"Shiena-chan...are you alright? Why weren't you in class this morning?"
When it was lunchtime, since Haru was worried about the absence of her classmate, she went to see her in her door room. Shiena was lying in her bed, almost hidden under her blanket, not even looking at Haru.
"I...I'm sick. I'll probably stay in bed all day. Thanks...for your concern, Ichinose."
"Is it that bad? What do you have? Haru is worried about you."
The brunette remained quiet for a moment, before she finally turned back. Shiena looked exhausted, her face was livid and she had dark circles under her eyes. Haru noticed that her body seemed stiffed, as if she was nervous.
"It's just a cold, no need to worry about that. I should be fine tomorrow."
Shiena was gazing at her with distrust, which Haru didn't understand why. It was like she was suspicious of her or something, like she didn't trust her. It somehow hurt Haru.
"I see...Haru hopes that you'll be okay soon. I missed you in class."
The was a small sparkle of hope that appeared in Shiena's eyes, but it was quickly swallowed by what seemed to be despair. Haru wasn't sure to understand why.
"I'll be back soon, don't worry. Thanks for coming to see me, I appreciate it. Now I would like to rest a little bit. If someone wants to see me, tell them that I'm sleeping. I really need to have some rest, alone."
"Oh, sure, Haru understands. Then, I'll let you sleep. See you tomorrow."
Haru eventually left Shiena's room, still confused about the brunette's behaviour. Why did she seem so nervous, and even afraid? Was it only because of her sickness?
"Haru? Is something wrong? You look concerned, is it about Kenmochi?" Tokaku suddenly asked.
Her roommate had been waiting for her outside the dorm room, in the corridor.
"Shiena-chan, she said she has a cold. But somehow, Haru feels that it's more than just that. It's like there was something she was afraid of…"
"Perhaps a homework she hasn't done?"
"No, Tokaku. Haru thinks it's more serious than just that…"
"Uh, what homework!?"
Haru turned back to discover that Otoya had just arrived in the dormitory's corridor.
"Ah, no! There is no homework, it was just an example," Haru replied.
"Oh, I see. I was worried for a moment that I might have forgotten about it!" Otoya exclaimed before sighing with relief. "So, what are you doing here? Trying to be alone to make out? Did I interrupted something?"
"Otoya-san! No, we weren't…"
"Yes, you interrupted us. Go away Takechi," Tokaku replied coldly.
"Tokaku! Geez, both of you can be so insensitive sometimes...Anyway, we were here to check on Shiena-chan, since she wasn't there this morning."
"Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. Poor Shiena-chan is sick, she had been throwing up all night…"
"Since when vomiting is a symptom of a cold?" Tokaku suddenly asked, suspicious.
Otoya remained quiet for a moment, still smiling in her usual cheerful way. Nothing on her face suggested that she felt nervous or worried about what Tokaku said.
"Oh, I shouldn't have said that...I should have known that Shiena-chan was embarrassed about that. She probably didn't want people to know she has a stomach flu so she told you she had a cold instead. My bad. Please, forget what I just said, and don't tell anyone. Shiena-chan wouldn't be happy about that. Could you do that for her, Haru-chi, Azuma-san?"
"Of course!" Haru replied.
"I don't care," Tokaku added.
"I'll that for a yes. Anyway, I have to do now, seeya later!" Otoya said as she was about to enter her dorm room.
"Wait!" Haru suddenly said. "Shiena-chan...she's sleeping. And I think she really needs to get some rest."
"Uh? She's sleeping...well, don't worry, I just need to grab something in my room, I won't go bother her."
Haru hesitated for a moment. She knew Shiena wasn't sleeping for real and that she just wanted to get some rest alone. But she couldn't just refrain Otoya from going in her own room. Surely, Shiena would understand, or explained the situation to Otoya. After all, they seemed close, so Otoya should understand and leave her alone...right?
Haru and Tokaku left the dormitory and headed towards the main building.
"You asked what could possibly afraid Kenmochi. What if it's Takechi?" Tokaku said.
"Uh, Otoya-san? Why? She's always so nice, especially with Shiena-chan…"
"Perhaps in class, but who knows what happen between them when they are alone. I already told you, Takechi stinks, she smells rotten. She's not as good as she appeared to be. So I think it's possible that Kenmochi is so afraid because she knows what kind of person Takechi truly is. Well, not that I care, but I think that you would probably care. That's why I told you that."
Haru was puzzled. Could it be really possible that Shiena was truly afraid of Otoya? And that she was right to be afraid of her? The brunette seemed distrustful and distant with everyone these days, so maybe she just had some kind of paranoia that had nothing to do with a specific person. But still, a doubt remained in Haru's mind, and she began to be seriously worried about her classmate's health and possibly safety.
"If only Shiena-chan talks to Haru about what troubles her, then Haru could help her."
Shiena waited until she was absolutely sure to be alone before sitting in her bed. Otoya was there a couple of minutes ago, walking around Shiena's bed. The brunette had made an almost superhuman effort to pretend to be asleep the entire time her roommate was there. It was hard trying to remain perfectly still and calm when there was a serial killer near you, especially one who had hurt and raped you not so long ago. She even managed to continue the act when Otoya bent over her. Shiena had been able to feel her breath on her face so much their faces were close. It was like Otoya had been checking if she was really asleep. Then Shiena had heard a noise that sounded like a sniffing near her head, as if Otoya had smelt her hair or something. It was truly terrifying, but at least Otoya was gone now and since lunchtime was over, she shouldn't come back anytime soon.
She felt some pain on her thigh when she sat. It was because she had a cut there, thanks to Otoya. Her roommate at cut her there as a payback for the fact Shiena bit her tongue. Otoya may have take care of the wound later, but it was still painful and a constant reminder of what happened last night. Shiena felt tears in her eyes when she recalled this awful event, but she immediately wiped them and repressed them.
"Crying won't solve anything! It won't erase that horrible event, it's useless...The despair is winning over me. I...I need her...to cleanse my despair...and give me some hope…"
Shiena took her laptop and turned it on. She then went on Skype to reach a certain person. She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to bother her. But she then recalled that this person told her that she could call her anytime. But these days, this person had been inactive on any social media. Shiena was really afraid that she might have blocked her, but just in case, she'll try to contact her one more time.
Her laptop's screen changed, showing that she managed to reach the person and that she was about to have a FaceTime conversation with her.
"Hello there ~! It's been a while, sorry if I was not available, I had important stuff to take care of...Uh? Kenmochi-san, I don't want to sound rude but...you look terrible. Is something wrong?" Junko asked.
Shiena was really relieved that she answered her call. It was one less doubt in her mind.
.H-Hi, Enoshima..sorry to bother you, I just...uh, first, I kinda want to know why you were busy these days, if you don't mind."
"Sure! You see, recently I had erased my memory and become completely amnesiac. It was part of my plan to take over the world," Junko replied seriously.
Shiena remained quiet, not knowing what to say. She really wasn't expecting to hear that. After few seconds of silence, Junko suddenly burst into laugh.
"Haha, relax! I was joking! As if I could do such a thing. No, it's because of the riot...have you heard of it? The riot at Hope's Peak Academy."
"You mean...what people call the Parade? I think it's the reserve course students who are revolting against the academy, right?"
"Yes, exactly! Those ungrateful students, they are granted with the opportunity to study at Hope's Peak, even if they are talentless, but they are finding a way to complain…"
"I...suppose you're right. There's no way Hope's Peak Academy could cause a revolt, those students...they must be misguided by someone, one of them I suppose. I hope it will get better soon. It's even starting to affect Myojo Academy. The administration is afraid that they may have riots here too, and that the SMSL students of Class Black could be attacked. That's why the chairwoman is currently building a new dormitory in the main building for us, in an unused part of the school, so we wouldn't have to go outside. Apparently, it will be individual dorm rooms, but I don't know why."
"Well, isn't a good thing? You won't have to share a room with that Takechi girl anymore, right?"
"...I don't think it will stop her from coming into my room to…"
Shiena suddenly stopped talking. She didn't want to say what happened, she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to control her emotion if she did.
"Uh? Coming to your room to do what? Kenmochi-san, what happened? Had she did something to you? Is it why you look so terrible?"
Shiena continued to remain silent, fighting against the tears that wanted to come out from her eyes.
"Kenmochi-san, please. Tell me what happened. I'm worried about you. You can trust me!"
The brunette clenched her fist. She was beginning to lose her composure. She needed someone to talk to, someone she could trust, someone who could comfort her.
"Otoya, she...she hurt me yesterday...she forced me...to sleep with her…"
"You mean...she raped you?!"
Shiena's resolved suddenly broke. The terrible night she had spent with Otoya came back to her mind in a really graphic way, as well as the emotions she was feeling during that event. She could no longer repress her tears and she started to cry.
"Y-Yes, she...she raped me...I...I'm sorry, Enoshima, to bother you with my crying, I just...can't hold it anymore."
"No, don't apologize! You have nothing to blame yourself for. But seriously, rape? That way more serious than mere bullying at this point. Have you told someone? What she did is illegal, you should call the police…"
"No! I...I can't do that...she...she knows things about me...that could put me in deep trouble."
"So she's blackmailing you? What kind of secret could be so important that you wouldn't report a rape?"
Shiena hesitated to answer. Could she tell Junko the absolute truth? That Otoya was actually a serial killer, that herself she was part of a group that carried assassinations, and that her entire class was full of assassins? No, she couldn't do that. She couldn't say something that could endanger Junko. It would be something Shiena could never forgive herself. There was no way she could endanger the sole person who she trusted, the only one who was able to still make her believe in hope. She had to find a convincing lie to justify herself.
"I...well, you know that I'm a hacker. I...might have done some illegal stuff with that, stuff that could put me in jail. And Otoya knows what that, and she won't hesitate to tell the police if I don't do what she wants."
"I see...and there is no one in your class you can ask help from?"
"Well...there was someone...but she's friend with a really possessive girl who threatened me to not get close to her. Even if it's over, I still don't trust her, and I am even beginning to be suspicious of the other one. There is also...Ichinose, but...she's a relative of the chairwoman. Myojo is so rotten and corrupt, I can't trust someone from the same family as the one in charge of that school. But...she looks honestly like a nice person...but Otoya too, she seemed nice at first...same for Kirigaya. I can't trust anyone, especially not in Myojo. But I had always been confident in my analytic skills. I thought that I had analysed well everyone in my class, but I was never able to fully analyse Otoya. She's just...too abnormal, everything about her doesn't make sense at all! I'm not able to predict what she will do, what she's thinking, what she's capable of...it's just so…"
"Despairful?"
"Uh?"
"I mean, I guess it must be despairful to not be able to analyse something, to be uncertain about something. Is it why...you weren't able to know what Takechi-san could do to you?"
"Y-Yes, I think so...her way of thinking is just too abnormal, she...I think she might be a psychopath."
"Oh? This is something serious, like...is she killing or something?"
"N-No, not every psychopaths are killers...but she clearly has no empathy or remorse, she's manipulative and charismatic. It what seems to make the more sense to me, but...even after all she did to me, even if I know that...I still have feelings towards her. We...were...well, we are still since I didn't broke up, dating."
"Ah...that's an inconvenience. So you think that you're dating a psychopath, who had raped you. And there is not one you can trust…"
"Other than you, no. But...what's the worst about that is...even if I hated every second of what happened last night, the thing I hated the most was that...I somehow liked it," Shiena began to say while sobbing. "I know I shouldn't feel that way, I know it was wrong, but...I can't help it. My body reacts positively to her. I can't control it. I don't want her to do this to me, I'm sure of it...but there's still a part of me who likes it. Is there something wrong with me?"
Shiena continued to sob. She had just admit to Junko something she felt ashamed of, and she was afraid that Junko might be disgusted by her now.
"Don't worry, Kenmochi-san. There is nothing wrong with you. Many raped victims had some kind of physical pleasure, but it doesn't mean they liked it or wanted it. It's just a normal reaction of the body, it's not something you can control. If you already had an attraction towards her, it's normal that your body reacted that way, even if logically you know it was wrong. So don't torment yourself with that, you don't have to blame yourself, it's entirely Takechi-san's fault," Junko began to say. "But still, if she really is a psychopath, then she's technically mentally ill. I'm not trying to excuse what she had done, but if she's unable to have empathy, she may not understand that what she did was wrong. Do you think she loves you for real?"
"Does she...love me? What she did to me, it can't be love, someone who loves me wouldn't have done that!"
"Well, a normal person, sure, but as you say, Takechi-san may be a psychopath. From what I heard, psychopaths can love, but not the same way as anyone else. The lack of empathy and remorse make them unable to truly bond with others, but they can still become obsessed with someone, or view them as useful to them. Those are the two way psychopath can feel love, and in both cases, they are objectifying the person they are interested in. They view others as objects. If Takechi-san isn't lying and loves you, then it's possible that she had developed an obsession with you, and also view you as useful to her."
Shiena remained thoughtful after what she had heard. So it was possible for Otoya to truly love her, but not in the same way a normal person would. But even though, it was certainly not a good thing that a psychopathic serial killer was obsessed by her, or viewed as useful somehow. What use Otoya had for her? To be her plaything?
"Even so, she's too dangerous. She had...she looks like the type who could commit murder," Shiena said.
"That's exactly why you should...Ah, sorry. It's not up to me to decide. I have an idea, but like I said, it's up to you and it's fine if you don't agree. It would be in fact understandable."
"What...what is that idea?"
"Well, you could...take advantage of her love to restrain her, in other words, to control her. If she is really obsessed with you or view you as useful, you may be able to do some compromise with her, since she doesn't want to lose you. You could use that in order to prevent a potential murder from her, or anything kind of harm she could do to others."
"But...if I do that...she'll use that to force herself on me again, she would make her officially her toy, her slave...no her pet. I...I don't think I'll be able to bear with that, not until graduation...even if the year is almost over. And I can't be sure that it will work..."
"Sure, it's your choice, and it's understandable that you don't want to, anyone wouldn't want that. It's just...well, doing something like that would have benefit hope. Lives could be saved, you could be the one who is refraining a potential murderous psychopath to cause victims, which would lead to despair. It would be really useful for...pretty much everyone. Ah, sorry, I should put so much pressure on you. The choice is yours, don't feel bad about it. There are people dying everyday killed by serial killer, it's not like you can stop all of them just because you refrain a psychopath. It wouldn't make a big difference...but still, every difference could matter."
Shiena took the time to think about it. She really didn't want to do that, to allow herself to be whatever Otoya wanted her to be, like she was her property. But she couldn't deny that Otoya was a serious danger for others, more than Junko thought. Otoya did kill people on a regular basis, she had killed because of Shiena. The brunette didn't want any other death to be her fault, she still felt terribly guilty about that. So if her sacrifice could save innocent people's lives, perhaps it worthed it. Especially if it would benefit hope and avoid unnecessary despair. If Shiena's despair could lead to others' hope, then perhaps it was a noble sacrifice to do. After all, her goal had always been to spread hope and fight despair. If her own despair could be used for hope, then was it really a bad thing?
"It's almost like...it's all a test," Shiena mumbled. "I'm being tested, my resolve, my dream, my hope, are put on trial. Myojo Academy...is the academy of despair. Everything there, it's like it exist solely to make me miserable, to make me...hopeless. Everyone is against me, I can't trust anyone. This is a test, to test my hope, to see if I'm really worthy of Hope's Peak, worthy of being a symbol of hope! If I can use my own despair and turn it into hope that will benefit others, then it means that I succeed the test, right? That I'm worthy of hope, of being a student at Hope's Peak. I'll survive the despair of Myojo, use it to spread hope, and to strengthen my own hope. All I have to do...is to bear with it until graduation, and make sure that I'll be accepted at Hope's Peak. This way my dream will come true, and I'll be safe from Otoya…"
"That's the right spirit! You truly are a person of hope. Seriously, you could almost become the Super High School Level Hope with that kind of spirit!"
"W-What!? N-No, I'm not that...good. I'm just someone who's admiring hope and want to use it for the greater good."
"Ah, so humble. So, the Hope's Peak exam is coming soon to Class Black, right? Are you ready?"
"I...not sure. Since I'm the SMSL Hacker, I think it would be safer for me to prepare something related to hacking for the exam, so I would have more chance to be accepted at Hope's Peak. Even if my dream was...to be a dramatist. Well, I guess it's better that way, I can't risk failing the exam…"
"Kenmochi-san, the choice is yours but...Personally, I don't agree. I don't think you should give up on your dream only because you're afraid to fail. You need to have more confidence in yourself. What would be the point to do to Hope's Peak if it isn't with the title you dream of? What do you want to be? The SHSL Hacker or SHSL Dramatist? If you go at Hope's Peak without your dream, then it won't be hopeful, you won't be able to contribute to hope as much as you could if you have the title you want."
"Yes, you're right. I shouldn't think in such a defeatist way! This is how despair win over us. Hope and dream are related, I can't give up on my dream, it's not the hopeful solution. If I want to achieve true hope, it has to be through my dream! This is why, during the exam, I'll show everyone what my true talent is!"
"That's the spirit! Good luck with that, as well as dealing with Takechi-san. What you're doing shows that you are truly a hopeful person, Kenmochi-san."
"Thanks, Enoshima. You have opened my eyes, what you said was what I needed to hear. You reminded me what true hope was, because without that, I would have been consumed by despair."
"Oh no, it would be bad if it happens, right?"
"Yes, it would. But thanks to you, it won't happen."
"Of course! Now I need to go, good luck with everything, and I wish that you'll succeed your exam."
"I'll, because I have true hope!"
The conversation ended. Despite all the despair-inducing stuff that happened to her, thanks to Junko, Shiena managed to hope a little. She was convinced that she had understood what true hope was, which was to be able to use despair and transform it in hope, and that true hope couldn't exist without following your dream. All she had to do now was to deal with Otoya. She knew that her roommate was mentally ill and that it could not be entirely her fault the way she acted, but still, Shiena couldn't forgive her. But she didn't have to, she just had to deal with her and control her until graduation, as well as distrust everyone just in case without being hostile, as well as preparing the best exam ever. Then, she would have finally reached true hope. This thought made her smile to herself.
"If I bear with my despair, I can save lives and spread hope, and then use it to strengthen my own hope. I'll be able to become the SHSL Dramatist, I just have to keep believing in my dream and hope, reaching true hope, and then...maybe Enoshima is true. Maybe I could become the SHSL Hope."
When classes were over, Otoya went back to her dorm room. She had thought all day about what she did to Shiena yesterday. Not that she felt any kind of regret, she never had, but she was wondering if it had been the right choice. Using threat and violence to force her roommate to stay with her had seemed at first to be the good solution, but now she wasn't sure about it now. On long-term, that type of behaviour might have a bad impact on Shiena's personality, which could taint her pure heart. Otoya wasn't the type to taint what she found pretty, she was the kind who wanted to preserve beauty. All those girls with a pretty face, it was easy. Killing them was the solution to preserve their beauty, their sole existence was to fill Otoya's emptiness, her desire to acquire beauty, to preserve it. But it was only temporary, Otoya needed more, and thus taking more and more life, just to satisfy her obsession with beauty.
And then she met Shiena, a girl with a pure heart, a girl who was not really pretty, yet not ugly. Otoya knew that amount her victims there must be some of them who had a pure heart, but all Otoya could see with them were their pretty face. Even when she cut them open, she couldn't see their pure heart, it couldn't be seen. That pretty face, it was like a mask that was hiding people's heart, something fake. Shiena wasn't wearing a mask, Otoya could see her pure heart, as if she was an open book. It was the first time Otoya met someone like that, and that she realized how pretty inner beauty could be. It felt way deeper than outer beauty. That must be why she was never fully satisfied with those girls with a pretty face, because their beauty was empty, while Shiena's beauty was deep, enough to perhaps fill Otoya's emptiness permanently. Her pure heart even made Shiena looked prettier than other girls in Otoya's eyes. The serial killer never felt something as intense, something so...obsessive. She didn't want to lose Shiena, she felt like she couldn't satisfy herself anymore with only killing, not after she had met her.
But after what she had done, Otoya knew that it might be too late. She should have played the victim card back then, trying to look miserable and repentful so Shiena might have pity of her. Shiena simply can't resist when she saw someone who seemed hurt, and she's weak to others' tears. She could try it now, but she doubted it would work for someone she had just raped. Maybe? Otoya was confidence in her manipulative skills, so it worth nothing to try. She walked to Shiena's bed and discovered that her roommate was now awake, but still lying in her bed. As soon as their eyes met, Shiena hid under her blanket. At first Otoya thought about ripping the blanket and forced Shiena to look at her, but she knew it wouldn't make the situation better, quite the contrary.
"Shiena-chan," Otoya softly called. "Please, talk to me. I'm sorry."
The brunette remained quiet, still hidden under the blanket. Otoya sighed and went to sit on the bed's edge, without invading Shiena's space.
"What I did yesterday...it was wrong. I know it. And I regret it. I'm sorry. Please, talk to me. I...I have a problem. I have...that strong need of killing...I can't control it. Killing for me...it's sexual. No, not only sexual, it's pleasure. Without killing, I can't feel any kind of pleasure, but...you're the exception. With you, I'm able for the first time to feel pleasure without killing. So yesterday...I was afraid of losing, that's why...I panicked and...forced you to have sex with me."
Otoya wondered if Shiena had believed all that bullshit. Well, there was some truth in it but most of what she said were lies. But Otoya was a good liar, as well as a good actress. She could easily pretend to have remorse and sympathy, even if those emotions were impossible for her to feel. But over time, Otoya had become a pro at faking emotions, and her usual cheerful attitude who was at first only a facade now felt more natural, she didn't have to put a lot of work into acting this way anymore.
Slowly, Shiena partially removed the blanket, only showing half of her face. It reminded Otoya of a small fluffy animal that was afraid, and she found it really arousing. But now wasn't the time to be turned on, it was the time to act like a proper human being. At least, pretend to be one.
"You...this can't be true, right? You can't have empathy or remorse, because...you're mentally ill," Shiena nervously said.
Otoya was confused. What did she mean by that? Sure, it was true that she couldn't have empathy or remorse, but how Shiena could know and said that with such certitude? She did mention something about being mentally ill. Otoya didn't view herself as someone who was ill, but perhaps it was a way to play the victim card and have Shiena's forgiveness.
"You..you're right. I can't feel empathy or remorse, I was never able to. I'm probably born that way. It's not my fault, I can't change it. I know what is right and wrong, but...I can't care. I...I started to test my limit, to see if I could care, to see if I could feel bad...so I started to kill, and...nothing. All I could feel was pleasure for the first time in my life. So...I got carried away and...ended up becoming a serial killer. I know it was wrong, but I couldn't feel bad, all I felt was pleasure. But with you, it's different. I...I'm not sure why, but I do feel bad for what I did to you, I have some regret. So I'm sorry, I truly am."
Another bunch of nonsense. Otoya didn't care about right or wrong and started killing because she was always curious about it, not to test her limit. But it was true that she felt somehow bad about what happened yesterday, but not by sympathy towards Shiena. Otoya only felt bad because she didn't want to lose her precious plaything that could finally fill the void in her heart. There was no way she would give up on such a pure heart, this...eternal blooming flower.
Shiena slowly uncovered her head, with a frightened look that Otoya found adorably cute.
"I...I can understand, but it doesn't change what happened. What you did to me...it was awful. It hurt me…"
"I know! There's nothing that excuses what I had done, I don't expect you to forgive me. I just...wanted to explain myself, and properly apologies."
Otoya didn't understand why Shiena was so hurt. Except for the cut, it wasn't like she had been brutal during sex. Shiena even came. But, Otoya knew it wasn't the right time to say this if she wanted to have a chance to fix things between them.
Shiena finally emerged from under the blanket and sat next to Otoya, while keeping a good distance between them.
"Otoya...what you did, it's unforgivable. But, since your mental problem, it's not really a matter of forgiveness. I don't want to be hurt, I don't want to suffer, I don't want to feel like my life is threatened all the time. Do you get it? And with someone like you, I can never be sure…"
"I...I get it now, it was wrong, I won't do it again I promise! Please Shiena-chan, give me another chance. I...I really love you. You're the only person I have ever love. Without you, I...I couldn't do otherwise than killing again. It's being with you that help suppressing my murderous desire. I need you! I...I would do anything! Any compromise!"
Otoya took care to sound pitiful, desperate and sad. It was the best way to look miserable, to attract sympathy towards others, especially those who were kind-hearted like Shiena. She wanted to make Shiena feel responsible for what she could do, to put her under pressure so she would forgive her. She wanted Shiena to feel bad if she doesn't.
"Did you say...compromise?" the brunette weakly asked.
"Yes! Anything you want, I'll do it for you!"
"Then, I'll just ask you one thing. A promise. And if you keep it...then, I'll let you do whatever you want with me."
Otoya remained quiet for a moment. It seemed too good to be true. Shiena gave her the permission to do what she wanted with her, and only if she made a single promise? But, despite that, Otoya had no intention of hurting Shiena anymore. She wanted her pure heart to remain pure forever, so she could preserve eternally her inner beauty.
"Sure, anything! What is this promise, Shiena-chan?"
"That you shall never kill again, unless it's to protect yourself or someone else."
Otoya took the time to think about it. It was true that killing felt now hollow, and that Nio had clearly forbidden her to kill any students. And even if she promised that, it didn't mean she had to respect it...No, she had. If she doesn't, then she might lose Shiena, and it was not something she could afford. What would be the point to have an eternal blooming flower if she kept cutting the petals?
"I promise, no more killing. I don't need it anyway, as long as I have you. Which means…"
Suddenly, Otoya pushed Shiena the bed, but not violently. She did it gently. She then went on top of her roommate and began to delicately stroke her hair.
"As long as you do what I say, nothing bad will happen to you or anyone else. Don't worry, I won't hurt you anymore. I want to take care of you, because I love you."
Unexpectedly, Shiena smiled. It wasn't a forced smile, it was a genuine one. And her eyes...it was like they were shining. For some reason, the brunette was happy. Otoya wasn't sure why, but she didn't care. All that matter was that it made Shiena so...beautiful, like her pure heart was shining. Her eyes, they were so...hopeful? Before they looked tainted by despair, but not anymore. Was that why she looked so beautiful? That was what Otoya concluded, before she softly kissed Shiena on her lips.
"Shiena-chan's pure heart, my eternal blooming flower...I'll never let you go. I'll preserve her. That perfect beauty belongs to me now. You'll be mine...forever."
"Enoshima-san...This Class Black will be cancelled after all."
On her phone, Junko was talking to Nio, who was in her case on her IPad.
"Uh? Wouldn't it be bad for the Hope's Peak/Myojo alliance?"
"No, the SMSL students project will remain, it's just Class Black's initial goal that is cancelled. The year is almost over, there's no point to do that with them. I'll just wait for the chairwoman's return and do it again with the next Class Black. But in that case, I can't let Haru-chan lives. People like her are not allowed to live if they don't win Class Black, and with its cancellation, she had been disqualified. I'll let her live for the moment, to not disturbed the class, but during graduation day, I'll kill her," Nio declared coldly.
"Uh? You want to kill that girl, how?"
"Should I really tell you?"
"Ah come on! I already know about everything at this point. Why would I do something to prevent it? Should I remind you that my own sister is my personal bodyguard and assassin? I really don't care about people dying."
"True...And I must admit I'm pretty proud of my plan so it would feel like a waste if I have no one to tell. You see, as an Illusionist, I can make people see me as a different person, or hallucinate. So, the day of the graduation, I'll make sure Azuma-san is trapped somewhere, and gives the bad place to Haru. So when everyone else will receive their diploma by Mizorogi-sensei, Azuma-san will be trapped, and I'll go kill Haru...using Azuma-san's appearance! I'll make sure there are a lot of witnesses. Haru-chan will die while thinking her dear girlfriend killed her, and Azuma-san will be accused of the murder of her lover. And me, I'll hypnotize those present during the graduation to make them believe I was with them the whole time. The rest could go to Hope's Peak so the alliance will be a success."
"Ah, I see….very ingenious. You're so cruel to your classmates, Hashiri-san. And Ichinose-san and Azuma-san fates would truly be...despair-inducing."
"Uh, well, I really hate those two, more than the others. If there had been a real Class Black, that's what I would have done. Despair? I guess your right. I don't really care, as long as Haru-chan die and both of them suffer."
Junko managed to keep her composure. Nio was seriously pissing her off right now. She had to admit that her plan was truly despairful, but what bothered Junko was that Nio wasn't worthy of that despair. She was just a cruel person, not someone who truly understand the beauty of despair. It was frustrating to see someone like her to have such a good despair-inducing idea, but not even acknowledge the glory of despair. There was no way Junko would let that sharp toothed goblin succeeded, she didn't deserve to accomplish this despairful act without even understanding despair. Anyway, Junko needed every Class Black's students alive for her plan.
"Good luck with that. Anyway, what about the new dormitory? Is it over?" Junko asked.
"Ah, almost finish! It was a good idea you gave me, to create a new dormitory in the main building. With all the shit that happens at Hope's Peak, I may affect Myojo and some jackass could attack the SMSL students. Well, most of them are assassins, but still. Lot of them are really weak, or not even assassins. It's safer if they remained in the main building, I'll also hire more security guard. And this time, it will be individual dorm room! I'm tired of their gay bullshit, it should calm their hormones a little..."
"Indeed, it's better if everything happens in the same building. Um, what do you mean about hormones?"
"Well, some of those horny lesbos do something else than sleeping at night...especially Isuke-san and Haruki-san. Gosh those two...what a great thing that the rooms are soundproof. Once there was also Namatame-san and Kirigaya-san, and yesterday...uh...Takechi-san raped Kenmochi-san."
"Uh, really!? How?" Junko exclaimed, faking to be surprised.
"Takechi-san threatened her to kill someone to force Kenmochi-san to sleep with her. She then cut her on her tight and push her on the bed, taking her by behind at first...Hey, why do you ask? I don't want to remind that!"
"Uh? Could it be...your sensitive over that? I thought you hate your classmate, why do you care so much about what happened to her?"
"It's not that I care, but...it could cause troubles."
"What troubles? The year is almost over. After that, they will be Hope's Peak problem. Who cares about that girl anyway? She's so forgettable."
"I suppose that you're true...Anyway, I gotta go. Some paperwork to do for the new dormitory. Seeya!"
Nio ended up the conversation. Junko was somewhat bothered that Class Black was cancelled, but it didn't ruin her plan. She would just have to do it quicker, before graduation day. Otherwise Haru would be killed, and Junko wanted every student alive for her killing game. She had been worried after the Romeo & Juliet incident, but since both Chitaru and Hitsugi were now fine and back to class, it wasn't a problem anymore. They didn't seem to have kept too many scars and were back to health.
Junko remembered her conversation with Shiena earlier. Her crying face full of despair, it was just so...arousing. Junko cursed herself to not have recorded it for later use. She also felt somewhat jealous because she wasn't the one who caused this despair, it was Takechi. Junko couldn't wait to steal her Shiena and drag her into despair personally. The year was almost over, Shiena's despair was stable in her, still under control, thanks to her strong hope. But Junko could feel that the despair was almost rip, ready to be collected by Junko's hand. Junko was sure that it would taste delicious if it was an actual fruit. Just thinking about that turned her one. She really wanted it now, after all the hope she gave to Shiena, it will soon be time to collect the despairful fruit she had nourish.
"Takechi-san is a psychopath uh...those of her kinds view others as objects. Kenmochi-san is currently her toy, and I'll take it from her. I can't wait to see her face when I'll break her favourite toy and rebuild it to my liking. It will truly be despair-inducing!"
So what happened here...Haru is hopeless because she wants to help Shiena, Shiena is obsessed by achieving true hope, Otoya is obsessed by Shiena's beauty, and Junko is lusting over Shiena's despair. Well, isn't great?
Remember in Akuma no Ronpa, the dream Haru had after Otoya's execution? Otoya mentioned a promise she had made to Shiena. Well, there it is! Was it always planned that way? Nope. How was it supposed to be originally? Not telling ya, all I'll say is that it was way more creepy, and even gruesome.