Yes, i have joined that unique brand of madness known as 'running multiple SYOCs at once'. There is more info at the bottom. But for now, enjoy this prologue!

Extracts from article: 'Hope's Peak Students Found!' in the Japan Times, dated May 30th, 2019:

…After over a month of speculation and concern that has overshadowed the start of the Reiwa Era, 78-B, the class that disappeared from Hope's Peak, have been found after a combination of diligent investigation and anonymous tips led police detectives to an abandoned school building in…..

...It is understood that the seven SHSL students were found to be unharmed but severely traumatised, and unable to tell the detectives or paramedics what had happened to their classmates, but it is understood that these 13 are unlikely to be alive…

…The names of the potentially deceased students will be released once next of kin of all class members have been informed.

…

Mai

"Alright everyone, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you for your hard work, everyone!"

"Thank you, Arisato-sensei!"

My students let out a sigh of relief, and they started to leave the studio, chattering about everything under the sun that teenage girls could possibly talk about as they went to get changed and go home. A few remembered to gather up the naruko and put them in the boxes that they had come in. For a moment, I hung back and watched them all, imagining myself as one of them. Though it would never have been here specifically, there had been a time when I was like them.

But not anymore, I acknowledge with just a little sadness. I haven't been so for a long time…not since…

With a slight shake of my head, I pulled myself together, and walked over to help the girls-for it was all girls who had stayed this time-to tidy up the rest of the things.

"Thank you for helping, girls." I said, as I joined them.

"Oh, not a problem, sensei." One of them told me cheerily.

"Say, when are we going to do dress rehearsals?" another asked. "The Kyushu festival is in a couple of months."

"The week after next," I told them. "I think we should have your routine down pat by then. I'm visiting the Kochi festival with one of my other groups next week and I might be able to get some ideas."

"Oh, we're going as a mini-group. Well, us, Hiroki-kun and Asa-chan too." The first girl said. "Just for fun, though."

"Very nice, I'm impressed. That'll be a good experience for you." I said. "What's your team called?"

"Star Quality." Another girl said.

"Well, I'll be sure to look out for you. Enjoy yourselves, won't you?"

"We will!"

After a few more moments, I insisted that the girls left and went to enjoy the rest of their evening. I finished tidying, and then I left the studio, tapping the booking screen to indicate that the session had now finished. Not that it mattered when it was so late in the evening-it was unlikely to be used. I headed to one of the resource cupboards, put the naruko away, and then headed straight up to my office, which I shared with another teacher, who taught jazz dance.

That teacher was not in when I stepped into my office, so when I turned on my computer again to check my online diary, I also put on my music and let the sound fill the room. Humming along to the melody, I opened up this week's page, and checked what I had left for tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. The group whose lesson had just finished-a mixed group of high school students who had all come here to learn yosakoi when they hadn't been able to garner enough interest in their schools to form clubs of their own-wouldn't be in again for a practise session until Tuesday of the next week, though I knew a few would be coming to me during my office hours on Monday afternoon for advice. But on Thursday morning I had the summer holiday beginner group of elementary students, and in the afternoon I was visiting Motohara Middle School as a guest instructor for their yosakoi club. Friday I had the group from Nozomi Special School in all day for an intensive dress rehearsal-the same group I would be accompanying to Kochi next week. Just seeing them listed in the calendar made me smile. If I had to be honest, they were my favourite of the different groups that I taught.

This dance school hadn't taken on special-needs students before I had decided to, a few years ago, a response to realising that my youngest might have had special needs too. She was able to flourish in a normal school, as it turned out, but those tumultuous months had made me realised that this diverse dance school still needed to do more. So I had pushed for this provision, and succeeded, and the Nozomi Special School had been sending groups of their students for different kinds of instructions for the past four years. It was little wonder that they were my favourites. I got up from my computer and went to my cupboard to make sure that I had enough spare costumes and adapted props.

After riffling through and confirming this, I returned to the computer and my calendar to see that on Saturday I was covering one of the middle school contemporary dance groups. But apart from that, I was free for the rest of that day. Oh, good. I'll see if there are any parent meetings or admin I can do in that time. Otherwise, maybe I can spend the rest of the day with Juro and the kids. It wasn't likely that Juro would be so lucky, but I could at least plan something. And since as far as I was aware he had no big cases, perhaps he would be able to sneak an hour or two for a lazy Saturday afternoon.

I looked through my work emails and dealt with anything that needed a quicker reply, then leant back in my chair, closing my eyes and taking a moment, before getting my phone and checking my messages. Somewhat unusually, there was a missed video call, a missed phone call, and a number of text messages from Juro, all in quick succession from an hour ago.

For a moment, all I could do was stare. Breathe, Mai. Breathe. It's probably Juro saying that he won't be back in time for dinner, or a new case means he may be out all night. If it was anything more serious, the school would have been called, someone would have come to tell me. But, why a video call? My hands trembled, even as I kept on taking deep breaths, and I looked at the texts.

Juro: Hey, Mai, my love. Hope the day's going well. Do you have time right now?
Juro: I need to video-call you as soon as possible.
Juro: There's something important I need to tell you. It's nothing to worry about, I just want to see your face when I tell you.
Juro: Looks like you're busier than I thought-that's okay. Message me as soon as you get a moment, 'kay?

Slowly, carefully, I tapped back a reply.

Mai: Sorry, I only just saw these. I'm finished for the day and will be heading home to make dinner soon. Is now a good time for you?

I waited for a moment that seemed to last an eternity, and then three little dots in a speech bubble appeared, indicating that Juro was typing. And then, finally:

Juro: I can't now, unfortunately. But it looks like I'll be able to come home by dinnertime. How about we talk once the kids are in bed?

Mai: Alright. But what is this about? Has something happened?

There was another moment before Juro typed again.

Juro: I think it'll be easier for you if we're face-to-face. But don't worry, alright? I promise you Mai, it will be fine.

I had no reason to not believe Juro. Ever since we met, he always protected me. I've always been used to the ups and downs that come with being a detective's wife-more so, considering that his job is how we met, so long ago. But all the same, he's gone above and beyond in looking after me, after everything that has happened, to make sure that I never, ever have to be scared again. But it's impossible to be shielded from all fear-this was something I knew, all too well. And this was one of those moments.

Breathe, Mai, breathe. It will be fine. It has to be fine.

I closed the messaging screen, went to my phone gallery, and scrolled through all the photos that I had. Of me with Juro, of Juro with the kids, both or one of the kids by themselves. Pictures of the life I now had, proof that I was safe and happy now. Please, Juro. Let it be something that's not as bad as it sounds. With that silent prayer, I got up, picked up the bag that had my casual clothes, and left the office. On my way to the showers, I passed one of my students, heading back down in the opposite direction.

"Are you alright?" I asked, snapping back into teacher mode.

"Oh, yeah!" the girl held up a small bag and laughed sheepishly. "I left my shower bag behind!"

"Ah, right." I nodded. "Well, have a nice evening."

"You too, sensei."

The girl looked like she was just about to leave when suddenly, she paused.

"Oh yeah, there was someone sitting in reception when I came back, but Ishida-san didn't know why and they seem like they're just prepared to sit and wait."

"Oh." I considered this for a moment. "If you see another teacher on the way out, tell them, they might know who it is. Otherwise, I'll double-check when I'm going."

"Alright then. Well, see you next week, sensei."

The girl zoomed down the corridor, and I pondered the person in reception for a moment. They could be a prospective parent, or just someone waiting for one of the others. Or perhaps just wanting to wait in the indoors for a while to kill time. Stranger things had happened. But it has nothing to do with me. So I put the thought out of my head, and went to shower.

…

Showering and changing turned out to have a calming effect on me. There was still a part of me trembling in dread, but I could at least be sure that I would not become undone on the way home. Returning to the office, I realised I had left my music on, and quickly turned it off before logging off and shutting it down. I grabbed my phone, handbag and dance clothes bag, then went to pull the curtains. I looked out at the grounds briefly as I did so, and absently wondered if I should do some of the Nozomi Special School's rehearsals outdoors. If the weather held up, it would be a nice change. And good preparation for the festival, too. Then, I exited the office and locked it-the other teacher would likely go straight home after finishing up at the theatre.

On my way down to reception, I said my goodbyes to the few other teachers who were still in school, preparing for the next day or otherwise practising their own dances. I did not perform or compete myself these days, but I didn't miss it. I was glad to let them take that spotlight, and just concentrate on the teaching. When I got to the ground floor, I remembered the student mentioning the person waiting. I wonder if they're still there, I mused as I opened the door that separated reception for the main building.

Looking out at the chairs, there was indeed a person occupying it. Their head was bowed slightly, their hands carefully placed in their lap, but at a glance they seemed to be my age. Noticing Ishida at the desk glance up, I looked at her questioningly, and she shook her head before returning to whatever admin she was doing. I quickly signed myself out on the screen, then turned to regard the person. Something seemed oddly familiar, but I couldn't place it. It's probably nothing, then.

"Um, are you waiting for one of the teachers?" I asked politely after a moment.

The person looked up. Again, that sense of familiarity. But, where from? Racking my brains, I couldn't place it. I waited for them to say something, but they didn't. Instead, they looked at me for a long moment. Their eyes searched, from my chin-length wavy brown hair, with the ostentatious hair-bow that I only wore because it had been a present from Sachi, right down to the comfortable crocs I now wore on my feet and the chipping pink nail polish on my toes.

I stared back, not sure what to make of their scrutiny. The longer they stared, the more I had a chance to take them in though, and with each moment the feeling that I knew them grew stronger. But still, I could not place it. I need to get home. I need to make dinner, I need to find out what Juro needs to tell me. I prepared to make my excuses and go, when their expression abruptly changed and they spoke.

"Sadie?"

And just like that, instantly, I recognised them.

Because the thing about my life is that there is a thick line that divides it in two. In this half, in the here and now, I am Mai Arisato. I am a yosakoi teacher at the Ayaka Adachi Dance School. I am a devoted wife to Juro, a loving mother to Sachi and Akio. I have a somewhat exotic heritage, but beyond that, I am just an ordinary woman, living an ordinary life.

We have to promise…

But in the other half, it is a different story. There, I am Sarah Mai Hashiri. I am a teenager caught between three worlds. I am a budding yosakoi dancer whose talent got recognised in what was the most prominent of ways back then. I am a girl whose life changed irrevocably over the course of a month and a half.

In that other half, I am Sadie. But I am no longer Sadie, and that is how I knew who this person might be. Because they, too, belonged there, in that part of my life that is separate to the rest of it.

..to stay apart from this moment on…

Their name fell from my lips, unbidden, sounding like a question. The image of my hand overlapping with theirs and five others, sealing the promise, flashed bright in my head. It cannot be…

They got up, and took a step forward, before pausing. I wondered if they were remembering the same thing.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"I…why?" I asked.

It was all I could ask. I was all too aware of Ishida, who would still overhear even if she was not the eavesdropping type. I was all too aware of the line between here, and back then. The promise, too. But from the guilty look on their face, they knew it too.

…all of us, forever. It's for the best.

"Things have changed. We need to meet up again, all of us. Haven't you heard?"

Briefly, I wondered if this could be connected to what Juro needed to tell me. But how could it be? How could it be possible, with the thick line between them?

But if that line was really so strong, would they be here now, looking at you? Calling you by your old name?

Breathe, Mai, breathe. I shook my head, then gestured, as if to say, let's step outside. I called out my farewell to Ishida, then strode out, and stopped just outside the door, waiting for them to catch up. I fought the urge to bounce restlessly, and faced them straight on. They came to stand in front of me, close, but not too close. They held themselves stiffly, when there was a time they would have been easy around me. But of course they were stiff now. We had not seen each other for 20 years.

We were never meant to see each other again.

"I'm not sure what you are referring to…" Hesitating for a moment, I said their name again, then continued.

"I haven't heard anything that would be…well, I don't even know."

I considered mentioning the promise, but there was no point. We both knew it, after all. And turning back now wouldn't change the fact that it had been broken. So I got straight to the point:

What's happened? Why are you here?"

They hesitated, closing their eyes for a moment. Then, they let out a breath, and said it:

"They're thinking of re-opening Hope's Peak."

Characters introduced this chapter:

Survivors:

Mai Arisato (nee Sarah Mai Hashiri), former SHSL Yosakoi Dancer -(my OC)

So yeah, here I am with another SYOC, even though my life is mad and I am already writing one. Admittedly, I have been good at resisting the call of other ideas, but this one stuck with me persistently enough and for long enough that I decided that I will just take the plunge and try it. Even if update frequency is slightly less overall, I am sure I have proved myself to be capable of regular updates. And in any case, it'll be fun! It's going to be very different from ASIB, that's for sure. Though possibly just as dark further down the line. But anyway, without further ado, the rules and guidance!

Rules and guidance:

1) First things first, there are three main roles that you can apply for, and an extra role. These are as follows:
-Survivor: a survivor of the killing game 20 years ago, a member of class 78-B. It might help you to know that they would have been second-years at Hope's Peak at the time they were kidnapped, and that they were involved in planning the celebrations mentioned in the plot summary. In the present timeline, they would be adults now. There will be six spots available.
-Investigator: someone who in some way was involved in the investigation of the original 'tragedy' as it was known (part of the plot premise is that back then, the fact it was a killing game the class was forced into wasn't known, just that 20 students went missing and only seven came back) and are now re-involved as a result of New Hope's Peak. There will be six spots available.
-Prospective: these characters are teenagers who have been scouted for New Hope's Peak. There will be six spots available.
-Victim: A member of Class 78-B who died in the 'tragedy'. They can either be someone who was 'killed' (that is to say, what you would call a victim in typical DR killing game fics) or a 'blackened' (so a killer). There are only four victim spots available, and victims can only be part of a duo with a character from one of the three main roles. The victim form will not be on my profile, you will need to indicate on the form of the first character that they are part of a duo with a victim and I will send you the form.

2) The total number of submissions I will accept from each person is four. You may send me two duos, one duo and two solo characters, or four solo characters. Members of the duo can be from the same role, or a different role, but just to reiterate, any victims you send can only be as part of a duo. Duos can have any sort of relationship.

3) I want a good gender mix, but am not fussed about getting even amounts of each gender or whatever.

4) Each form has various bits of specific guidance within brackets to help you. Use those to help you but for the love of all things good in the world, please delete the brackets when actually filling in the form.

5) This is a Japan-based story, so where nationality is concerned, for the most part please make them Japanese. Likewise with their ethnicity, it is most likely they will be Japanese, but of course if it makes sense for their backstory they can be of a different nationality and ethnicity. The investigator role has slightly different expectations but that is in the form guidance. Having them be half-Japanese or something works too.

6) NO recycled characters. Unless they were rejected elsewhere, or from a story that has either been explicitly discontinued or simply hasn't been running for at least a year, do not send characters you've sent to other stories to me. And if you get an OC accepted here, do NOT send them elsewhere. If I receive a recycled OC, I will not acknowledge it, let alone accept it. If you recycle an OC you get accepted here, they will be promptly killed off and forgotten, or something similar depending on what role they had here until that point.

7) Submissions by PM only. Review OCs will be ignored. Make sure all the PMs for each character you send are in the same thread.

8) Please bear in mind that this is a complete AU, and it is also a separate AU to And So It Begins. So don't mention canon events or characters or ASIB things in your form. It just will not make sense.

9) Details, please. You don't have to be me and write a mini-novel, but I want effort put in(so no Mary Sues/ Gary Stus blah blah blah). And details are always good :)

10) Where talents for Survivor, Victim and Prospective roles are concerned, canon talents/ variations on canon talents are fine. However, please do not send a Lucky Student for the Prospective role, and no SHSL Hope, Despair,? or anything like that for any of these roles. But on the whole, new talents are preferred. Also those that are actual talents.

11) As with ASIB, I won't post a submitted talents list. However, when I do accept a character, their details will be put up on my profile along with other status updates. I will also list details of the OCs in the cast that are my own.

12) This is not first-come, first-serve, but the final deadline will be 14th July 2019, though if by near the later half of June, if submissions have been slow I may extend . However, I will gradually accept characters as I go along up until that deadline. Either way, my status updates are your friend here-check them!

13) If there are any questions not covered by guidance here or within the form you are filling out, message me! I won't answer immediately most of the time, but will do as soon as possible!

14) Most important of all, have fun!