Archive of Our Own

The bustling hubbub of the students in Class 79 gradually hushed to a low murmur as a singular voice rose above the noise.

"Everyone listen up!"

The command, given with unwavering authority, cut through the animated conversations. Kaede's voice boomed, each word laced with determination, clapping her hands together for emphasis.

As her classmates turned their attention to the source of the proclamation, Kaede squared her shoulders with a spark of enthusiasm dancing in her eyes. Her grin widened, radiating an infectious energy that soon captured everyone's curiosity, guiding their gazes to a man who stood with dignity amidst the attentive crowd.

Slumped in his chair, chin cradled in his palm, Kokichi absentmindedly kicked his feet beneath the desk, a portrait of bored indifference. The boy at the front of the classroom, with an air of authority that made even the bravest students shift in their seats, proceeded to introduce himself, though his identity was hardly a mystery. After all, Kiyotaka Ishimaru's reputation as a formidable presence in the school corridors was no secret. A momentary lapse in vigilance, and those keen, piercing red eyes would pounce like a hawk in a hunt. Kokichi had firsthand experience with Kiyotaka's knack for spoiling his pranks.

"Our class," Kaede's voice broke through the ambient murmurs, "as decided by the Student Council President, will be participating in a tradition. It takes the form of a competition. We'll be subjected to a gauntlet of scares devised by our upperclassmen, all to determine who among us has the most guts." The competitive edge in her tone elicited intrigued glances from most students, including Kokichi.

"I must emphasize," Kiyotaka chimed in, "this will be a fair competition. I'll be overseeing everything to ensure that no rules are broken and that no noses are broken in the process. The spirit of this game is to withstand the scares we, the organizers, have arranged. It will take place within the old school building."

Kaede continued with an amused chuckle, "And to add some stakes, whoever's team forfeits first will be prominently featured on the front page of the school paper as the Ultimate Wuss Squad! Not my idea, by the way."

Her comment drew murmurs and chuckles from the crowd, for the old building had accumulated its fair share of spooky rumors during its three-year closure. It was a typical occurrence at Hope's Peak, an institution aged and grand, concealing its share of dark secrets beneath the polished surface. Kokichi, thanks to his penchant for eavesdropping at Committee meetings and being able to lockpick the Headmaster’s office in his sleep at this point, was all too aware of this.

He highly doubts the rumors of an entire class being slaughtered in the old building were true– but now that it’s being opened up for something as inconsequential as a Halloween event? Pity, Kokichi was kinda hoping for some grand conspiracy. Or maybe a weird lab experiment in the basement. Eh, maybe in some other universe.

Either way, this is right up his alley– the perfect opportunity to flaunt his prankster skills. Sure, it’s his class that is meant to get scared, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t gonna bend the rules– After all, what was a harmless scare but a prank in disguise? His suppressed snickers garnered a side-eye from the cosplayer seated next to him, but he paid her no heed. Easy pickings.

Kaede is holding a hat filled with small pieces of paper, which Korekiyo kindly offered. She shakes the hat to emphasize its contents and lifts it up. "For this event, we'll be divided into teams! I'll go around to each of your desks, and all you need to do is draw a piece of paper from the hat. Your team will be determined by the color of the paper you pick!"

Kiyotaka added with a stern undertone, "And make sure to close your eyes before you pick. I'll be watching!"

As Kaede began weaving through the desks, Kokichi's hyperactive mind darted to the diverse personalities and potential pairings forming. Subtle alliances and rivalries were already manifesting. Kaito's anxious grip on Shuichi's shoulder while Maki playfully kicked his shin were impossible to ignore. Across the room, Angie and Himiko shared meaningful eye contact, to the evident chagrin of Tenko.

With a smirk, he quipped, “Whoever gets Momota-chan on their team is screwed.”

After returning Korekiyo's hat, Kaede strides to the front of the classroom. "Alright, I'm going to call out color names, so lift up your paper when you hear your color called. Those who raise them will be your teammates for the night of the competition."

"Blue!" Kaede's voice rings out, and in an instant, Miu, Maki, Korekiyo, and Shuichi hoist their papers into the air. Kokichi quirks an intrigued eyebrow at this mix. Though a tad disappointed that Shuichi won't be on his team, he can't help but feel a twinge of relief for not ending up with Miu and Maki.

He glances down to his strip of paper, a big purple mark blotting the center.

“Yellow!”

Kiibo, Kirumi, Gonta, and Tsumugi promptly raise their hands. Kokichi dismisses the apology etched on Gonta's face directed at him with a nonchalant shrug.

“Purple!”

Kokichi raises his hand– and watches as Tenko’s arm shoots up, Himiko’s slowly following behind, and… Kaito’s hand hesitantly raises. Kokichi gasps, feigning offense.

“Akamatsu-chaaaaan,” Kokichi bats his lashes with a fake smile. “I’m allergic to big, giant cowards. Can Momota-chan and Iruma-chan switch places?”

The other students let out sounds of exasperation, eyes rolling. Kaito lets out a garbled noise. “What the fuck, man!?”

“Hey don’t drag me into this, shithead!” Miu slaps at his desk with a glare. “You made your fuckin’ bed! Y’all are on your own with the Class Pussy.” Kaito makes an even louder, offended noise at that.

Akamatsu sighs wearily, rubbing her face. "No, Ouma-kun, you can't change teammates. Try being a good sport, please?"

Irritated, yet masked behind feigned tears and a trembling lip, Kokichi fires back, "I just want everyone to be happy: Momota-chan with his besties, and me with mine!"

Tenko barks out a laugh. “Ha! Oh no, we are not your besties, right Himiko-san?”

The girl in question rubs her eye, showing little interest. "I don't really care."

Miu scoffs. “While I’m flattered your twink ass has finally come around to my alluring beauty and voluptuous chest, I’m not interested. My bestie is Kiibo, uh-doy! Bakamatsu, just keep going, he’s yapping just to yap!”

Maki ends the conversation with a sharp glare at Kokichi. “Yeah, seriously, shut it.”

“...Fine.” Kokichi neutralizes his expression, lips pressed into a thin line as Kaede calls out the last color: Red. Rantaro, Hoshi and Angie raise their hands.

"I'll be joining the red team," Kaede declares with a bright smile, smoothing over the earlier tension caused by Kokichi's antics. The room quickly transitions back to a buzz of excitement as classmates begin discussing their costumes for the upcoming event. The hum of conversation drifts past Kokichi like water, as he sits at his desk, brooding and cursing his own big mouth.

Just his luck.

As a few days came and went, the eagerly anticipated Halloween night arrived, cloaked in the soothing ambiance of laughter that trickled through the air. The campus was adorned with a plethora of orange paper lanterns that dangled from every possible perch, casting an eerie, yet inviting glow. Life-sized animatronics peppered the grounds, their eerie movements bringing an uncanny spookiness to life.

In the midst of it all, the night was punctuated by the shrill symphony of students' gleeful screams echoing from the heart of the haunted house attractions. These spine-tingling adventures challenged even the bravest souls to conquer their deepest fears.

Amid the scenery, students moved about, their spirits as vibrant as their costumes. The courtyard was transformed into a bustling epicenter of activity, brimming with the savory aromas of delectable foods and the sweet fragrance of candied treats. Vendor stalls, expertly arranged and illuminated by flickering lanterns, offered a sumptuous array of delights to satisfy every craving. Conversations filled the air as friends and classmates reveled in the enchanting atmosphere, ensuring a memorable Halloween night at Hope's Peak Academy.

As the clock struck 7 PM, Class 79 was ushered by Kaede to the old school building. Towering overhead, the building cast an imposing silhouette, shrouding itself in the cloak of night and obscuring the soft, silvery radiance of the moon's gentle glow.

“From this perspective,” said Kokichi, gnawing on a lollipop. He was wearing an elaborate orange and purple jester’s costume, perfect for the clown prince of lies. “No wonder this place has a bunch of rumors. Anyone want to bet that it’s haunted?”

Gonta, who was dressed like a pirate and carrying Kokichi on his shoulders, responded skeptically. "Gonta doesn't think those rumors are true because... well, ghosts are not real. Right?"

Tsumugi, donned in a handmade teal uniform, a red rose embroidered on each sleeve with a lavender ribbon around her neck was standing beside Gonta, wringing her hands nervously. "But didn't Enoshima-san say they were hiding some... bloody secrets in there?" She swallowed audibly and whispered her last words.

Kokichi removed his candy with a pop. "Only idiots believe what Enoshima says. Why would they open it on Halloween night if that was true?"

She hesitated for a moment before responding. "Maybe to sweep their dark history under the rug? It could've taken three years to clean all the stains!"

Kaito interjected with an anxious tone. "Hey, can you guys stop talking about this? Nobody died there; it's not haunted." Even he wasn’t convincing himself. He was dressed like a werewolf, but he didn’t look confident under the full moon as one.

Kokichi sneered at him, pointing his lollipop at his rival accusingly. “You don’t sound so sure, Momota-chan. Who knows, maybe I’m wrong, and there’s vengeful ghosts lurking every corner of the darkness– ow!”

A plastic brass knuckle bounced off Kokichi's face before he could react, and Maki picked it up with an annoyed huff, ignoring her victim’s whines. Kaito's face had turned ghostly pale; Maki had to slap his back to snap him out of it.

“He’s just messing with you.” She said, wearing a weird metallic mask and a black outfit. “Good luck dealing with him.”

Kaito sighed resignedly. "You're right, Harumaki." Shuichi patted his shoulder in comfort. Ever the detective, he’s dressed like Sherlock Holmes, cap and all.

Grinning, Kokichi added, “I’ll let that slide, since I was lying after all.”

Before the conversation can continue, Kaede arrives with the rest of her classmates in tow with a chipper greeting. She was wearing a red catsuit matched with a mask sporting cat ears.

"Alright everyone, Ishimaru-kun will join us shortly to get started. Oh, Harukawa-san, we’re both phantom thieves!" Kaede excitedly pointed out. Maki responded with a pout and gripped her pigtail.

The mad scientist Miu grins, eyeing Kokichi with amusement. “Oi, Ouma, good luck getting past the first floor with the Class Pussy on your team! Kya kya– gyah!?” A plastic brass knuckle to her face interrupted her taunt.

Kaito's face flushed with embarrassment. "Whatever! I know there's nothing weird or supernatural in there. This will be easy for the Ultimate Astronaut!" He puffed out his chest proudly. "Our upperclassmen can't scare me!"

Tenko interjected amidst doubtful murmurs. "If they try to scare us, they get the flip!" She clenched her fist and glared at the building, looking at home as Homura Akemi. “Especially if they try to target Himiko-san! The boys are on their own when it comes to fear, though.”

Kiyotaka emerged from the old building, cutting short the banter. Wearing his usual prim uniform and an oni mask tied around his head, he looked ready for action, clipboard and all. He began announcing that teams will be allowed to enter the building in five-minute intervals, to assure the entire class doesn’t end up grouping together.

It’s decided that the order will be Blue, Red, Purple and Yellow, so Kokichi decides to use their ten minutes of waiting wisely.

“Sorry big guy, gotta go strategize.” Kokichi hops off Gonta’s shoulders with no warning, grinning up at him. “Go snuggle up with your teammates.”

The two part ways, and Kokichi decides it’d be a lost cause to try and physically push Tenko around– so he grabs Himiko’s wrist, much to Tenko’s displeasure, who follows after them, and he approaches Kaito, seeing off his friends.

“Shuichi, Harumaki– you’re my sidekicks, you’ve been trained for this!” He gives them his signature wink and thumbs up. “If anything weird happens in there, you’ll be ready for it.”

Shuichi and Maki shared a knowing eye roll in response to Kaito's flair for the dramatic before nodding in agreement. However, their fondness dissipates as they notice Kokichi standing off to the side. After bidding Kaito good luck, they gathered their group and proceeded to enter the building, their anticipation palpable in the air. As the astronaut anxiously tracked their progress until they vanished within the building's gloomy interior, his watchful eyes remained fixed on them. It was only when Kokichi gave his shoulder a playful smack to regain his attention that Kaito was jolted back to the present.

“Momota-chan, I got an epipen for my coward allergy, so I’m totes willing to work with you as long as you work with us, capiche?” He clicks his tongue. Tenko wrenches his hand off Himiko’s wrist, holding the smaller girl to her chest defensively.

"Ouma-san, really, can't you have a little bit of tact?"

“Says you.” Kokichi eyes the slightly annoyed and sleepy girl in her arms. “Hey, Yumeno-chan, don’t fall asleep or the ghosts will suck your brains out with a straw.”

“Nyeh, don’t care. I can cast a brain-protecting spell… well, I could if I had more mana…”

"Here you go, free mana!" Kokichi unwraps a candy from his pocket and pops it into her mouth. Tenko's eyes widened in disbelief.

Kaito grabs Kokichi's wrist and pulls it away, leaving Himiko standing there in confusion but seemingly appreciating the free candy. "Just get to the point."

Kokichi forcefully removes his wrist from Kaito's grasp and crosses his arms with a nod. "Alright, listen up, my loyal accomplices! We need a game plan for this, it's war!" He punches his fist into his palm. "Because of that, we need to stay alert, watch each other's backs to ensure no one catches us off guard!"

"The way you're talking about this is so serious, and yet, it's basically just a haunted house exclusively for us!" Tenko absentmindedly plays with a braid before dropping it as she realizes something. "Hey, we're not your accomplices! Don’t make it sound so devious, you menace."

Kokichi snickers as she flicks his forehead and continues. "Just use that signature flip move you love to use on guys if you see anything weird or spooky, alright? Maybe even flip Momota-chan if you start sensing his fear."

The boy in question frowned. “Hey–”

"And Yumeno-chan," Kokichi interrupts, turning to the mage. "Use some weird magical calming effect on him if he starts freaking out. Or any of your spells, curses, or hexes that you have in your arsenal. Sounds good?"

Rolling the candy in her mouth idly, she hums, before speaking around the treat. "Mm, I'll see what I can do. I have a few cantrips available that I can sort through to see what I can do about Momota's aversion to supernatural stuff."

"You know," Momota interjects loudly, his cheeks turning red. "I said I'd be just fine! I'm Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars...nothing is going to scare the Ultimate Astronaut!"

The three look at him doubtfully.

Himiko hums. "Hmm, I didn't like how he said that. Veto." Tenko quickly agrees, saying, "Yeah, the delivery was shaky, very unlike you, Momota-san."

Kaito opens his mouth to counter, before they’re cut off by Kiyotaka beckoning them over, and Kaito clamps his mouth shut as the color begins to drain from his face already, but is led forward by Kokichi as they approach the building.

“Team Purple! It’s time.” Kiyotaka dutifully opens the front doors and ushers them into the darkness.

As they step into the darkened entrance hall, they’re greeted with a grisly scene– from what it looks like, it seems to be a makeshift post-apocalyptic scene, with fake blood splatters on the floor, two impressively made paper mache gatling guns hung on the ceiling to tie it all together (and it makes him wonder if Angie helped out with the decorating.)

The dim overhead lights barely allow them to see five feet ahead of them, transforming innocuous shapes into unnerving silhouettes, causing Kaito’s heart to jump in his chest and his hand reaching out to grip Kokichi’s like a lifeline. The supreme leader just rolls his eyes and suppresses the urge to make a comment at his expense– this time.

As the four began to slowly tiptoe through the entrance hall, the faint sounds of footsteps in the above floors served to put them slightly on edge. Kaito is as jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof, while Tenko tenses up, bracing herself for the unknown. Himiko trailed behind them, arms crossed over her chest.

It was… annoyingly quiet.

Tenko, noticing the grip Kaito had on Kokichi’s hand, turns to Himiko. “Yumeno-san, wanna hold my hand so you don't get lost in the dark?”

The mage doesn’t even protest, holding out her hand for the other girl to gleefully take. She observes Himiko for a moment as they walk hand in hand, before her eyebrows suddenly shoot up. “Oh, Yumeno-san, you’re dressed as Sakura’s Storm Card outfit, aren’t you?”

The girl perks up at this as a smile curls at her lips. “Didn’t strike you as a Cardcaptor fan…”

“What can I say, I just love magical girls!” She squeals, not realizing that Himiko’s cheeks flush a light pink, but enough for Kokichi’s snooping ass to notice.

Kokichi observes this, taking that as an opportunity to undercut the growing suspense, and hopefully make Kaito ease up on crushing his hand. “Goodness, Momota-chan! Did we just bear witness to a confession of love?” This causes Tenko to sputter and choke for a second, face flushing red.

“You can’t just say that, you little bastard!” Kaito admonishes him, but his life grip eased up significantly. Kokichi takes the chance to slip his hand out and sticks his fingers out into devil horns on his head with a cheshire grin.

“Nishishi, just kidding, obviously! You can do that on your own time, girlfriend.” He teases once again, and Tenko growls, about to chew him out before Himiko squeezes her hand with a sigh.

“Calming spell, calming spell, calming spell…”

Tenko’s shoulders droop and her head hangs a bit lower as she lets out a sigh. Kokichi has to keep a snort hidden to himself– that definitely worked on Tenko, the gayest girl alive. “It worked, didn’t it?” Himiko eyes Tenko with a smile.

The taller girl nods eagerly. “Your magic is so amazing, Yumeno-san! I hope to learn from you someday!”

Himiko looks a bit uncomfortable at the idea of teaching someone– but still hums without a word, and they continue on.

The conversation trails off for a bit after that as they wander into the student dorms, the older interior design causing the red hallways and the low lighting to be soaked in a deep maroon, shadows hiding away in the darkness. Kokichi had to admit, they really nailed the atmosphere. It’s as if there was a massacre painting the walls and floors entirely, bloodlust still lingering in the air.

…Bloodlust… the word struck a chord in Kokichi’s memory, and decided; hey, what the hell.

“Y’know, word on the street, apparently there’s an infamous serial killer loose in our school somewhere. Just thought that was interesting!”

The three paused as he wandered a few steps forward, before turning slowly to them with a plastered innocent look of curiosity.

Kaito is tense as he says, “You’re just lying as usual, you little shit. I can definitely tell you that!” Tenko is just rolling her eyes, completely dismissing him.

Surprisingly, Himiko bites. “At least elaborate if you’re gonna say somethin’ like that…”

At this, the clown quickly wheels on his foot to face the trio with a grin. “I heard it from Togami-chan! According to him, it’s highly likely that this murderer is a student here, cool right?”

“Not cool!” Tenko shouts, wrapping her arms around Himiko protectively. “I-I’d never believe anything that jerk says!”

Kokichi waves a hand at her. “Oh, puh-lease, Togami-chan is similar in a way to Nevermind-chan– they loooove sharing morbid and unwanted facts, and since I bear this dubious knowledge, now you will too!”

Kaito groans, sufficiently both irritated and disturbed by the thought of a crazy murderer being in the same building as him, and god dammit he’s letting Ouma win. “Stop fucking around!”

In the chilling darkness, a sudden sneeze echoed through the ominous hallway, halting all four of them in their tracks. They cautiously turned towards the origin of the sound and spotted a barely discernible figure in the darkness. Only the bottom of a black dress and her shoes were illuminated, casting an eerie silhouette.

"Well, well, looks like somebody was gossiping about me!" The voice of Toko Fukawa exclaimed with a raspy voice, stepping towards them to let herself be more known. She was donned in an elegant funeral dress and a black veil, leaning onto a scythe, and jutting out her hip in a sinister pose.

"You summoned Genocide Jack, and now she appears!"

…

The four exchanged bewildered glances. The confusion hung heavy in the air as they struggled to comprehend the situation.

"Uh, gesundheit?" Ouma quips in response.

Toko glared at him in the darkness for a few seconds before her expression twisted, and she broke out into an uncharacteristic fit of maniacal laughter. Her laughter echoed ominously in the dimly lit corridor, and she wiped away a tear from her eye. “Oh wow, you’re so polite, little man!”

Only a second passed before she pointed a pair of scissors at them with the manic grin of a madwoman. “I’m gonna kill you all now! The girls go last, the boys first for the real fun!”

“What the fuck!?” Kaito yells, clearly taken aback by the usual wallflower’s uncharacteristic behavior. Tenko is clearly as perplexed as Kokichi is, as he raises an eyebrow at the girl across the hall, and finds himself stepping backwards towards the direction of the exit.

"Didn’t strike you as a method actor, Fukawa-chan!" Kokichi quipped, hoping to shatter the illusion and bring back the real Toko. "Going to Halloween as Genocide Jack—a true crime enthusiast, are we?"

Toko just continued to roll her tongue over her teeth in a twisted display of delight. She menacingly pointed her scissors first at Kaito and then at Kokichi, declaring, "The hot ones die first!"

Terror-stricken, they all retreated to the exit and dashed into the multi-colored halls to escape Toko's chilling madness. They sprinted for the second floor, their only means of getting her off their trail. The echoes of her maniacal laughter lingered in their ears as they fled the darkened corridors.

“H– Hah! Man, Fukawa-chan… really, hahah, is into the Halloween spirit!” Kokichi laughs breathlessly as they head up the stairs. Despite flying like bats out of hell, the sound of Toko’s cackles is still hot on their trail, and Kokichi hatches an impromptu plan as they make it to the second floor. “Split up, she’ll drop the bit eventually, she’s not that dedicated to humiliating herself!”

Kaito and Himiko dash into a nearby classroom while Tenko and Kokichi seek refuge in the library.

"Heads up!" hollers Junko, taking a wild swing with her bat right at their heads. Tenko swiftly yanks Kokichi down into a ducking position to dodge the flying menace. The bat smashes into the library door with a loud crack, causing Junko to display an awkward grin. "Oopsie!" Equally thrilled by the chaos, Leon can't help but emerge from his hiding spot and cheer on the wreckage.

What a surprise– Junko was dressed like Harley Quinn, tugging the bat out of the cracked indenture it left out of the door. Meanwhile, Leon was fully decked out in visual kei, sharing a high five with the model. “Nothin’ better than a bit of wanton destruction on Halloween!”

Visibly frustrated, Tenko demands to know why on earth Junko almost clobbered them with a bat. Junko playfully replies, "Just tryna spook you guys! Have you given up yet?" Kokichi, clearly not a big fan of Junko's antics (or Junko herself,) glares at her while pushing Tenko towards the archives.

“Ooh, not even gonna spare us a glance? How depressing, I’m not gonna go on like this…” Junko wilts and begins to sullenly play with her hair and stare at the floor.

Leon raises an eyebrow with a shit-eating grin. “What’re you gonna do in the archives anyways? Make out or somethin’? Don’t blame you, it’s the perfect place for it.” The baseball player winks.

It takes everything in Tenko's power not to lunge at him in response, grinding her teeth so hard that Kokichi can hear it. “Fuck off!” She barks, only drawing laughter from the older students.

Ultimately, Ouma shoves her into the archives, leaving their two unphased upperclassmen with a little warning: "Watch out, Genocide Jack is on the loose!"

Leon rolls his eyes and sarcastically replies from behind the door, "Yeah right, we've heard that one before."

Kaito and Himiko found themselves in a heated game of paper football.

With a flick of his wrist, Kaito sends the paper soaring over Himiko's unprepared hands, smacking her right in the face. "Nyeh," she muttered.

Kaito hissed sheepishly. “Sorry.”

“Nyeh, ‘s okay.” She watches him retrieve the paper as it bounced off her face and slid across the floor a couple feet. Once he sits back down and hands her the paper, she looks down at it with intense focus. “I can offer you a calming spell, if you want.”

Kaito bites his lip, and shakes his head. “No… thanks, though. I dunno how you can be so calm right now, it’s like… what the hell even was that? A-And, this whole… thing is…” He trails off.

Himiko struggles to answer the question while simultaneously keeping a watchful eye on the door. As they return to their game, she muses that Halloween is meant for fun and games, not actual harm – surely Fukawa had no murderous intentions. “She’s probably just into roleplaying as serial killers, or something…?”

Kaito recalls a close encounter with a pair of scissors as they flew by his head, but opts to focus on the game at hand. Perhaps it was all part of the act.

“...besides, she must’ve lost us after we split up, or somethin’... haven’t heard her weird laughter outside. So she’s definitely given up the act.”

The sudden echo of cackling and pounding footsteps sends Kaito scrambling out of his seat, Himiko following suit, and they both stop at the door to witness her bursting through the library doors, shouting something about smelling fear.

“...shit, she didn’t actually find them, did she?”

The noise of Tenko screaming was Kaito’s answer. Kaito bolts out of the door immediately, and Himiko is right behind as they rush to save their friends from whatever weird shit Toko has up her sleeve next.

Upon bursting into the library, they discover a scene of utter mayhem. Junko and Leon were in fits of laughter, while Togami berated Fukawa -- who had somehow managed to corner a terrified Tenko and panicked Kokichi in the archives section.

“Master, you won’t be jealous if I kill him in front of you, would you!?” Toko shrieks, striking Togami with an even more twisted lovesick look than usual. The man dressed as Phantom of the Opera just groaned in frustration whilst Leon gave a tongue-click of approval to Junko, who snorted in response. The two of them stood there uselessly while Togami continued to seethe at Toko.

“I cannot stress enough, don’t kill anyone. As that would be too many issues on my plate tonight as it is!”

“NO KILLING EVER SPELL, ACTIVATE!”

Himiko rushed forward with more energy than Kaito’s ever seen her display as she tore off her hat, jumped and pulled it over Fukawa's face, she consequently lost her balance and toppled to the floor along with the mage. She slapped the hat off her head and swung around to glare at Himiko with death in her gleaming red eyes.

“You little brat–!”

She let out an involuntary sneeze—all thanks to the sudden invasion of hair up her nose, and fell backwards so hard she landed on her ass once again, suddenly looking very lost.

Junko, unable to contain herself any longer, laughed even harder and soon tumbled onto the ground beside Toko. “Pff– Puhuhuhuhu! The look of mortification on her face is despairingly hilarious!”

Toko just sputters, mouth opening and closing like a fish as she blinked rapidly, before steeling her focus and she whipped to glare at Junko. “Wuh– what? What’re you laughing at, y-you bimbo?!”

With a cheeky grin, Leon picked the hat off the floor and deftly threw it back to its rightful owner, before walking to stand at the heir’s side with an amused grin. Trying to make sense of the madness unfolding around him, Togami scowled with frustration at the absurdity of it all but then again... Isn't Togami always seething?

“Can I ask what the hell just happened?” Togami pulled a face at Kaito’s question, as if it was offensive to even question Toko’s erratic behavior. His nostrils flare as he inhales to say something, but is cut off.

"Relax, dude, it's just Fukawa getting really into the bit," Leon chimed in, offering an easygoing explanation as he clapped Togami on the back, the touch lingering just a bit longer than necessary. "The girl doesn't know how to be fuckin’ social, so she just went over the line and shit. Right, Togami-kun?"

The heir reluctantly agreed with a barely noticeable nod, still maintaining his air of superiority despite the tinge of annoyance beneath the surface. Tenko furrowed her brows, still reeling from the fact that Toko Fukawa, of all people, could be terrifying when she wanted to be. "Doesn't really add up..."

Meanwhile, Toko clutched her head in distress. "D-D-Did it happen again!?" she wailed—only to be silenced by one stern command from Togami.

Togami, a mix of annoyance and concern in his eyes, turned toward the rest of the group as if they were responsible for the turmoil. With a stern, authoritative tone, he forcibly ushered them out of the library. "Just go to the next floor. I give up on you. We need to deal with Fukawa."

And just like that, he slammed the library doors on the bewildered group, leaving them on their own.

It was quiet… because what do you even say after all of that?

“...Nishishi,” Kokichi broke the silence. “I never knew Fukawa-chan was such a Genocide Jack enthusiast…” Kokichi's voice wavered in confusion, eyes trailing off to the side as the four of them headed up the stairs to the next floor. “You really went apeshit there, Yumeno-chan.”

The mage scratched her cheek not-so-humbly. “...I perhaps improvised that spell on the spot, but it seems my natural magical prowess made it work…”

Upon reaching the third floor, Tenko excitedly exclaimed, "Wow really!?" With a sarcastic echo, Kokichi couldn't help but mimic her enthusiasm with a "Wow, really?"

Himiko nods, before looking up at Kaito and nudging him in the arm. “He gave me some courage– he dashed out without hesitation when he heard a scream, gave me a bit of mana to make up a spell on the spot, and all…”

Kaito’s chest swelled a bit at the boost to his pride– he kinda needed it, after all that fear he had to suffer through.

It was then that they stumbled upon a ray of divine brilliance in the dark. Behold, Angie appeared in full angelic garb, halo and glowing wings to boot as she walked around the corner and spotted the group with a delighted gasp.

“Ooh, greetings, travelers! Angel Yonaga will be your guide in this dark and gloomy place!” She brightened up– literally and figuratively, at the sight of her classmates, and rushed to give Himiko a hug, and then Tenko, and then Kaito– Kokichi had to put his hand out to stop her from hugging him.

“What’re you doing out here, Yonaga?” Kaito questions, who just receives a giggle as an answer, and she beckons them to follow after her, walking like she’s on air in such a grim atmosphere.

“Angie and her friends have taken sanctuary in the art room, of course! There’s no place better for her to be, as God’s vessel. Tonight is not a night where He is welcomed, however, so Angie’s working overtime to protect everyone in her sight in His stead.”

Tenko huffs, crossing her arms over her chest impatiently. “Open the door already!” She pauses for a second. “Please?”

The two groups converged as the four newcomers entered the classroom, observing the current set up they had going. Kokichi noticed all the desks and chairs stacked upon each other, turning into walls surrounding Angie’s group, currently sitting on the floor with their phones used for lighting, at least until Angie props herself at their core, acting as a radiant human campfire with her glowing costume.

Tenko and Himiko sat down with Angie, immediately chattering quietly to themselves. The three of them were deep in a hushed conversation, likely discussing their impressions of the Halloween Festival and its various attractions. Tenko's animated gestures and Himiko's nonchalant demeanor created an intriguing contrast, but they seemed to be getting along just fine.

Kaede enthusiastically waved over Kaito, patting the spot between her and Rantaro. "Momota-kun!"

Kaito didn't need a second invitation. With a shaky grin, he joined Kaede, taking the spot with an air of relief. Rantaro, leaning back in his spot with an aura of laid-back coolness, gave Kaito a nod of greeting.

Kokichi, ever the enigma, simply shrugged and settled on Rantaro's other side, placing himself between the two of them and Hoshi. He greeted Rantaro in his own peculiar way, plopping his head in Rantaro's lap. Rantaro, dressed as Zoro from One Piece, found the audacious move amusing and ruffled Kokichi's hair. "Having fun?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

“While you guys have been camping out here, Fukawa-chan nearly turned us into minced meat!” This gets some raised eyebrows, and he just smiles innocently. “Don’t believe me? Ask Momota-chan.”

Kaito, with a shudder, chimed in with his own vivid recollection. "It's true! I saw her, and that sinister grin of hers...and I swear up and down she threw a pair of fucking scissors at my head."

Tenko, still visibly shaken by the thought, added, "Ugh, just thinking about it gives me the heebie-jeebies."

Himiko offered her own remedy with a little grin. "No worries, my friends. I've got the perfect solution – my nightmare-banishing spell!"

Amidst the laughter, Hoshi, known for his somewhat enigmatic presence, only increased by his grim reaper cloak, leaned back in his spot with a hint of theatrical flair. "She has got demons clawing out of her," he remarked with his characteristic understatement.

Tenko chimed in hastily, "Those demons are most likely Fukawa-san’s terrible taste in men." Laughter filled the room again, and the mood lightened.

As the group huddled together, they began sharing eerie ghost stories, their voices growing hushed with each chilling tale. Kaito, who had been so lively just minutes ago, felt his nerves shot. The eerie atmosphere was getting to him again.

Then, suddenly, it happened. Inexplicable noises echoed from the nearby art depository, causing heads to turn and sending a shiver down Kaito's spine. He instinctively latched onto Rantaro, gripping the other boy like a frightened child. His voice trembled as he stammered, “W-What was that!?”

Kaede, trying to maintain her composure, patted Kaito's back but couldn't hide the weariness in her eyes. She ventured hesitantly, “Probably just a rat… um… anyone wanna check…?” She sheepishly looked around at the group, her unease mirrored in the expressions of her classmates.

Unruffled, Kokichi bounced to his feet and, with a playful bravado, ventured into the room. Behind the door, the source of the disturbance was soon revealed: a lone rat, apparently startled by the commotion, had knocked over a few wooden hammers off the table. Laughter erupted as they realized the cause of their scare, and the tension dissipated.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to everyone else, Celestia, Hifumi, Aoi, and Chihiro, had stealthily slipped into the room. They hid behind statues and pillars, their presence concealed in the dimly lit space.

Kaito, who had started to feel his shoulders droop with relief after the rat scare, allowed himself to relax a bit. The darkness, which had initially felt oppressive, now began to take on an oddly comforting quality.

However, just when they began to let their guard down, the upperclassmen sprang out in a whirlwind of ghastly attire. Chihiro, dressed oddly as a leprechaun, led the scare, and the room was filled with mixed reactions. Most of the students screamed in shock at the sudden fright. Himiko held onto Angie tightly, who’s tight smile and wide eyes revealed both excitement and fear. Hoshi, on the other hand, remained mostly unbothered, his smirk never leaving his face.

Unfortunately, this was the breaking point for Kaito. His already frayed nerves finally gave out, and he bellowed, dashing out of the room with lightning speed, leaving behind a room filled with laughter, frustrated shouting at the upperclassmen, and a lingering sense of dread.

"Oh, come on!" Kokichi hissed, slapping his forehead in frustration. His expression changed from annoyance to determination, and he sprinted off after the fleeing astronaut. Tenko, deciding to be the muscle in case things went awry, hurried after Kokichi, leaving Himiko behind in her haste.

A weary Himiko remained with Angie's group, letting out a sigh. “My mana’s too low to keep runnin’ around like this at night…”

Mirthful at their prank's success, Celestia’s group reveled in their achievement while the others departed. Rantaro kindly offered to stay with Himiko as they searched for their friends. "I don't know how you manage to stay so calm through all this, but I admire it."

Kaito, catching his breath by the stairs, exclaimed, "This is a nightmare! Let Mioda sing a song about how I'm a big fucking coward or whatever! Let Koizumi write whatever defamatory bullshit she wants about me! I just want out of this hellhole!"

Kokichi suppresses a groan, dragging a hand down his face. Tenko shares a look with him, looking… unsure as she fiddles with her fingers.

“You know, Momota-san,” Tenko starts, stepping a bit closer. “You… did get pretty far, so… it means… you’re facing your fears!”

Kaito frowns a bit, eyes still fixed on the floor. Kokichi steps in to pat him on the back. “Yeah, Momota-chan, you haven’t even cried once, that’s actually pretty impressive, y’know? That’s no lie.”

The astronaut snorted quietly as Kokichi crossed an X over his heart. He glanced to the side when he noticed Himiko and Rantaro approaching, and he straightened up a bit, catching his breath. “This shit… is not fun for me, to be honest, but in some fucked up way, this has been fun, even if we got chased with scissors.”

“Nyeh, just think of it as… a game, y’know. ‘s not like we’re in any danger, the fear’s just a form of catharsis, y’know?” The mage encourages the astronaut with a thumbs up. “Like you said, you got chased with scissors, but you’re still here.”

Kaito felt a swell of happiness in his chest at the encouragement from his friends– sure, he may clash with Kokichi a lot, Tenko’s a bit hard to get comfortable with, and Himiko’s energy levels are always the opposite of Kaito’s and he respects that. Yet, he feels a surge of affection for the three of them, because despite their differences, they’re all enjoying this together. Trying to work together to help him get through his fear.

“...yeah, you guys, you’re right! I’m the Luminary of the Stars after all!” He stands up straight, getting caught up in the bravado and adrenaline. “Nothing will be able to stop us anymore, gang!”

...Only for Mukuro to emerge from the shadows and whisper "Boo," sending Kaito into hysterics once again.

“Oh, fuck this!” With a trembling voice, he reached his breaking point and made a frantic dash down the stairs toward the entrance hall, leaving the rest of his gang in bewildered awe. They turned slowly to Mukuro, Batman costume blending into the shadows, who’d been stalking them in the dark for who knows how long.

Tenko, Kokichi, and Himiko collectively raised an eyebrow and conceded, "Welp, that's it, we're done." Tenko, defeated, takes Himko’s hand and the girls head downstairs. Rantaro stops Kokichi from following after with a tap to his shoulder.

Rantaro, ever the observer, just smiled at Kokichi. “Tell Momota I said to have a lovely evening, would you? Maybe get him a snack to make up for all the torment, too.” He winks.

The supreme leader turns his nose up with crossed arms. “I don’t reward cowardice in my subordinates, silly Amami-chan. But perhaps a treat or two will shut him up. Thank you for the advice, loyal subject!” Kokichi salutes the other boy with a grin, before hopping down the stairs dangerously, causing Tenko to scream and pull Himiko out of the way before he landed on top of them.

With a sly smile, Rantaro glanced at Mukuro once the group was out of sight, who returned with a shrug and said, "Couldn't help myself. The opportunity was too good." Junko appeared at her side, and the sisters high-fived at their success.

The trio scurried down to the entrance hall and emerged into the moonlit night, where they found Kaito desperately gasping for air – He wasn't the first to abandon the haunted house, though, as Yasuhiro stood nearby, muttering about curses, hauntings, and bad juju in that building.

“Man, I told you guys, bad vibes everywhere! The place is cursed! By aliens, probably, who knows, but it’s gonna kill us all!” Yasuhiro clutched his head anxiously, as Kiyotaka, always prepared and caring, swooped in with a shock blanket for his distressed classmate.

“Here, take this Hiro, it will help you calm down.” Then, he turned his attention to Kaito and the rest of the group. “Are you four alright? It appears… you’ve gone through quite the ordeal.”

Kaito desperately holds out his hand. “Give me one of those blankets, man.”

Kaito receives his blanket, and the group is quiet while Kiyotaka makes a quick call to Mahiru. Kokichi observed Tenko and Himiko chatter off to the side, while Kaito simply stared down at the pavement sullenly, clearly feeling ashamed for losing the competition for his team.

“Ooh boy, looks like I gotta go drag him back down to Earth.” Kokichi hums under his breath.

Ever the master of emotional avoidance and indirect communication, he approached Kaito silently. He couldn't resist the opportunity to offer some words of support in his own unique way. It wouldn’t be any fun if his class rival was all down in the dumps over something as silly as this.

Kokichi leaned in, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness as he said, "Hey, Space Cadet, you did pretty well in there, you know. I mean, not everyone can handle that level of spookiness, and you, uh, totally didn't pass out or anything."

Kaito didn’t respond, fingers idly rubbing at the fabric of the blanket, but he didn’t reject the boy, so Kokichi opened his mouth to speak again.

He paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before continuing, "I guess what I'm saying is... facing your fears like that? It's pretty cool, Momota-chan. Not that I'd admit it openly, but I think you've got some real guts. You might not be the most fearless guy out there, but you've got heart, and that's not boring."

Kaito raises his eyebrows in response, finally making eye contact with Kokichi.

With a mischievous grin, he added, "And hey, if you ever need someone to protect you from the scary stuff, you know where to find me. I promise not to make fun of you too much, at least for tonight."

Kaito might have rolled his eyes at Kokichi's roundabout encouragement, but he couldn't help but appreciate the sentiment behind those playful words. It was just Kokichi's way of saying, "You did great, and I've got your back." He smiles down at the supreme leader, a hand reaching out to ruffle his hat on top of his head.

“Thanks, Ouma.”

Afterwards, Kiyotaka informs them that; yes, since they’re the first team to give up, they’ll be on the front headlines of the newspaper as “Hope’s Peak Ultimate Wuss Squad.” He winces as he states the title, stating he finds it a bit crude. Still, he proudly congratulates them for participating and excuses them to do with the rest of the night as they pleased.

Their group, now famously known as "The Ultimate Wuss Squad," had more to say about their newfound notoriety.

“Ultimate Wuss Squad!?” Tenko cried, horrified. “Tenko can’t believe it…”

Himiko, in her usual indifferent tone, simply shrugged. “Whatever… the truth will always be known in the hearts of those who believe in magic… the Amazing Himiko fought to the bitter end.”

Kokichi, with a mischievous grin, couldn’t help poking fun at their situation, knocking his fist against Kaito’s arm. “Haha, that just means we’re gonna get more popular, right guys? The Ultimate Chickens, that’s us! A one of a kind shared talent, nishishi!”

The three look at Kaito, inwardly pleased at Kaito’s reaction of raw relief. He grins, completely unaffected at the potential blow to his pride. “Hey, as long as we aren’t in there, I’ll take it!”

With their dignity relatively intact, the foursome decided to embrace the spirit of the Halloween Festival and turned it into an impromptu "double date." Tenko and Himiko decide to get some mochi, and Kokichi decided to listen to Rantaro’s advice, and treats him to some pumpkin oyaki.

If Tenko caught him staring at Kaito’s smile and raised an eyebrow at him knowingly, he did everything in his power to ignore her.

A few days later, a new headline dominated Hope’s Peaks newspaper, celebrating the Halloween Festival, and covering the Class 79 challenge and its participants. The article listed all the participating students and enthusiastically declared Maki's group as the victors. The runner-up and third place went to Kiibo's and Angie's groups, respectively.

Yet, it was Kokichi's group that garnered the most attention, securing an entirely unique distinction in the annals of the school's history. They were now and forever remembered as "The Ultimate Wuss Squad," an endearing title that perfectly encapsulated their legendary journey. The accompanying blurb featured a heartwarming photograph, captured by the talented photographer Mahiru. In the snapshot, the quartet wore mischievous grins, their faces illuminated by the flights, as they indulged in festival treats and reveled in the camaraderie that had blossomed during their shared adventure.

Kaito nonchalantly dropped the newspaper onto Kokichi's desk, leaning in with a hand casually resting on it. He surveyed his friends with a warm, easygoing smile and delivered his verdict.

"It's official, I guess we're the Ultimate Chickens now, huh?"

Tenko couldn't help but giggle as she snatched the paper from the desk and eagerly showed it to Himiko. “At least we had fun, right?” The young magician's eyes sparkled with delight as she gazed at the photo, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

"This isn't so bad after all." Himiko chimed in, her voice soft and contemplative, as she looked at Kaito with a hint of gratitude. “Lucky you, Koizumi didn’t defame you after all, Momota. Must’ve been my good luck charm…”

Grinning, Kokichi leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. "We're legends, guys, even if it's as chickens!"

And thus, the moniker of "The Ultimate Wuss Squad" became a running inside joke within Class 79, a symbol of the bonds that had been forged during that fateful Halloween night. Their misadventure had transformed them from mere classmates into a close-knit group who stood by one another, even in the most improbable of situations.

Whenever the group found themselves in challenging situations, they would exchange knowing glances and chuckles, using their legendary nickname as a reminder of their newfound solidarity. They understood that courage wasn't just about fearlessness; it was about facing one's fears head-on, even if it meant a little screaming and laughter along the way.

Kaito, Tenko, Himiko, and Kokichi, despite their initial trepidation, had become close friends, their connection growing stronger with each passing day. Something as innocuous as a Halloween Festival had brought them together, ensuring that they would remain "The Ultimate Wuss Squad" for a lifetime.

It was a testament to the enduring power of friendship, a near-death experience with a wallflower, a bat to the face, and the ability to find humor even in the most terrifying situations.