BUT NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW HIS NAME?

...We'll have to follow up with Makoto on that one?

EARLIER

Before she can attempt her main project of convincing her mother to give her more freedom, she needs a new source of passive income. If it fails at first–or if she has an easy success–her mother might find it difficult to earn enough money. As one of the few people on this planet who use more than 5% of their brains, she sho–aha! She knows exactly what to do! Since everyone else isn't using most of their brainpower anyways, she just needs to tap into their collective unused brainpower. This should give enough her power to generate Bitcoin to support herself indefinitely!

She quickly edits the DNA of a virus she has lying around and booby-traps it in an envelope. She addresses the envelope to a random person, some Satoshi Nakamoto in Japan.

PRESENT DAY.

Alicia turns her head as her mothe–butler pokes its head into her room.

    There's a letter for you, it communicates.

Hope's Peak, as a matter of policy, does not shy from those talented youngsters whose methods some might find... concerning. It's not like they'd be any better off unsupervised. And it's undeniable that this girl has talent.

Dear Alicia,

We at Hope's Peak Academy are excited to extend this invitation for you to join our incoming class as the Ultimate Biologist. Your innovative approach to virology and unique perspective on utilizing human cognitive resources have not gone unnoticed.

Your recent project involving the modification of viral DNA and its creative distribution method has caught our attention. While we are obliged to stress that Hope's Peak Academy does not condone the unauthorized use of biological agents or the exploitation of unwitting subjects, we cannot deny the ingenuity and advanced understanding of biology demonstrated in your work.

At Hope's Peak Academy, we believe in nurturing exceptional talents, even when they manifest in unconventional ways. Our institution is equipped to channel your remarkable abilities into pursuits that could revolutionize the field of biology. We offer state-of-the-art laboratories, access to cutting-edge research, and mentorship from leading experts who can guide your brilliant mind toward groundbreaking discoveries. We are particularly impressed by your ability to conceptualize and execute complex biological processes, as well as your ambitious goal of tapping into collective brainpower. These skills, when properly directed, could lead to significant advancements in neurobiology and cognitive science.

Our curriculum is designed to challenge and stimulate minds like yours, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in biology. We believe that under our guidance, you could become a pioneering force in biological research, potentially developing revolutionary methods to enhance human cognitive capabilities. We are confident that the resources and opportunities at Hope's Peak Academy will provide ample stimulation for your extraordinary intellect.

Enclosed, please find additional information about our academy, including details about our advanced biology program. We eagerly await your response, which we kindly request not include any biological agents.

Sincerely,
Headmaster Makoto Naegi
Hope's Peak Academy

Alicia has, in fact, heard of the Hope's Peak Academy. It is said to be incredibly selective and offer much more freedom to its students than her old school used to. She thinks about it for a moment. She has finally–finally!–managed to convince her mother to let her do what she wants, and going to a school would probably mean needing to listen to the teachers however permissive the rumors describe it to be. On the other hand, the teachers at her old school mostly let her alone after she got through them and she doubts doing that in a new school would be much harder. And the resources described in the letter are tempting...

She takes a bird and rewrites its DNA to make it fly to the Academy and convey her acceptance.

Monokuma does not understand why students keep sending their registration letters via bird. It makes logistics difficult, that they need to be prepared for 2-3 letters to be delivered by bird each school year.

But they do, of course, receive the letter.

What to expect from your Hope's Peak Orientation

Welcome, Hope's Peak freshmen! As a former alumni of Hope's Peak, I just want to take this opportunity to assist upcoming students in the onboarding process. 

Orientation day starts early, at 9 AM. Plan on attending everything, including the opening speech delivered by my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster, Makoto Naegi, the campus tour guided by my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster Makoto Naegi, the question and answer periods led by my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster Makoto Naegi, the guide to campus traditions explained by my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster Makoto Naegi, and the social events facilitated by my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster Makoto Naegi.

Here are a few tips for a successful Hope's Peak Orientation:

- Don't be afraid to ask questions! The knowledgeable Makoto Naegi (who is my close personal friend) will be sure to answer them for you.

- Take care to meet your new professors! My close personal friend, the excellent Makoto Naegi, will introduce you to the faculty. And make sure to talk with your soon-to-be fellow classmates, at the meet-and-greet directed by my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster Makoto Naegi.

- If you're feeling famished, stop by the cafeteria! Hope's Peak Cafeteria serves delicious food every day, prepared and served by our wonderful headmaster Makoto Naegi, who just so happens to be my close personal friend! While we of course encourage you to bring your own water bottles, which you can refill at the many water bottle refill stations around campus (our reliable plumbing was installed after my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster Makoto Naegi negotiated a deal with a local water supply company, Makoto Naegi Water Bureau), if you forgot, you can purchase one at one of the campus convenience stores, staffed by my close personal friend and our excellent headmaster Makoto Naegi.

- Do not mind the bear. He is, of course, our mascot, and is completely friendly and not at all dangerous.

Well, that's it!

I hope you all have a successful education at Hope's Peak!

- Not Makoto Naegi

Edwin does not trust the accuracy of this information, but, unfortunately, it's the only guide to preparing for orientation day he could find.

It also happens to be worse than useless! Probably!

So he's essentially going in blind. The starting time does happen to match up with what he was told by official Hope's Peak communication, however.

Anyways!

Edwin checks his watch. It's 11 AM, the train should be arriving any moment now.

Aha! Right on schedule. He boards the train and settles in for a long trip.

His car is empty, at least for now. Does anyone join him?

A man walks in and sits next to him.

"Hello. I take it you're Edwin?"

...Interesting. Edwin has, ever, been in the news, but isn't popular enough that it's likely someone would just casually recognize him? Perhaps this random stranger saw his name on his ticket, when he scanned it? What kind of person would go to the trouble of sneaking up behind him and carefully scrutinizing his ticket?

Maybe they were planning on meeting someone else named Edwin, here? He doesn't have the most common name, but.

Mostly he just has no idea.

"Yes, although, perhaps, not the Edwin you are looking for."

He chuckles.

"No, I'm sure you are. I have some math questions for you."

He places a sheet of paper down on the table and slides it over to Edwin.

Makoto Naegi Water Bureau

Quarterly Performance Report

Q3 2024

"What do you make of this?"

1. What?

Is this someone from Hope's Peak Academy????

Makoto Naegi actually owns a water supply company?????

2. Obviously this person knows who he is.

3. What?

4. This report is dated 1.5 months in the future? It makes predictions about things that haven't happened yet???

5. 2345678?

6. Why is the peak usage (if sustained for an hour) HALF OF THE DAILY USAGE?

....ok, actually, Edwin thinks he has an explanation for this. He knows that- Wait, no, Hope's Peak Academy's existence would only explain central district's usage.

So does everyone in this city turn on their taps at the same time every day for some reason??? On the other hand, given this data is dated in the future these statistics are probably made up.

7. Cubic meters is the unit for volume here????

8. This is not a math question! Edwin doesn't particularly have expertise in business, or, perhaps, water treatment logistics. Honestly, he suspects that the person in front of him has a profound misunderstanding of what mathematics is. It's a shame, really, that the inaccurate depiction of mathematics in pop culture has led many to believe that mathematics is about... crunching numbers together for business expenditures, or something.

Anyways.

Edwin stares at the stranger suspiciously. 

"This... appears to be a fictional business report for a water utility company? Who are you? How do you know me? Is Makoto Naegi Water Bureau a real company????"

"It's been managing the water for Hope's City for a whole four years now, allegedly. There's news articles on a few nepotism controversies and environmental issues. But when I looked into it deeper... this is the report I found. Full of suspicious numbers."

"Perhaps it's a template? It's dated in the future, after all."

"That would be a reasonable conclusion. But... were you watching the news last Friday, on the 15th?"