma is still talking.

What, you didn't think I'd still be talkin'? Well guess what? I'm stiiill talkin'!

See? I'm pretty sure that line was directly addressed to the player.

Hey by the way, when is that meat party with the pool of blood in Hell gonna start?
This is gonna be a once in a century event! I'd go even if I had to pawn off my wife for a ticket!
Hahaha! Massacre! Banzaaai!
M to the A to the motherfuckin' "ssacre"!
Oh yeah! Massacre, what an awesome word! It's downright magical! It has a great ring to it, a beat to it, the beatbox beating of my heart!

This line is actually followed by Kurokuma beatboxing. It's amazing.

Hahahaha!
So yeah anyway, Hendrix was like--



Hey, you can't stop me! I'd kill you! My *fans* would kill you! Or maybe I just have to win you over. Should I go help a granny cross the street or somethin'!?
Jeez, interjectin' into my witty banter!? You HI bastard!
Horrific (H) Idiot (I)! Hahahaha!
...Never mind, just be quiet.



Looks like despite his desire to talk, Kurokuma still has to obey when Monaca says something.



♪ BGM: It's a Kids' World ♫

He may be our Advisor, but I really cannot stand all the noise every single time...
We already have great ideas for hurting the adults, so we can get rid of him if we want...
But we've already lost so many of our friends. Let's just keep him in silent mode, hm?



Doesn't have much to say to that.

Ufufu, you're so nice, Monaca! In that case, I have no objections!
If Monaca is fine with it...so am I.
Now, let's hear about this plan of yours, Nagisa. How are we gonna annihilate the Resistance?
Simple, really. We crush their secret base.
Huh? Did you find out where it is?



♪ BGM: Ghost Stories From the School District of Revolution ♫

Like ants who've lost their nest, they will wander aimlessly above ground.
And in that weakened state, we crush every last one of them. The Resistance dies with them.
Oooh, Nagisa! How vulgar! If you weren't on our side, I'd totally pee my pants in fear!
Of course, we have every right to kill them. They've quite earned their fate.
Yep, yep, right! As expected of our new leader, you sure have a good plan, meow!
But, instead of "right to kill them"... Isn't it more like "duty"? We promised Big Sis Junko that the Warriors of Hope will annihilate the Demons.
Wooo wooo, Nagisa and Monaca are so vulgar! So cool!
There's no way I can lose now! I gotta work hard and hunt, hunt, hunt down those Demons!
Ufufu, even though our team is missing a few members, we're really getting pumped up!
...Right? You guys think so too, yeah?



♪ BGM: DSO_Mr. Monokuma's Extracurricular Lesson ♫

Comin' up with that bitchin' plan, all without your Advisor? You sure have grown!
Whoops! I didn't mean like, grown like...in the adult way! You guys wouldn't like that! It's like complimentin' a ninja for standing out so much! Phew! That was a close one! Daaamn close!
Hey, why are you talking? Monaca didn't give you permission.
Aw, be easy on me, Naggy-sa! Monaca brought it up! Didn't you hear her say, "you guys think so"? Obviouslyyy I'm included in there!
Riiight Monaca!?
...Hm? I didn't mean that at all.
Dun dun duuun! Hooold up! It's true that I maaay have chatted just a little too much... But talkin' is like, my whole purpose in life! If you tell me to shut up again, I'll die! Dieee I tell ya! Probably, definitely, no, seriously gonna die!
Jeez, you're hopeless... Fine, just keep it down, okay?
Hahaha, I ain't gonna say "thank you." Aw gee, I sure hope there's no one in your group that can read minds... Don't wanna say a lie that's gonna get sniffed right out!
Hahahaha! Oh, yeah...
*sigh* Seriously...



♪ BGM: Abnormality on the Girls' Front Line ♫

Hey, hey, hey! Where the hell've *you* been!? You totally missed my hilarious dialogue!



...Are these chestnuts properly peeled?
...I'm sorry? No, why?
What are you, nuts!?
This is downright nuts!
I asked for peeled nuts! Unpeeled nuts are like, a completely different food.
Ah, as expected of the great Miss Actress, your orders are quite detailed.

♪ BGM: Silence ♫

Hey, even if you're our servant... You keep bringing up ancient history and I'll kill you.
Sorry, sorry. I'll peel the nuts for you, forgive me.
...Guess I have no choice. I'll forgive you.





♪ BGM: DSO_Junk Food for a Dashing Youth ♫

Hahaha! Good, good! Go for it!



Something, something, insert "creampie" joke here. It's like 2 AM when I'm writing this and I'm tired and can't come up with something.



♪ BGM: DSO_All All Apologies ♫

Now we cut back to our two protagonists, where tensions are continuing to rise.



...It has nothing to do with you.
Nothing to do with me? You've got some nerve, saying that while doing nothing on your own!
Nothing? You think I've done nothing?
It's true that you've saved me a lot, but I've been working hard too, y'know!?
Saying that I haven't done anything, that's too far!
Hmph, what do you want? You want me to praise you? You want me to say "thank you"? Too bad. I've never praised or thanked anyone my whole life.
And that's why you don't have any friends!
...What?

♪ BGM: DSO_Welcome Despair Academy ♫

... L-Leave me alone... I... I like being by myself. R-Rather than tagging along with someone like you, I'd be better off dying a solitary death...
Someone like me? Meaning what?
Someone who always has an excuse. A coward. Using that word "normal" as an excuse, always getting help from others... You're the type of person who always says, "There's nothing I can do about it," right?
You're nothing like your brother. Well, it's not like I really acknowledged him either...
...
Fine.



...To find Shirokuma.
You can go back to that dump if you want, it won't make any difference.
...Better than being here.



Unfortunately, I can't do that. I have my reasons...
...That doesn't make any sense at all...



Well then. Looks like tensions have reached a fever pitch between the two. Next time, we'll see how things continue on their way back to the secret base.