... I honestly am surprised at the responses I'm getting for literally a prologue that was all history and not much story.

NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST CHAPTER I'VE PUBLISHED ENTIRELY USING THE FANFICTION APP, I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY TYPOS. (If the are errors I'll repost this chapter after correcting them)

.o0O0o.

The voice that filled the void returned, although it sounded more disturbing. However, it sounded less demonic. Actually, it sounded like a mix, a horrifying mix of an innocent child, and a vengeful spirit.

"Answer this you wretched cur, why is it that humans have creatures they call monsters? Did nature give birth to natural creatures of destruction? No? Then why is it that humans say they exist?

.o0o.

Desire... the double-edged blade that pushes humanity beyond the limits placed on itself. Desire can be a blessing, the unrequited wanting for something past the possible, an unattainable dream, but at the same time it could be nothing more than a curse.

A curse of false promises, twisted truths, and despicable lies... but nothing worth wanting was ever achieved by idle hands.

So it is when you are at your most desperate when your dreams seem to be worth any cost... only then does that voice whisper in your ear of sweet nothings.

And the many, willingly shake the demon's hand.

There are those who fear the darkened spirits, that they have upset the world and rule, that there is no place for them here.

Somewhere in the world, there is someone greedy enough to sell their soul for wealth, where money is power and the rich rule the world. The people that see green, the people that see greed.

Individuals that value their pride, placing themselves above and beyond all others reach, the ones who have a hubris unlike any other, that are arrogant to a fault, and arrogant to a fall.

There are people who would stand by those in dire need. They care little for effort and do not mind to laze about even if the world were to raze about.

Minds so envious they take what was not earned. Humans who are never satisfied with the things stolen from the heirs, humans who only want what was never theirs.

Souls so twisted they do not mind eating before the starved. People who eat, and eat, with no care. Individuals that think with their stomach, but never see what they can't stomach.

The few that lust and never love, a being of selfish desire. To enjoy such a carnal pleasure, a life full of luxuries, to the life full of luxuria.

However the worst of all, those of anger, the unreasonable and unjustified, a rampaging beast without control. The seldom few who cannot control their ire, the few, that watch the world burn to fire.

The righteous and the hopeful may fear the costs, however, they are all naive fools.

For those that reject this offering are unwilling to see it is the laws, rules, and guides created by their society that prevent their desires from coming true.

To them, I say, if every rule and law were followed, they would never have needed creation, and Earth would be called Heaven.

Those who fear this power are nothing but hope-filled fools who seek the best in everybody, but there is only one certainty in this life.

People suck, and they will use you so long as you are useful.

.o0o.

It's been a year since I've donned my many masks. I played every role that I needed, used any advantage I could.

In the end, I guess you could call me apathetic. I no longer seek the warmth of comfort, but that doesn't mean I want it again someday.

However, all dreams of it coming from family have dashed away.

Komaru had grown up a tad. Now capable of simple sentences or choppy wording. She could clearly remember words, and she adored to play with me.

I played my role, just as I always do. Fake smiles, fake cheers, fake praise. Fake fake fake fake fake.

It irked me with how Komaru's each and every desire was met to the T. Sure, they were small demands of attention, gifts, or praise... however could you blame a child for wanting to recall that feeling?

One day, Kaa-san and Tou-san told me something that raised my hopes to the highest of heaven.

"Makoto, we heard you've got that star tole for your school play!"

"Oh, we are so proud of you honey! I knew you could do it!"

"We've already told our friends how amazing you are, and we plan on sitting front and center! I can't wait to see my boy up there!"

It was almost surreal, I almost broke down, and for once I was honestly happy. I smiled a large grin and said I couldn't wait to show them.

For the next weeks, I practiced long and hard, I memorized my lines and even rehearsed with the teacher/director to ensure it was flawless. They were so impressed they asked if I even planned on doing more like it.

It was utterly convincing, and my heart soared.

I wanted to prove them I had something special, I wanted their sole attention.

And that's why on the day of the play, I acted my best, we received a standing ovation, and once the curtain dropped...

I thought I could at least pretend I never saw it. Then, I started walking away from the stage, nobody stopped me. I wasn't sure if that hurt more, or less.

I walked out of the theatre room, thinking if I acted like everything was okay, I could fool myself into thinking it. However, my footsteps were too planned, my mind so focused on each individual movement my body made I felt if I stopped thinking about my mechanical stepping for even a second my mind would return to the theatre.

I wasn't sure when I left the school, or when my walk turned into a dash, then a run. I just moved without a destination in mind, eyes locked forward, not daring to turn around.

As the setting sun's rays beat down on me, I reached up to wipe away the sweat from my face... but it was not sweat, nor was it rain...

When did I start crying?

Eventually, my feet gave in. I couldn't move, I just collapsed on the grassy hill of a familiar park. However, nobody was around, I was alone once again.

Yet this time I embraced the loneliness because I let out a scream of frustration. A scream of pain and suffering, a scream that demanded to be answered.

Yet all I was left with was a question.

Why? Why did I get my hopes up? Why did I believe things would be different.

.o0o.

I came home that night. Not even an hour after the play had ended. My parents were inside already.

"There he is the star of the show!"

They are... pretending? Anger boiled inside of me.

They think I didn't notice?! I asked the staff to set aside three seats for them! I asked the guy at the entrance to tell them I set aside seats for them. I handed him a picture for crying out loud!

And they can't even use the excuse that they didn't know. Because I was the star role. I had the most stage time.

I scanned through that crowd, and let me tell you... it was a small freaking crowd. I could tell who was there.

There was a myriad of things I wanted to do here. I wanted to kick, scream, yell, break something, cry... I didn't even know. I felt my hands curl at my sides, but I dropped them as my mind caught up to my emotions, did I honestly think now would be any different?

My head said, no, but my heart desperately said yes. Deep down I knew this would happen... I just wanted to be selfish again, I just wanted to be selfish just one time more.

"Thanks!" Act like you're fine. "I'm not hungry right now, I'll be in my room." Act like everything was okay.

I didn't wait for a response. I just went up to my room.

Thoughts of home never hurt as much as that night, and the word family never seemed more foreign.

Just keep acting... act until you believe it yourself. Act until it doesn't hurt anymore.

.o0o.

I learned the true meaning of hopelessness that day. It felt like I could never be happy again. Not so long as I stayed there. But I could endure it.

That night, I learned I had few options, but they left me at two. I could hold onto my fantasy life, bare my heart top the world until it comes true, or I could continue my act and try to be the best I can without it.

I then froze my heart off and erected walls a thousand feet high and another hundred thick.

It wasn't because I no longer desired comfort, but because I didn't want to risk my heart again.

I had everything to lose and everything to gain. I don't want to go through that ever again, if it meant closing my heart off, if it meant living a constant lie of satisfaction, then I will gladly take the deal.

Life, however, has always been a cruel mistress.

Two people managed to scale my barriers, two people managed to worm their way through my heart until I relearned all these emotions I act but never had.

By the end of our primary years, I had come to regret one, no... despise one, but fall for the other.

.o0o.

"Hiya!"

I blinked at the odd voice that disturbed my silent thoughts. Propping myself up on my elbows from the cool grass, I looked at the person and felt something move in my chest.

"O-oddity occurrence accomplished."

She was angelic, no, she had to be an angel.

The girl had strawberry blonde hair that framed her face. Her crystal blue eyes seemed to pierce at my soul. Her voice was so sweet, warming... honest. All foreign sounds to me, yet vaguely familiar. She wore a regular uniform, though it seemed to be made for her, not provided. She made it work.

All the same though, it was uncomfortable. It was different than what I was used to.

I reacted defensively, bringing my walls and barriers, sealing all connections off as I had hundreds of times before. I hopped to my feet and swiftly placed a makeshift crown atop my head. "Ah, a mere peasant, and what does the mere pauper require of the royal Actor?"

I was a completely different person, one of my many faces I hide behind.

She laughed, however, "So it is you!" It threw my act off for a moment, but I recovered and looked down at her due to my slightly taller stature.

"Oh? I was unaware of being someone I am not. Are you alright mere child?" I asked in mock wonder.

"You're the actor guy, right? I just wanted to see you,"

I stiffened a tad, part act, part real. It was one of my easier acts to pull off, though it was becoming more and more act, than reality. I looked down, crown replaced by my hood which was now decorated with mushrooms. "Oh... was that all..." I had a frown on my face, clear disappointment at the outcome.

This was, of course, my act. At least, after I the wave of hurt passed over. "If that's all, I'll be going..." I wanted to get away again.

"W-Wait!" The girl grabbed my wrist, forcibly stopping me.

I refused to turn around, but I stilled.

"I'm sorry..." more words, more lies. "But... I really did want to come see you! Honestly."

I wanted her to shut up. I hated being lied to. However, she neither let go nor stopped.

"You just... seemed lonely, and since my nee-san was sick, I decided to see you!"

"Oh... so it was a matter of convenience?" I asked in a depressed tone. I wasn't sure if it hurt or not, I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear confirmation.

She backed off and let go, running around me to wave her hands frantically, "No, no, no, no, no! Not at all!"

The blonde kicked the ground, dust and pebbles launched into the air. "I've... I've seen you around... a lot actually. I noticed you always put on this... air... you act incredibly well, I know you do! but the moment people's backs turns, your eyes lose a bit of their shine, a bit of luster.

"It's like... you stepped off stage and suddenly you don't see yourself as important anymore... as though you were bored."

I had to commend her, acting was one of my favorite things in my life. It was a skill I dedicated myself to all of my own volitions. I prided myself on it. However, acting is meant for an audience, acting is all about eliciting a reaction. You cannot react to yourself, it's not easy, and certainly not satisfying to act for oneself.

"You... kinda remind me of myself."

That got my attention, at first my mind raced miles a minute.

'She... she DARES compare herself to me?!'

"Tired of people, tired of the ever repetitive day, the lack of surprising variety... it's almost... mind-numbing."

At that moment her eyes too dulled her figure slack, and a gaze that seemed to hold no focus. An appearance I saw many times in a mirror.

"People suck." She said plain and simple, "that's why... I really wanted to talk with you. Because maybe we can at least be alone... together?"

This was a first. Most simply know me as the actor kid and leave it at that. Nobody makes the effort to know beyond that. At least not until now.

I dropped my act, I wasn't quite sure who I was. And it was all because of this girl.

"... Okay."

.o0o.

I was surprised when she did come the next day, in silence. She sat at my side, not striking up a conversation, nor making any attempt.

This pattern repeated for days on end, after the first week, another girl joined her, she was slightly taller, had freckles that dotted her face and short black hair.

In silence the three of us sat. Days turned to weeks, weeks to a month.

And then, the silence was broken.

I was lying down on the shaded grass when that angelic voice resounded. "Junko,"

"Huh?" came my eloquent reply.

"Junko Enoshima, it's my name."

I propped myself up, for the first time since we 'met', or eyes found each other.

I had grown oddly used to her presence, and I want sure what to make of it.

On one hand, I could take a leap of faith and let this person into my living lie I can life, potential making me happier than I could ever be, or I could stick to the status quo where there is no heartbreak, but neither a chance of happiness.

I saw her outstretched hand, her soft and gentle smile, and in her angelic voice sent from up above, "Can I get your name?"

Something moved in my chest, something I had not felt in a year, and something I admittedly, deep down desperately wanted again. Some could say it was attention, but what I needed, was love.

"..." I stared at the offered hand, unaware of all that entailed with the promise of friendship.

I reached out to her and shook ot, selling my soul to the girl. "Makoto, Makoto Naegi."

I sold my soul to an angel, hoping for a better life. Never in my wildest dreams could a promise bring me back to life.

Never in my wildest dreams, would I expect that same promise to bring me closer to an angel, and resent the world that rejected us.

This was it. The beginning of the rest of my life, I only hope I don't live to regret this.

.o0O0o.

I'm still not satisfied with the chapter but this felt like a decent cut off spot for now.

Tell me what you thought!

Next chapter- Makoto gets to know this version Junko.

(I like to have a reason for everything. (Hence why the previous chapter was all back story) so there will be some background for Junko's despair)