Floating around in the pod, Tsumugi continues to experiment with her powers. Generating a brick with her hands, she tosses it around, watching it slowly descend to her hands before lifting it up.
Her fear and confusion morphed into boredom and uncertainty. She still doesn't know where this place is, who brought her here, and how the hell she even got these powers.
She could make out a throne room but it's not like she knew who it belonged to. Whoever he is, he must sure be a busy man to leave her alone for so long.
Occasionally she would put her ear against the pod's surface to hear murmuring. Talks about plans, setting up, their boss on some sort of investigation, it's faint but something about her developing powers allowed her to make out some sort of English words.
…Maybe she would've been more attentive if one voice wasn't distracting her from how familiar it sounds.
"…Is that Monokuma? No, it can't be. Danganronpa's fictional... right?"
Tsumugi rubs her head. This mental fragmentation isn't going away any time soon.
Suddenly, Tsumugi could feel goosebumps run up her spine. An unfamiliar sound, almost like the sound of a ghost passing through a wall, like in the horror anime she watched as a child.
"Who's there?!"
Her face suddenly presses against the glass dome of the pod in an attempt to intimidate the intruder.
Nothing.
Tsumugi slowly inches away from the glass. Maybe a false ala-
"WELL, WELL!"
In a flash, what appears to be a TV screen appears in front of Tsumugi, startling her.
"Gah!"
Recovering from the shock, Tsumugi looks down to see that this isn't just some TV Screen, but it's displaying… a game of pong? The paddles appear to make up eyes as they move in a natural manner to pupils.
Below, she could see an elegant robe, almost like this is royalty of some sort.
"A living… TV. Riiiight, this has to be another test. Only my boss could do something this crazy. Yeah, yeah, that's it."
"So this is what Vortech's been up to, huh? Pffft, he's always been so boring. Why bring HER back to life?"
"A-Alright, cut the crap, guys. I know this is you, Mr. Kodaka. Another one of your wacky auditions. You can take out the disguise now!" Tsumugi says with wavering denial.
"Mr. Kodaka? Oh, honey. I didn't know you knew who your writer was! Did Vortech give you the ol' existential runaround?" The TV playfully floated around, it seemed full of energy and enthusiasm… but Tsumugi could feel something chilling behind that demeanor. Almost like a façade.
"Who the hell is Vortech?"
"…Guess not! Well, he's not important. Just some lame-o sore loser who hates making things interesting with his posse of other lame-o sore losers!"
The TV leans forward, observing Tsumugi. "And it looks like he wants to use you for something. That's why he brought you back to life…"
"Wait, I actually died?!" Tsumugi gasps.
"Oh yeah. Biiiiig rock." The TV screen changes to show a poorly rendered stick figure being crushed by a pong ball. "SQUISH!"
"Just a pool of Pepto-Bismol and flesh. Ain't pretty."
"And what does he want me to do?" Tsumugi asks.
"Girl, I know everything about you. You're a disguisin' machine! No doubt you'd be perfect for his stupid little evil plan to make things boring for characters like us!" The TV proceeds to go on a tangent. "I mean, who'd want to destroy writers? Our job is to entertain! That's the point of a character, yeah?"
"T-That's right." Tsumugi says. "That's what… I wanted to do. Entertain people." She twiddles her thumbs.
"They wanted Danganronpa, and I wanted to give them what they want. But they threw me away, instead."
The TV looks at her, stays silent for a moment before turning away. "Oh, I hear that. One of my earliest gigs was bringing back a classic game franchise. But how was I supposed to know that they didn't want cars?! Try something a little different, man."
He turns around. "Hey, I may not be this… Kodaka you're talkin' about. But it looks we had the same problem. Tell ya what. I'm trying to make my own show, and I need a crew. How's about you ditch this pidge and come with me? Have that second chance to show someone what we're made of?"
Tsumugi stares in bewilderment. "And… who are we entertaining?"
"Well, basically gods. People who created us. I'll fill you in on the way to my place, if you want." The TV says.
"And your name is?" Tsumugi asks.
"I never thought you'd ask. Name's the Lord of Games, but please! Call me L.O.G." The TV finally states.
"L.O.G… Waiiiit a minute, you came here because you know I'd join your crew, huh?" Tsumugi asks.
"Well, they never said I was subtle." L.O.G sighs. "But do you want out, or not?"
"Sure. I don't understand what the hell a lot of what you said means, but if it means getting one more chance… I'll do anything." Tsumugi nods.
"Perfect! Now step back, daddy's got some work to do!" Out of nowhere, L.O.G gets out a blowtorch.
