Chapter 25: Save the Adaptation

Nagito Komaeda had a smirk on his face while he walked to the gate of Hope's Peak Academy. After the stunt he pulled earlier, he was suspended indefinitely. Naturally, one who loved being around people with talent would be devastated at having to leave.

But, that was not the case.

He held pride in the fact his actions, while extreme, managed to aid the others. The Ultimate Lucky Student was proud even filth like him managed to help everyone. Admittedly, he did feel some regret about getting Chisa in trouble, but he knew she'd be fine. He didn't know where he'd go for the time being—a boy with nothing.

Even so, he walked from the academy of hope with his head held high. He flicked a strand of his pale hair, the orange afternoon sun bathing him with its rays. After his talk with Chisa, he decided to leave. It's not like his classmates would care about saying goodbye to him, at least that's what he concluded.

What puzzled him, however, was what Chisa said to him. He touched his cheek, recalling how the conversation went. Never before had someone spoke to him like that. It didn't happen often, but her actions caught him off guard; he didn't know what to think of it.

Is that…? thought Nagito, seeing a familiar girl in a cream-colored hoodie waiting at the gate.

"Komaeda," said Chiaki, eyes downcast.

"This is an honor," he replied, smiling humbly. "The class representative herself has come to see me off? I'm overcome with happiness."

"… Why did you do it?"

Nagito looked confused. "What do you mean? Everyone was upset about the exam and the death of those two girls; I had to do something." The way he talked sounded casual; he saw no fault in what he did.

Chiaki narrowed her eyes. "You went too far. You could've come to me, and then we could've thought of something to cheer everyone up."

Nagito put his hands up. "Oh no, you do so much already. I figured you didn't want more on your shoulders. Now the exam has been canceled, and no one was hurt."

"You could've hurt someone, Ms. Yukizome is gone, and you have to leave. Things have been so tough, so we should all be together…"

"Ms. Yukizome will return, eventually. Also, I don't think me being absent really matters."

"You're wrong."

"I mean, after all, I'm just trash that was lucky enough to walk among you all. If I ended up being of use, then I—"

Nagito's sentence was halted when he felt Chiaki's palm slap him. It was on the side Chisa had hit earlier. Her expression mirrored Chisa's as well; although, the gamer looked more sorrowful.

"You're always saying stuff like that. I thought my talent would never amount to anything, but I learned I can help people with it. You're smart—smarter than me—so you could definitely be helpful. I want everyone together, including you."

Nagito stared back at her, not showing any particular reaction. Just like earlier, he wasn't sure how to respond.

"So," said Chiaki, staring at him with vigor, "help me understand you! If I can, we could help the others understand you too. Then we can all play games and hang out like before."

Nagito widened his eyes before laughing under his breath. "Truly, you were the correct choice for class rep. Your kindness is better served elsewhere. Being too close to me will only lead to bad things for you and others."

"Well, I consider you my friend, and nothing has happened yet—maybe my bad luck resistance stat is too high."

"As expected, your optimism is as potent as your hope. It's no wonder you're Ms. Yukizome's favorite and trusts you with everything." Nagito walked past Chiaki, not meeting her eyes. "Regardless, my luck would come for you…just like it does for everyone else…"

While Nagito walked past the gate, Chiaki felt ashamed she couldn't get through to him. Despite misgivings from the class, she wanted to hear his motivation for doing what he did. Right when she was about to leave—she turned her head when Nagito, his back facing her, said, "You know… there is something about you I can't figure out…"

"What's that mean?"

"It's not the absolute hope I'm looking for, but…I can't help but be intrigued."

Chiaki, as usual, didn't understand what he meant. "I'm not special."

"It makes sense you wouldn't notice it." Nagito put a hand in his pocket. "While I'm away, I'll continue being a supporting pillar for those who embody hope." He gazed at her, with a smile, and said, "We'll meet again."

Chiaki watched as Nagito departed while the orange sky continued darkening.

VVV

"Chiaki?" said Usami, commanded by Miaya. "You look deep in thought."

"I was just…remembering something."

The reserved duo was walking through the hallway of Miaya's base—the same place Chiaki woke from her coma. As her friendly therapist promised, she had a surprise for the gamer. Miaya kept insisting she'd get to experience something few ever have. The gamer had grown to dislike surprises because most came from the insane housekeeper, but she knew Miaya must've had something awesome in store.

"May I ask what it was about?"

"It was a talk I had with a classmate." Chiaki wanted to take this opportunity to ask Miaya about Nagito's ideals. She knew there were few who could provide a better answer than her. "I tried, but I failed to understand him; do you think you could help?"

"Absolutely! What was he like?"

"He loved talent and Hope's Peak. He thought all he was good for was being supportive of Ultimates, and he had no other use. He did things to help the class that got him in trouble. He was one of the smartest, but he refused to see himself as our equal."

Miaya looked to the side for a moment before she said, "Was he polite to you all? Did he come off as strange to others, and show unconcern to his actions?"

Amazing! She was impressed by how on-the-nose Miaya was using that vague description she gave her. "Are you sure you're not psychic?"

"Haha, that would make my job easier, but no. I've talked with a few types like that before who've had a fanatical approach. Though, this is the first I've heard of an Ultimate admiring other Ultimates. What was his talent?"

"He was our classes' lottery winner."

"Let's see…" Usami put a paw on her face. "Do you think his worship could've been a facade?"

Chiaki didn't need to ponder that. "No way; he would go out of his way to help, even if it was something small."

"I was thinking more of an unconscious desire. It's popularly accepted among psychologists that the unconscious mind contains desires and impulses we aren't aware of. Perhaps he held a resentment towards talent, but his conscious mind interprets it as admiration and even religious worship."

"That sounds really complicated…"

"The human mind is extremely complex. If you want, I can teach you about the levels of the mind, how they coexist, and theories from popular philosophers and psychologist."

"Umm…" Chiaki held her head. Her brain ached from just hearing all this. "This sounds like a complicated plot from a game."

"Yes, it can be daunting to learn." The duo turned a corner. "Did you consider this boy a friend?"

"I did."

"You don't anymore?"

Chiaki's mind went back to Nagito's sudden appearance after being absent for many months. She'd never forget how that day went. She didn't know how—nor did Chisa when she asked—but Nagito knew something about Junko and led her there. The gamer was sure if Nagito hadn't gone through with his extreme plan of gunning Junko down—they wouldn't have gotten in trouble, and Chisa wouldn't have had to intervene.

Still, her feelings on this were the same as Ryouta's situation. She didn't feel any burning resentment because she felt just as responsible. "It doesn't matter," she said. "He's dead, probably."

"I wouldn't give up hope. Yukizome claims they likely died, but none of their bodies have been discovered yet. You could see them again; crazier things have happened."

"Like what?"

"Well," said Usami, while Miaya grinned behind her scarf, "you lived."

Chiaki smiled, feeling her melancholy evaporate like raindrops under the sun. She knew they were alive, yet the therapist statement still made her happy. She always knows what to say.

The duo walked and chatted for a few minutes until Miaya stopped her wheelchair at a door. The gamer noticed how vacant the floor they were on was. After Miaya opened the door, they stepped inside and was greeted by a dim room full of computers and an odd pod-shaped machine.

"What room is this?"

"A secret lab where I turn Future Foundation agents into cyborgs."

Chiaki's eyes lit up. "Really! Can they shoot laser beams and stuff!"

"Hehe, I'm kidding." Miaya blinked at her like she always did when attempting humor. "This room was meant to be a safety measure concerning the Neo World Program."

The gamer remembered having a meeting about the classified project. It was months ago, so it had slipped her mind. Still, the premise of a psychotherapeutic virtual reality that could cure despair sounded like a dream. Just maybe, it could be the catalyst for her friends' recovery. Perhaps even Chisa could benefit from it. It sounded too good to be true, so she figured it was.

Miaya went to a huge computer while she said, "Makoto Naegi is the one who gave me the idea to put a fail-safe in the system. I was so certain of its security, I didn't consider it. However, not only did I agree with it, I took it a step further. That pod you see is another emergency measure I created."

"What kind of emergency?"

"In the case of a virus or anomaly, I made this machine to allow myself to enter the program as well. It would allow me to bypass the rules of the system, and obtain the privileges of an administrator."

"It's a backdoor into the program."

"Exactly. It'll transfer your mind to the main server, which is at a secret location."

As fascinating as this information was, Chiaki still couldn't understand something pivotal. "Why did we come here?" She watched in awe as Miaya quickly typed commands on the keyboard while controlling Usami.

"Because I'll let you dive into the Neo World Program."

Chiaki gasped, thinking she misheard. Then she thought Miaya could be joking again. "Really? Is that allowed…?"

"It's fine. What you're entering is a sandbox—a testing environment—for you to explore. I've already tested this multiple times, and I'll stay here and monitor your body."

She was speechless. Being the gaming savant she was, one of her desires was to see virtual reality. Now she'd be one of the first to experience it. Her mind raced, wondering what kind of amazing fantasy world awaited. "Is there gonna be some kind of magical land inside?"

"Hehe, hardly. Sorry to disappoint, but the area you'll be in will be small and ordinary. Though, I'll guarantee you'll find it nostalgic." After Miaya pushed a few more keys, the pod-shaped machine roared to life with a low hum and glowed. "It's ready."

Chiaki saw the glass over the pod open. This is out of a sci-fi game…

"Just lie inside and relax. I promise there will be no pain."

Chiaki climbed inside and lied down. Despite the look, it wasn't uncomfortable. While she trusted the therapist, she felt a little timid when the glass closed and contained her. Miaya looked down at her with a reassuring look before rolling away.

Then, a few seconds later, Chiaki felt her mind leave her body.

VVV

Chiaki, blinking a few times, stood and looked around. The change in scenery seemed instant. One moment, she was lying in the pod—now she looked around at an all too familiar backdrop.

This is Hope's Peak Academy…

The halls of the once prominent academy were her backdrop. She knew it was fake, but the hyper-realism made her feel like she had leaped back in time. It was like the events leading up to the Tragedy never happened. This is incredible!

"Hello!" said a familiar voice. Chiaki turned to see Usami, not on a computer screen—but as an actual thing.

"Usami? How did you get out of Miaya's computer?"

"Inside the Neo World Program, I'm a—"

Usami, her sentence being interrupted, was improperly picked up by Chiaki. The gamer closely examined the rabbit before tugging on her ears. "So fuzzy…"

"Hey, take it easy!"

"Sorry." The gamer put Usami down, thinking of one of her favorite games. "I have the urge to get a small capsule device and catch you with it."

"I don't know what that means—but, like I was saying, I'm an Observer! My duty is to aid any patients in their psychotherapy! Pretty neat, huh?"

"Is that why I'm here, for therapy?"

"Nope!" Usami waved her wand around before twirling it. "There's someone here Ms. Gekkogahara would like you to meet! Do you remember where the recreational room is?"

Chiaki put a finger to her chin. "It was on…the third floor, I think?"

"You bet! They'll be waiting there; love, love!"

In a flash, Usami disappeared. At this point, Chiaki just shrugged and accepted this odd phenomenon.

There were a few feelings running through her: nostalgia, sadness, and optimism. Seeing a perfect recreation of Hope's Peak made memories of her class doing all sorts of things in this building appear. With those memories, came sadness. Sadness that those pleasant times ended as abruptly and cruelly as they did.

Yet, she began feeling optimistic. If even her, who knew this wasn't real, could become this immersed—she wondered what actual patients would feel. The scene of her classmates being put in here to undergo recovery kept playing in her head. It was a promising prospect, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something would go wrong—it always seemed to with her.

It's not real…she kept thinking. The gamer was afraid she'd fool herself into believing everything that happened was a dream, and the class would be waiting for her upon arrival.

After reaching the stairs, she walked to the third floor. Just as she remembered, the rec room was waiting for her on the right, only a few steps away. She approached the door and put an ear to it; hearing nothing, she walked inside while bracing herself for anything.

Like the hallway, the rec room was a perfect replica of the original. The gamer remembered coming here to play games with others on occasion, even though digital was the way she preferred her games. She shoved aside her memories and focused on the most important aspect of this room—there was a person sitting.

"Why, hello," said a girl with one of the most unique looks Chiaki had seen up close—up there with Gundham. She was wearing a gothic lolita outfit, she had huge black pigtails, and her crimson eyes were acute. She looked like a doll that had become a real person.

This girl…thought Chiaki, feeling as if she'd seen her before. Where was it?

"My name is Celestia Ludenberg; a pleasure to meet you."

Is that real? Chiaki had only heard names like that in medieval fantasy games. "You're Japanese, right?"

"Hehe, my father is French nobility, and my mother is part of a Greek family of musicians."

That sounds like a lie. It wasn't something she was proud of, but after spending so much time around Chisa—she could tell when someone wasn't being genuine. The gothic lolita's face looked artificial, like a mask. Even so, she doubted Celestia was a crazy murderer because Miaya would never pull that kind of cruel surprise.

"You haven't introduced yourself yet."

"I'm Chiaki Nanami."

"Well, Nanami, care to play a friendly game of Old Maid? I should warn you, however—I don't lose. I am the Ultimate Gambler, after all."

She went to Hope's Peak Academy. Chiaki's interest in her grew. "I was the Ultimate Gamer."

"Oh?" Celestia had a look that would suggest she was impressed, but it was difficult to tell. "Then, you must indulge me. Let's see whose talent prevails."

Not having a reason to decline, Chiaki sat across from her. Celestia took a fifty-two card deck and shuffled them so fast, Chiaki could barely follow. She shuffled in many different ways, all while making it look like child's play

While Celestia distributed the cards, Chiaki had a question: "Which class were you a part of?"

"I was in the seventy-eighth class."

Chiaki gasped. The gamer recalled where she had seen Celestia now. She was in the mutual killing game. This girl…has already died. Knowing she was having a conversation with someone no longer alive made things more awkward.

"Is something the matter?" Celestia asked, her eyes examining the gamer like an instruction manual. "You look troubled."

"…It's nothing. How did gambling become your talent?"

"It's a thrilling tale. In order to achieve my ultimate goal, I decided to obtain money through gambling. I'm done things such as high stakes games of poker, Russian Roulette, and competing in dangerous underground gambling rings. I was so infamous, I earned the name Queen of Liars. No amount of money was safe from me."

Chiaki felt embarrassed to talk about her talent after hearing that kind of backstory. "I just played games every day and won a few tournaments..."

"Hehe, I suppose we all have to start from somewhere. One of my first games was against the prime minister of a prominent country. I almost got him to bet his whole country, but his advisers talked him out of it. I won easily, but was sad at what I could've had."

I can't tell a lie from what's real… The way Celestia talked was so smooth, it was hard to tell honesty from dishonesty. Her exploits seemed unreal, but she conveyed them so naturally. Everything from her expression to her odd accent was off-putting. It was only right that the Ultimate Gambler would have a phenomenal poker face.

"You seem to have had obstacles in your past as well," said Celestia, her gaze more serious. The two had already begun to empty their hands of pairs. "You have the look and feel of a person who's been through much. I've gone against many types like this before."

"… Something bad happened to my classmates; it was my fault. I was the class representative they trusted, and I let them down."

"Class representative; that's impressive." Celestia held out her hand, allowing Chiaki to pick a card.

"All I did was help everyone get along."

"I wouldn't expect that kind of mediation and industrial skill from an avid gamer. How did you pull it off?"

"I…did what came naturally."

"No." Celestia's grin widened. "You adapted."

"Huh?"

"In life, it's not uncommon to find oneself in a situation that's different from our normal experience. Think of it like a video game, meaning you have to constantly adjust your strategy to be successful. If you cannot adjust your methods and thinking…only failure awaits. It will lead to an inglorious death in the gutters, and you'll have no one to blame but yourself."

Chiaki frowned at Celestia's comments. "That's harsh."

"Hehe, that only further validates what I'm saying. Our world is cruel, tough, and unforgiving. Life itself is a big gamble." Celestia gazed at Chiaki with resolute eyes. "If one cannot adapt, they will lose this game of survival."

The gamer—with the number of cards in her hand continuing to shrink—didn't argue. If anyone knew how brutal the world could be, it was her. She wished Celestia's sentence wasn't valid, but it sounded rationally pessimistic. "I still ended up losing to…her, in the end."

"Then you must reflect on why you lost. Be thankful you still have a place on the board, and ask yourself an important question…" Celestia leaned forward. "Who is your opponent in the current game your playing?"

No response came because the gamer didn't know how to answer. Her final boss could me many things: Chisa, Ultimate Despair, the Future Foundation, Enigma, maybe even the looming shadow over her heart Junko created.

Chiaki looked at the card in her hand, which was one more than Celestia had. The Joker stared back at her, meaning this game was her loss. "…I don't know who my opponent is."

"The stakes of my gambling and your video games aren't the same—my gambling often having actual danger—but our talents are alike. With you being the Ultimate Gamer. I' sure you'll realize who your enemy is soon." Celestia put both hands up, showing they were empty. "It appears I've won this game."

Chiaki puffed out her cheeks. "If this was a video game, I would've won."

"I highly doubt it, but I'll gladly play on your terms; perhaps we can, one day. Though, you'll have to put up actual money next time. My dream isn't going to fund itself."

"What's your dream? A gothic lolita nation?"

"Tempting, but no. I'm afraid it's too grandiose for you to comprehend. Only I and a trusted comrade know." Celestia, wiping her frilled dress, stood. Her red heels clanked against the floor as she headed to the exit. "You'd be best served to remember my wise advice; it could save your life."

Before Celestia walked out, Chiaki had one more question: "What's your real name?"

Celestia, pausing for a moment, turned to reveal her smile. "It is Celestia Ludenberg. Farewell, Chiaki Nanami." The gambler departed, leaving the gamer alone.

Before she could wonder what to do next, Chiaki felt her body become weightless and her mind drifted off.

VVV

In a flash of bright light, the gamer opened her eyes to see the pod she was laying in. She was back in the real world. When the top rose, she sat up and looked at Miaya.

"Well," said Usami, "what do you think?"

"…I'm not really sure."

"Haha, I guessed. You and Celestia certainly got along well."

"You saw?"

"I watched the entire thing on the monitor. That girl you met is Taeko Yasuhiro, or Celestia Ludenberg as she refers to herself. She was one of the many students who died in the mutual killing game. However, I had enough data on her to make an accurate representation of what a conversation with the original Celestia would've been like."

Chiaki stepped out of the pod before straightening her attire. "Why did you choose her?"

"I programmed multiple, but I figured the Ultimate Gamer and the Ultimate Gambler would have a good conversation, hehe."

"It was like talking to a real person in Hope's Peak. Even the smells were what I remembered."

"Yep, the Neo World Program will be the greatest therapeutic tool when it's completed. Even the most hardened Despairs can be reformed. Normally, there would be two Observers inside—Usami and a special AI.

"Special?"

"It's still being worked on, but—if we can get it right—the system should be able to read the collective unconscious of the patients; it will craft the AI's look and personality into someone they all hold deep in their hearts. It could take the form of a teacher, celebrity, or anyone."

Chiaki, similar to when Chisa told her about Izuru's reaction to her almost dying, felt hopeful. If the Neo World Program was successful, her friends could return from Junko's influence. She had no clue what consequences they'd face for their actions, but just having them back would be incredible. One thought kept crossing her mind: If they were all put in, what would the AI become…?

VVV

The old, wooden floor creaked as Black Rider walked across them after rising from bed. The wind blew through the open window, warm air colliding with her skin. She mentally went over her task…for it wouldn't be long until she had to take action.

It's almost time.