Oh boy. Writing a finale is stressful. If you ever finished a multi-chapter story like this one, you know what I mean. I rewrote several lines, reread the document multiple times. I guess I really don't trust myself to be able to put a capstone on a project I've spent eight months working on. This story was basically a part of my daily routine for the longest time now. Feels like a pretty big thing to just... come to an end.
But like all journeys, we have arrived at the destination. Well, not really, since there's still going to be an Epilogue of sorts after all this. I would have tagged it on the end of this one, but... this chapter is long enough as is. It's literally the longest chapter in the story.
This is it. The final class trial. Toshihide Tomonaga, the Ultimate Physicist, has finally revealed himself, and has one more challenge in store for Albert and his friends. They have overcome despair. Can they overcome what comes next? Put on your favourite Danganronpa soundtrack, because it's time for one final debate.
As always, I hope you enjoy. Stay tuned for the Epilogue. Or don't.
Finale
"Toshihide? What are you doing here? What's going on?" I stammered.
"I'm ending this killing game. Forever." The physicist stated simply from his seat atop the throne.
"So, you're Toshihide Tomonaga?" Kyoko asked. "I've heard quite a bit about you."
"Um... where did you come from?" Hina asked.
"Excellent question. We'll get to that shortly, I assure you." He bowed his head. "Currently, we're burning time. Now that the Ultimate Despair has fallen, the purifiers have shut off. There's still plenty of breathable air left within the school, but if we take too long, we may all run out of time."
"Wait, stop!" Makoto said. "What's going on here? Why did you take that remote? We need it to get out of here!"
He shook his head. "Trust me, Naegi, I wish as much as you do that you and your friends could have freedom, but unfortunately, it's not that simple. There's something we must get out of the way, first. That's what this final class trial is for."
"And what exactly is the point of this trial?" Byakuya asked.
"To put an end to the endless despair." Toshihide said simply.
"You're not making any sense..." Chihiro said.
"Hmm... how should I explain it to you... I suppose this is what I get for always assuming everyone is as intelligent as I am. Though I don't mean to brag. I believe this will all start to make sense if we begin with Albert."
"Me?"
"You know something that you have yet to tell your classmates." He explained. "An extra layer to your past that even you are unaware of."
Makoto spoke up. "You mean how Al appeared in the photo I got from Monokuma, right?"
"Oh!" Hina jumped. "That's right. We all just wrote that off as a fake, but now we know those photos were real!"
"Well, Al?" Celeste asked. "Can you explain this inconsistency? Supposedly, you arrived in this world the same day the killing game began."
I sighed. "Yeah, that's what I thought. But... a while ago, I found a document. It was a page from the Reserve Course student registry for... me. Which means I've lost, at most, two years of my life, just like you guys. There was a time I attended Hope's Peak Academy."
"Indeed." Toshihide said. "You thought I had dragged you to this dimension at the moment the killing game began, but in actuality, I summoned you two years prior, and the mastermind erased your memory. The split in the timeline between the events you knew from the game and the events that actually transpired was actually long ago."
"But if Al was just a Reserve Course student, why was he in Makoto's photo?" Byakuya asked.
"It's actually quite a funny story." He answered. "You see, Al used his knowledge of Danganronpa to his advantage, and... well, manipulated all of you. Of course, he became fast friends with Naegi, but that's just because our protagonist is so friendly. For everyone else, he used their insecurities, their problems, their past to his advantage. For Fujisaki, he helped you on your quest for masculinity. For Yamada, he helped him get started on creating his first original work. Even you, Togami, were manipulated, and Al offered his point-of-view on plebeians to help you understand how the majority of the world thinks."
"So Al became friends with us all." Kyoko said. "So what?"
"In the other pictures you received, they were mostly class activities. Swimming class, track day, a school festival. Al just happened to not be around, and was probably with his own class in the Reserve Course those days. However, Naegi took his photo on one of the last days of your first year at Hope's Peak, and Al was hanging out with the rest of you when Naegi got the camera ready. Everyone insisted he deserved to be in the picture as well. At that point, he was considered an honorary member of the class."
"But wait!" I snapped. "If that's all true... if I attended Hope's Peak, if I was friends with class 78, then why didn't I do anything about Junko!?"
"Perhaps..." He seemed to consider something, but shook his head. "Well, I think we may need to shift gears if we wish to answer that. Rather than Al, let's talk about me. Albert, do you think you could recap everything you have learned about me since coming to this school?"
I groaned. I didn't like any of this. I didn't like the way he was leading the conversation. "Okay. Well, you're the one person here other than me who never appeared in Danganronpa. You seem to have some sort of psychic abilities, since you can communicate with me without the need for electronics, and you even appeared in my dreams. You were also involved in the Hope's Ascendance Project. Other than that, you've been pretty tight-lipped about your past."
"I have, and I apologize for that. In any case, first, you said I never appeared in Danganronpa. I wonder why that is...?" He crossed his legs and stared at us, expecting an answer.
"I dunno, because you've managed to stay hidden from the main cast during all that time?" I suggested.
"Well, yes, obviously, but..." He sighed. "You're not going to figure it out unless I spell it out for you, huh? Alright. Where exactly in the school could I have hidden? After all, the seven of you already explored every part of the school during your last investigation. Even if I was purposely trying to remain hidden, it would be quite a feat."
"You could have remained outside of the school." Celeste suggested. "But then, how you showed up here so suddenly doesn't quite add up."
"Albert." He said calmly. "Do you remember our first conversation? You asked me a question that could relate to this matter."
I thought for a moment. I asked him multiple questions, considering it was my first day here, and I was completely confused. But I think I know which question he means. "I asked you... if you were a ghost. But you told me you weren't, and that the Ultimate Despair, in the game, had good reason to believe you were dead."
"A ghost?" Hina paled.
"Don't be ridiculous." Byakuya snapped. "Ghosts don't exist."
"That is correct, Togami." Toshihide said with respect. "At least, I believe so. But Albert's guess was not too far off. Al, you also stated that I was part of the Hope's Ascendance Project. Do you have any idea what role I played in the project?"
I stared at him. "If I'm right, you were able to create a device allowing people to manipulate matter at an atomic level. But you suffered a seizure trying to test that technology. You also developed a way to communicate with people through only their minds, which is how you kept in touch with me."
"All correct. And? Do you know anything else my research was used to create?"
I instinctively reached for my pockets before remembering I don't have the lab coat or any of the documents contained within. I only had my memory. "Uh... you're friend, Susumu, tried to use your tech to create a device that can grant immortality. However, everything he's experimented on ended up dying instead."
"So, it was a complete failure?" Celeste said.
"In fact, it was not." Toshihide responded. "I'm living proof of that. Or... not quite living, I suppose."
"What...?" I asked.
"Even though those behind the project thought Susumu's device was an utter failure, my friend had a theory that he only trusted with me." He explained. "While most scientists believe their chosen field is the most important or substantial, Susumu was humble. While he was the Ultimate Biologist, he firmly believed that biology was imperfect. He understood that flesh fails, that our bodies break down and that disease and atrophy will eventually take us. His solution to immortality was that we must shed our mortal bodies."
"Is that why his test subjects died?" Makoto asked.
"They didn't quite die." Toshihide said. "If I explained the specifics to you, it would go way over your heads, but the main point is, Susumu used my research, along with Matsude's, in order to create a machine that could allow your consciousness to survive beyond your own body."
"A-Are you serious?" I asked.
"That kind of technology..." Byakuya muttered.
"That's way beyond any modern medical devices..." Chihiro said.
"And you trusted Susumu's word?" Kyoko asked. "He didn't provide you with any proof or anything...?"
Toshihide shrugged. "Susumu was my closest friend. He liked to joke around sometimes, but I knew he took his work seriously. Maybe it makes me a failure as a man of science, but I decided it was better to believe in my friend rather than look at everything from my typical cold, analytic point-of-view."
"So, that's what you are? A collection of neurons with no brain to inhabit?" I asked. "That's why the Ultimate Despair would think you're dead?"
"When the Ultimate Despair attacked my laboratory, I made my last act of defiance a suicide. Of course, that's just how it looked to them. I had used a culmination of the research of many people involved in that project, and created a device not dissimilar to Susumu's, but with added effects, and all the kinks ironed out. I used this on myself, and my physical body was destroyed right in front of their eyes."
"Then who have I been talking to all this time?" I pressed.
"Me. Immortality was not the only gift I was granted. My knowledge of physics allowed me to replicate the effects of my own devices. I can manipulate matter, and communicate with others by manipulating their brain cells." He gestured to himself. "What you see now is simply an image projected into your all of your minds." He pulled the remote out of his coat pocket. "I can still hold this remote by lifting it by its base particles. Whether you wish to think of me as a result of my device, or simply a ghost that can still effect the mortal realm, is up to you. Either way, this is the truth."
"I can't believe this..." I muttered.
"Of course, there is a catch. I need energy to survive, and, without a physical stomach to feed, I found my existence quickly fading. Thankfully, I learned of a way to feed myself. You see, being nothing but my mind, I found that I could feed myself by expanding my knowledge and experiences. And of course, the killing game was the perfect position to gain that."
"...What does that mean?" Hina asked.
"Tell me, Albert. There must be one question that has been plaguing you since the beginning." He said. "How do you think I knew about Danganronpa?"
I considered the question. "I just assume I told you sometime during our time at Hope's Peak."
"Actually, no. You never explicitly stated anything about the game back then. You always jumped around the topic. So how did I name it in that letter?"
"Is it... because of our psychic connection?"
"Not quite. Recall, that connection was only formed after the Tragedy started, and it only allows me to read your conscious-level thoughts. You never explicitly thought the name Danganronpa until after the killing game began, either."
I shook my head. "I don't know, then. How the hell could you know about something only I can reasonably know about, without me ever telling you before that moment?"
"It is impossible..." Celeste agreed. "Unless Toshihide is also from your universe?"
The scientist chuckled. "That would be a pretty interesting twist... unfortunately, if that were true, it would open more questions than it would solve. No, I've lived in this world my whole life, I assure you. I've never even experienced the Mandela Effect for myself."
After a moment, Makoto spoke up. "Could it be... this might sound far-fetched, but considering everything else Toshihide had said so far... is it at all possible that you're also a time-traveler?"
"Time travel...?" Kyoko repeated.
Everyone stared at Makoto, in varying states of shock. However, the physicist simply clapped. "You figured it out, Naegi. Yes, I am able to travel the fourth dimension."
"H-How is that possible?" Chihiro asked.
"I attribute it back to mine and Susumu's device. As I've mentioned, I designed several different effects into that machine. Not only can I use my knowledge of atomic physics, but quantum science as well. However, my control in that field isn't as powerful as it could be. Rather, the effects are almost out of my control. Albert, can you tell me exactly where my problem with time-travel lies?"
I suddenly realized. A moment of clarity in the eye of the storm. Time travel explains everything. I knew. Why Toshihide knows so much about the game without my help. Why he knew to summon me, someone who could stop a killing game, years before one actually occurred. Why I was brought to this world. "The... the killing game. You were stuck in some sort of time-loop, weren't you? You have to constantly watch and re-watch the killing game, again and again, didn't you?"
His expression softened. "Finally, the truth comes out. At first, I simply watched the events of what Al calls Danganronpa." His expression became pained. "Six trials, nine victims, the death of the mastermind. My spirit couldn't abandon the walls of this school. I was forced to watch my precious kouhai kill each other, over and over again, and I couldn't influence anything. Do you know how torturous that is? Every day was a fresh hell, and just when you all manage to escape, I awake back on the first day, and the hell repeats itself. But I was able to gain power due to one individual. Someone in this group who was able to change up the order of events, if only a little bit, to grant me knew experiences to feed myself with. You know who I mean, right, Al?"
I gasped. "Makoto..."
"Huh?" The protagonist turned to me.
"You were the character the players controlled in the game. While the major story decisions were left up to you, the players could decide the details, such as who you spent free time with, what gifts you gave them, how often you get the right answers in trials. That's what you mean, isn't it, Toshihide?"
The time-traveler nodded. "It is indeed. Makoto Naegi, you are what I refer to in my work as an "anomaly." A subject that reacts differently in different timelines, despite your circumstances being exactly the same. Unpredictable. Ever-changing. For example, in one timeline, after the first trial, you spent time with Hagakure, and gifted him a rose whip. In another, at the same point in time, you spent your free time with Fukawa, and gifted her a god of war charm. In yet another, you never got past the first trial, as you failed to properly defend yourself. From what I've observed, there is no rhyme or reason to these decisions."
"I-I'm... special in that way, huh?" He sounded genuinely shocked.
"Eventually, after observing about 5110 of these cycles, these splits in the timeline granted me enough energy to put my abilities to the test. I sent a message back in time, before the Tragedy, to my past self, telling him to help his father perfect the dimensional-transporter. From there, my past self summoned Albert, and aided him in any way he saw fit until the Tragedy occurred once more, this time with Albert, an artificial anomaly, whom I could influence. He took the title Ultimate Physicist, saved Fujisaki, in sacrifice for Fukawa, and eventually revealed his secret to the entire class, and aided them in hunting the mastermind..."
I spoke up. "And that's why we're-"
"And then it reset again." Toshihide said solemnly.
"Wh-What...?"
"Naegi, you already figured that out, didn't you?" He turned to Makoto, who nodded sadly.
"Al... if Toshihide knew the name "Danganronpa" from time travel, then that means you had to have been in one of his previous... cycles, he called it." He explained.
The realization hit my like a freight train. "But that... that means... this isn't my first cycle, either?"
The physicist shook his head. "No, it's not. Every time the cycle reset, everyone other than me remained unaware. You simply lost memory of every death caused, directly or indirectly, by your actions."
"H-How... How many cycles have we gone through?" I begged.
He stared at me, as if unsure how to break it to me. Finally, he answered. "5927."
"What...?"
"Al, you have participated in this killing game 5927 times. You made different choices each time, depending on my level of input, but not once were you able to save every student. Even when the game came to an end, you and everyone else was brought back to their original positions."
"Why...?" I slammed the podium in front of me. "Why am I even here, then!?"
"To stop this endless cycle." He answered. "I originally thought, since I couldn't leave the school, that there was some element here keeping me from moving on to. I theorized that if there were more survivors, that I could break the cycle. After all, that would be quite a major change in the timeline. So I introduced an outside element. I hoped that Albert could keep some extra students alive, and, if he couldn't, he could at least act as a seventh survivor himself. However, it didn't change anything. I quickly learned that the cycle resetting was connected not with the number of survivors... but the number of deaths. Even when, by some miracle, Al managed to carry more survivors to the end, the timeline would keep going until soon, the spares died in some accident outside the school, and ten deaths had been fulfilled. At most, I could buy myself an extra few hours before some accident befell your group. At worst, Al's meddling causes everyone to vote for an incorrect blackened, and I witness ten executions before I reset once more. It's taking all of my energy and concentration to keep us all from resetting right now."
"I've... you mean, I've caused their deaths before?" I asked. "All of these people... I've killed them!?"
"You did. Every plan we've made was doomed to fail. There was one time, one time, where, with the help of Mukuro Ikusaba, you were able to get all sixteen students out of the school alive and well. There was promptly a run-in with some of the Ultimate Despairs, who quickly began slaughtering you all. The combined strength of Ogami, Ikusaba, Genocide Jack, and Owada was enough to delay the inevitable, but before I knew it, ten deaths had occured. It seems as though we are cursed, you and I. Even Naegi's luck cannot offset our failures."
The other students quickly came to the same realization that I did. No matter what we do, we're cursed to do this forever. No escape, no solace. Though, it was clear I was taking it harder than them. I sank to my knees. Chihiro put a hand on my shoulder. I didn't brush him off. I didn't have the energy to.
"This is... way over my head." Hina said.
"Indeed." Celeste agreed. "I don't fully understand it myself, but it seems... this isn't the first time we've done this."
Byakuya stared at the floor, his arms folded. "5927 cycles with Albert. Plus the 5110 cycles without him..."
Kyoko clenched her fists. "That's 11037. We've played this killing game over ten thousand times."
"So... it's hopeless...?" I weakly choked out.
"...Not quite." Toshihide said. I looked up at him. "I have... a theory. As I've mentioned, the reset is tied with the number of victims in this killing game. No matter how much I try to lower the number of victims, the universe will quickly correct itself. However, what would happen if I were able to raise the number of deaths? The universe couldn't simply raise the dead. As long as I can stay long enough to witness the eleventh death, I may be able to break the cycle."
"...What?"
"There's another thing I've observed during these cycles. Out of all 17 students in this killing game, Albert never died. Through miracles, or just sheer luck, he always lived past the point I could witness. I can only assume this is because he is an outsider. So I can only wonder... what would happen to this time-loop if Al were to die?"
Everyone took a step back.
"What!?" Makoto shouted. "You can't be serious!"
"If you have any other theories, I'm all ears." The scientist said. "It pains me to take an innocent life, but I have already tried everything else I could think of in the previous cycles, anything to break the patterns. Nothing changed."
"Even if it's the only way... we won't just sacrifice our friend to get out of here!" Makoto asserted.
"Yeah, there has to be a better way!" Chihiro agreed.
"As I've said, I already tried everything I can think of."
"Well... maybe you overlooked something." Hina thought. "We won't just start killing ourselves because of your theory!"
"That's right." Celeste said. "In fact, when you put it like that, it makes him sound almost like Monokuma."
Toshihide closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I swear on my name, I am doing this with the best of intentions."
"Not that I really care about Al's well-being, but I already said I wouldn't play this game anymore." Byakuya said. "I'm a man of my word."
Kyoko nodded. "As Makoto said, as long as there's hope, we'll never give up. We need to be rational about this."
"I'm being rational. You are the ones letting your emotions control you." Toshihide said, his frustration showing. He took a deep breath, and stared down at his kouhai. Finally, his lips curled into a polite smile. "Besides, are you sure a decision like that is okay if not everyone in your group agrees?"
"What do you...?" Makoto scanned our group, before his eyes landed on the individual in question.
"Guys..." I slowly rose to my feet. "Maybe... we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss this idea."
"Al... what are you saying...!?" Chihiro asked.
"I'm saying... that maybe we should listen to Toshihide."
"Y-You can't be serious!" Makoto snapped.
"Would I joke about something like this? With the stakes this high?" I asked. "I'm... prepared to do anything I can to save you guys. If Toshihide says that this is the only way to end the killing game for good... then I'm ready."
"How do you know you can trust Toshihide?" Kyoko decided to ask.
"Huh?"
"If I remember correctly, back during Sakura's trial, you claimed that I wasn't trustworthy because I don't talk about myself very often." She recalled. "And from the way it sounds... Toshihide hasn't been very talkative about himself, either. So how do you know you can trust him?"
I thought about it. "I dunno. I guess I just assumed that since... he was the only one I could talk to about any of this, back in the beginning. I've questioned him before now, of course, and even Monokuma told me I couldn't trust him. But I guess I just wanted to believe in him. Just like how I want to trust you guys."
"Al, I know how bad I must look..." He said. "But I promise, the two of us have always had the same interest in mind. We both wish the best for this class."
"I know... I know. That's why... we have to end this." I decided.
Toshihide gestured to the podiums in front of us. "You all have a choice before you. Vote for Albert, and I shall grant him a quick and painless death, I promise, while the rest of us go free. Vote for me... and this vicious cycle shall continue for who knows how long. I will not force your hand, but I trust you to know what is best. We don't have long to discuss."
"Guys, I know you don't want this..." I said. "I don't want this, either... But still... You have to cut me off."
"We can't!" Makoto said. "Al, think about it. If you die now, you'll never be able to make it back home!"
"I already made peace with that." I told him. "I knew days ago that I wouldn't be going home. And in a killing game, days are basically years. It's sad, but I'm already past mourning my old life. We need to focus on the future."
"But what about your future?" He pressed.
"What about it? I'm not an Ultimate. I never had any talents. In fact, I've pretty much below average at most things I do. Isn't this a more fitting end? Instead of toiling with the rest of society to try and make a living, I could trade my life for six more, six people who have what it takes to change the world."
"Stop it." Kyoko said. "Don't try to play the hero. We can figure something out."
"Why is this happening?" Chihiro asked. "After we came all this way... why does Al have to die now? Why are you giving up!?"
"I'm not giving up!" I snapped. "Don't you get it? I'm doing this because I'm not giving up! Because as long as I have a reason to believe that my actions can benefit you guys, I'll do whatever I have to! You're all looking for another way out, but if Toshihide has witnessed over ten thousand repeats of this scenario, I don't think we can afford to take risks."
Byakuya scoffed. "You're a fool."
I turned to him, but didn't say anything.
"You're going to listen to and put you life into the desperate ramblings of this man?" He shook his head. "If I was in his position, I would have lost my mind ages ago. And you'll forgive me if I don't think Toshihide is exactly in the right state of mind right now." The scientist didn't respond. "For all we know, your sacrifice won't even change anything. Though at least in that case, you won't be permanently dead."
I stared at the floor, clutching at my head. "God... I don't know what to do. I can't take him at his word, but if I don't, we'll just be forced to do this over and over again."
Toshihide stared at me. "You're undecided? Well, that's not good. If we stay here too much longer, you may all begin suffocating." He considered the situation for a moment. "I assumed this would be a very "carrot or stick" choice, but I suppose not. Then again, I've been focusing on the carrot this whole time. So let's talk sticks, alright?"
"What do you mean?" Hina asked.
"It's a metaphor." Celeste answered simply.
"I know that, I meant, what other sticks could there be, other than "redo the killing game"?" She asked
"Al, do you wish to know what happened in the cycle just previous to this one?" Toshihide asked.
"Um... not real-"
"In the first case, you succeeded in saving Maizono, Kuwata, and Ikusaba. At this cost, the mastermind forced Ogami to act, and she killed Asahina."
"Y-You... you're lying!" Hina accused. "There's no way Sakura would do that!"
"Maybe not the Sakura we know, but in that timeline, you two only just met, remember?" Kyoko reminded her.
The physicist continued. "After that, Ludenberg killed Yamada, and was executed herself."
Celeste took a breath. "I suppose... that's something I would do..."
"For the third trial, both Togami and Owada were killed by... Fujisaki. Albert took that revelation particularly hard."
"I-I killed them...?" Chihiro whimpered.
Byakuya adjusted his glasses. "Given your weak stomach, Mondo's incredible strength, and my level of cautiousness, I imagine it was the cause of some freak accident we couldn't predict. Either that, or something serious truly caused you to snap."
"And for the fourth case... your actions led to Kirigiri causing the death of Naegi. That was around the point Albert became unresponsive to the others in the class."
"Us...!?" Makoto jumped back.
"I want to say that's impossible, but..." Kyoko stared at the ground. "I guess anything's possible in a killing game..."
"Finally, before I was reset again, I witnessed Albert, in his fractured state of mind, slaying Ikusaba with a very complicated murder plot."
"JUST STOP!" I roared. "Stop it! I get it. I understand. I know what choice to make, now. It's... obvious..."
Toshihide sighed in relief. "Good. I'm glad all my efforts weren't for nothing. Now, convince the survivors of class 78. Convince them which path to take."
"Gladly." I said. "Guys... I can't sacrifice myself. Not yet."
"Wait, what?" The scientist quickly leaped from his throne.
"You noticed it, too, didn't you, Celeste?" I asked.
The gambler nodded. "Yes. It was quite subtle, but I saw it."
"What are you two talking about?" Makoto asked.
"Toshihide, you're an excellent liar." I said, folding my arms. "Unfortunately, I took a lesson in tells from Celeste. For example, just now, when you mentioned me killing Mukuro, you began twiddling your thumbs."
Toshihide balled his fists, wrapping his fingers over his thumbs. "How did you notice such a small detail...?"
"I'm more perceptive than you give me credit for." I explained. "How do you think I was so good at playing Danganronpa? But of course, that wasn't just it. I didn't know if that was really a tell or not, I just noticed you were doing it, and accused you of lying. Your reaction just now simply proves what I suspected."
"Y-You...!" He caught himself, took a breath to calm down, and sat back on the throne. "I suppose assuming everyone is as smart as me isn't my only flaw. I also assume those who aren't, are too stupid to test me. I apologize. But, yes, you win. That last statement was a lie."
"So Al didn't kill Mukuro?" Byakuya asked. "Why would you lie about something so insignificant?"
"I had thought Al having the knowledge that he resorted to playing the killing game would serve to bring him to his senses." The scientist explained. "However, truth be told, in the same way he never died, Al also never committed murder. Not even against the mastermind."
"Al wouldn't even kill the mastermind?" Chihiro repeated.
"He attempted many times, of course, but by the time the mastermind was finally unmasked, he would always have... a change of heart. Every time, he ended up choosing forgiveness over revenge. It didn't stop her from executing herself, though."
"Enough about me." I cut in. "I have some questions. First of all, you never answered my question that led us into all of this. If I was friends with class 78, why didn't I stop Junko?"
He shrugged. "Pride?"
"Huh?"
"Back then, you seemed very confident in your abilities to help the mastermind. Perhaps you allowed her plans to advance so far so you could prove yourself as an Ultimate."
"I... my pride? What pride? I'm the biggest loser here, and I'm well aware of it!"
"Exactly. So when you had something of pride to latch onto, to call your own, you sunk your teeth into it."
"Slow down!" Hina said. "What do you mean, Al wanted to help the mastermind?"
"And what do you mean by "prove himself as an Ultimate?" Al has no talent." Kyoko asked.
"Right, right. I forgot..." Toshihide raised his hands. "You still haven't figured that part out yet."
"What part...?" I demanded.
"I suppose there's no real evidence for it. So, allow me." He pointed at me, and flicked his hand. Suddenly, I had an odd pulling sensation in my mind. A memory that I didn't know was there reared it's head.
I was seated with the headmaster in his office.
The man spoke to me. "We have all been having a tough time lately. But, Mr. Tomonaga actually argued that you have potential of your own, something we aren't looking close enough to see. Of course, because of your... well, your lacking grades, and indolent attitude, the scouting team didn't pay him much heed. But he believes with your help, the Ultimate Despair can be rehabilitated into society."
"Toshi said that?" I found myself saying. "But why? I'm not special... am I?"
"Well, like I said, I'm not supposed to talk about this... but I suppose, now that Hope's Peak is no longer an educational facility, there's no reason to keep this from you." He stood, walked over to his desk, and produced a document. "You probably haven't noticed, but during your time in the Reserve Course, I had one of our talent scouts keep an eye on you, after Tomonaga's repeated insistence."
"I had noticed, actually. I didn't know he was a talent scout, though. I was afraid I developed a stalker. That's a relief, I guess."
He continued. "Well, in the end, we determined that you have an array of skills. Unfortunately, you're not the very best in any field. But... our scout spoke with many of your friends. He asked them questions about you, and learned many of the different ways you helped them. No matter how small their problem, you seemed ready to aid them in whatever way you could."
I aided them? No, that was just because of my knowledge of the game. I'm not some sort of specialist or something. How do I explain that? "No, I didn't do anything special..."
He stared down at the document. "Well, let's see. Makoto, Chihiro, Toko, Mikan, Gundham, and Kazuichi each admitted that you helped them feel more confident in themselves. Celestia and the Ultimate Imposter both felt that you helped them accept their identities, both false and real. Toko admitted that you treated some of the symptoms of her split-personality disorder. Even my own daughter said you helped make her more social than she used to be. You believe these feats aren't special?"
"They... I just... I don't think I deserve to..."
"I feel, since there is a chance you are going to be spending the rest of your life at this academy, that you should at least have a talent to develop here. I believe that drive is what separates the gifted students from regular high schoolers, and I believe you have the drive necessary to develop a talent. I can't write up an official acceptance letter, and I don't think I can change your student profile just yet, but one day, I think you could earn yourself the title of Ultimate Psychologist."
I fell to my knees, a splitting headache arriving with the new memory.
I'm... the Ultimate Psychologist? No, I can't be. I don't have a talent like that. All I did was manipulate my peers. That's all...
"So, do you see the truth, now?" Toshihide asked. "The mastermind offered you a title, and you wished to prove yourself."
"No... it's not real. That's not true..."
"You know, you have a large stack of textbooks in your room." The scientist recalled. "Most of them were physics textbooks, but if you truly were as perceptive as you said you were, you probably would have noticed a few psychology textbooks in that pile. After all, I gifted you all of those books before the Tragedy."
"So I... I let Junko advance her plans... I let her start the killing game... So I could prove I'm a good psychologist?"
"That's why you never killed the mastermind. You were always convinced you could help her, to make her normal. However, in the end, she would always execute herself. And now it's your responsibility to end the killing game. To atone for your failure back then."
"This is my fault...? This is all my fault...!?" I snapped. "All the death and destruction caused by the Tragedy... It's all because I just didn't tell anyone?"
"No..." Chihiro said quietly.
Toshihide turned to him. "...Hm?"
"That's not true...!" He said. "It's not your fault!"
"Chihiro..." I muttered.
"It's the mastermind's fault, Junko's fault! You can't blame yourself!"
"But if I was here for two whole years... Then I had any number of opportunity to stop her. If I had just told the police before she could start the Tragedy... we wouldn't even be here right now. Toshihide wouldn't have had to use all that crazy technology... We wouldn't have had to kill each other... Those worldwide riots wouldn't be happening... thousands, maybe millions of people's blood is on my hands."
Hina spoke up. "But, there's no way you could have known-"
"I'm the only one who could have known!" I snapped. "I failed, all because I wanted to psychoanalyze her? That's... unforgivable..."
"So, are you going to do it?" Toshihide said. "Sacrifice yourself for the greater good?"
"I just have one more questions... How come, when Junko was executing me... you saved me? If I was supposed to die anyway, what was the point of that?"
He put a hand to his chin. "In previous cycles, I've learned to keep my influence to a minimum, or else something horrible would come of it. At the beginning of this cycle, however, I set up a psychic link with the mastermind, and explained part of my plan to her, to ensure that we could reach this point. I tried to keep as much information out as possible, but you know how good she is at noticing small details. She saw through my plans, and I suppose she wanted to throw me into despair by ruining them. Especially since, if my theory is correct, that would have fulfilled the ten-deaths requirement and Junko would not have been... destined... to die at the end of the killing game. That would certainly upset me."
"Why did you feel the need to share your plan with her?" Byakuya asked.
"Perhaps I phrased it wrong. I simply told her of my condition, and convinced her to allow Albert to participate in the killing game. Everything else she figured out, she guessed on her own."
"What about the people who've died?" Kyoko asked. "They come back to life with each cycle. What will happen if this comes to an end?"
The scientist took a breath. "I've accepted the fact that I cannot save them. Their sacrifices will be remembered, as they were necessary for us to reach this point. That's why my involvement in this cycle was simply to encourage Al, and little else."
Makoto stared ahead. "Is that really true?"
"Excuse me?"
"There's something that's been bothering me for a long time. Ever since Al revealed how he played Danganronpa. When he mentioned the third case... he said it was nearly identical to the version in the game, even though the one who planned all that out was a different person entirely."
My eyes widened. "Oh my god..." I glared at Toshihide. "You son-of-a-bitch..."
"Hiro claimed to get the idea of his plan from an outside source." Makoto continued. "There's only one person here who knew about Danganronpa, who could also send a message to someone in such a way. Isn't that right, Toshihide Tomonaga?"
Toshihide stared down at Makoto. "So... you've managed to come this far. Yes, I'll admit it. The mastermind behind the third murder is myself. Hiro was an innocent bystander."
"Why?" I asked. "Why would you do something like that!?"
"I've used my psychic abilities to keep tabs on all of you. It wasn't the same as the communication link between Albert and I. It was far easier to keep going, for one. Anyway, around that time, I've realized Ludenberg was not planning to murder. She decided to play it safe, because Albert's presence combined with Naegi, Kirigiri, and Togami created quite a bit of investigative power. She wasn't one to underestimate her opponents, after all. I was afraid if she didn't act, however, that there was a chance someone would create a killing scenario in which no one could solve. So, I decided to implant the plot from the third game into someone's mind, so that Albert could come to an easier conclusion."
"But... why Hiro?" Celeste asked.
"He was rather easy to manipulate. In fact, he probably had the weakest will out of anyone here. He was against the idea of murder, of course, but once I presented him with the perfect plan, and with the motive being something that could clear his debts, all I needed to do was nudge him a bit in the right direction. Yamada was very similar, so it was easy to make him an accomplice. It's unfortunate, but their sacrifices were necessary to ensure your survival."
"How can you talk like that!?" I asked. "You can't just put a price on life! What about Hiro's friends and family? What about any of the others' friends and family!? What gives you the right to decide that their lives were less important that ours!?"
"I am the only one who can decide!" The scientist snapped. "I've seen 11037 different scenarios, and each one led to disaster! I'm the only one who can decide what the best-case scenario is!"
"You can't just-!"
"What are you going to do?" He asked. "Are you just going to let the cycle reset? Let their sacrifices be in vein? You'll simply forget everything I told you again, anyway!" In an instant, Toshihide had disappeared. Less than a second later, he reappeared standing right in front of me. I jumped back. "You can stand there and be all high and mighty, but the fact of the matter is, we're only in this situation because you fucked up. You drove me into a corner. It's all. Your. Fault." He pressed his hands against my chest, and shoved me with more force than his scrawny frame should be capable of. I flew back, landed on my ass, and slid against the tiled floor.
"Al!" My friends rushed to my side.
Toshihide stood over me, his expression more vicious than I ever seen him. "Congratulations, Albert. You are special. But not in any way you wanted to be. I don't think I've ever met anyone as incompetent as you. You're just the Ultimate Loser. And now you're going to sit back and let the killing games continue? You're pathetic."
Makoto and Hina pulled me to my feet. "Pathetic? Look at yourself, Toshi." I gestured around the room. "Even when I fuck up... my friends can at least look past that and stay by my side. But you... you're alone. And I think you know why that is."
"That's not the point!" He snapped. "I don't care if you all hate me. No matter how much you kick and scream, I'll do what I have to to save you all. You understand that... don't you, Albert?"
"I do." I admitted. I did know that feeling. Being willing to go to any lengths to accomplish my goal. That's what I've been doing this whole time. But... what if my initial ideas were wrong?
My thoughts turned to everyone who died so far. Everyone I let die. I can't save them anymore. I can't change the past. But I can make sure their sacrifices weren't in vein.
Sayaka Maizono, the Ultimate Pop Sensation. I didn't really know her too well, if at all, but she was the first person who died under my watch. I firmly believe she was a good person, even if Monokuma was able to drive her to murder. I don't know if Makoto could ever forgive me for letting her down. But I'll make it up to him, somehow.
Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Soldier. I didn't know her. I could've saved her. It would've been so easy. But I was scared. Scared of how the others would react to our secrets. So I let her die so I could keep mine. I didn't really know anything about her, but I can't help but feel that she could have been a great ally if I saved her, if she realized her sister was planning her death.
Leon Kuwata, the Ultimate Baseball Star. Another person I regret not spending more time with. He ended up killing Sayaka in self-defence, and was executed for it. The mastermind forced our hand, and we killed him as a group. I'd give almost anything to have saved the two of them... But as things stand, the only thing I can do is direct my anger at the mastermind. I'll never forgive the Ultimate Despair.
Toko Fukawa, the Ultimate Writing Prodigy. She was kind of hard to like, and didn't really try to be a part of the group. The two of us hardly talked. But it was really my fault for not trying to get along with her. Because of my negligence, her split personality, Genocide Jack, attempted to kill Chihiro, and was killed herself in return. Toko herself didn't even do anything wrong. She was just killed in the crossfire.
Mondo Owada, the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but I never had any ill will toward him. He was a delinquent, sure, but he had a sense of honour, and a heart of gold. Sadly, he ended up killing Toko and Genocide Jack in a fit of rage, inadvertently saving Chihiro's life in the process. If I had just had more insight, he wouldn't have had to do that. I should have been there for him when he was struggling with his own secret.
Kiyotaka Ishimaru, the Ultimate Moral Compass. I had shared conversations with him. We talked. I considered him a friend. And I knew he felt the same way to me. After all, he came to me for help after Mondo's death. He trusted me to be able to snap him out of his broken state. And in the end, my presence here simply led to his death anyway. He was killed by Hifumi, died because of Toshihide's plans. But Taka wouldn't give up if he were still here. So for him, I'll keep going, until my own dying breath.
Hifumi Yamada, the Ultimate Fanfic Creator. I liked to make fun of him, mostly because he was easy to make fun of. But I knew he wasn't a bad guy. He was just... kinda childish. He always had his head in the clouds, and he was a pushover. But he was my friend all the same. The killing game is the real reason he killed Taka. Hiro, Toshihide, and Monokuma all twisted him around. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. I'll do everything I can to make sure nobody is ever forced to make a choice like this again.
Yasuhiro Hagakure, the Ultimate Clairvoyant. Like Hifumi, I usually just laughed at Hiro. He was kind of a joke. Stupid, cowardly, selfish. But he wasn't a killer. I should've realized that a long time ago. Maybe it would've been more apparent if I spent more time with the guy. He could've survived with us to the end... but Toshihide ruined it. He turned Hiro into a murderer, simply because the numbers weren't perfect for his plans. No more. I won't let innocents be twisted toward despair, toward their death.
Sakura Ogami, the Ultimate Martial Artist. She was a woman with a strong sense of honour and justice. We didn't talk much, but we had a lot in common. I suppose she was the kind of person I aspire to be. She committed suicide for the benefit of her friends, to stop the mastermind's plans from unfolding. Even when I told her I didn't want her to die, she went through with it, because she knew it was for the best for everyone other than herself, and she was selfless enough to make that sacrifice. And now... I will make any sacrifice I have to to ensure the same.
I let my thoughts wander to the living. The people I want to act as a shield for, against any despair.
Aoi Asahina, the Ultimate Swimming Pro. She and I didn't always get along, which is to be expected, given that she's an athlete, and I'm more of an academic. But we treat each other with a mutual respect. Sure, she accused me of being the killer in the third trial, and she usually jumps to conclusions, but I know she means well. For such a friendly girl, having to suspect her friends must be utter torture. Especially Sakura's trial... So, in Sakura's name, I swear I'll keep Hina alive as long as I can.
Celestia Ludenberg, the Ultimate Gambler, also known as Taeko Yasuhiro. The two of us definitely weren't friendly, but at least we could treat each other professionally. The third trial left quite a bit of bad blood there, though. Still, I think she appreciates the fact that I continued to call her Celeste even after her secret came out. If I'm being honest, though, she still scares me, and I'm not afraid to admit that to her face. Despite all that, she's an ally, not an enemy. Even if the only thing that stopped her from committing murder was sheer numbers, I believe in second chances. And she deserves one.
Byakuya Togami, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny. He's a massive douchebag. I don't think the others would really argue with me there. In fact, I don't really have a "but" for that statement, either. Byakuya and I have done all but come to blows several times since the killing game began, despite my attempts to try and be the better man. But... but despite all that... even if he is a shitty person, I know he's still doing his best to help, in whatever way he can. After all, he grew up believing the Togami family was destined to lead the world. He definitely wouldn't be egalitarian, but... I know he'd be a benevolent leader. And I'll make sure he gets the chance.
Kyoko Kirigiri, the Ultimate Detective. Even though we spent all this time together, I still don't know that much about her. She was probably the backbone of the group. We wouldn't have made it this far if we didn't have her help. She helped Makoto during every trial, and even helped me find the right answer when times got hard, too. She still has a lot to learn in the way of expressing herself, but at least she isn't a stranger. By extension, her father, the headmaster, died because of me. If I could change the past, that's another mistake I'd correct. Unfortunately, I can't... But I can still keep his daughter alive, as well as his dream. His dream of hope for the future.
Chihiro Fujisaki, the Ultimate Programmer. Chihiro is... my friend. My best friend. That may sound stupid to say when just a couple weeks ago I only knew him as a fictional character, but the time I spent with him was real. He also represents the only plan I had that actually succeeded. And I'm so glad it did. I don't know what I'd do if Chihiro died. I'd be lost. Not only is he a master in his field, arguably more so compared to even some of his fellow Ultimates and their abilities, but he's also a great person, with a strong heart, who won't just simply lie down and give into despair. When he's by my side... I feel more confident in my mission. Like as long as I give it my all... Eventually, it'll all work out.
Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Lucky Student, and the Ultimate Hope. The one who carried us this far. Our main force during the class trials, and a source of morale when the going got rough. Being average at everything isn't such a bad thing when you compare him to someone like me, who's good at one or two things and is lacking in every other field. As I'm sure everyone is aware, Makoto is a great person, who can inspire hope even in the face of the Ultimate Despair. And he's my friend. Even when the world has come apart, even when all those around us have dropped like flies... Makoto will keep us going. He earned his title. I haven't earned mine yet, but that's not important right now. Anyone can inspire hope. For those who have died, and for those who still live... I'll be a guiding beacon. A beacon towards the truth, towards the future, and towards hope!
While I was lost in my own thoughts, Toshihide was talking. "I'll admit that I'm not in the ideal conditions to preform proper research, but my observations are hardly ever false. During the past ten thousand cycles, I have tried every idea you could think of. I changed every variable I could. The number of days the killing game lasted, the number of survivors, I even psychically controlled insects just to change the number of living creatures within the school at any given moment! The only thing left is the number of participants that die. So go ahead, Albert. You can try to fight me, over and over again, but your memory of these events will simply vanish, and we will be right back to square one. At least with my designs, you will all be free from this never ending hell. But if you choose to give up now, the sacrifices of your friends, and all those outside these walls, will have been for nothing. Their deaths, and their lives, will have been meaningless."
"NO, THAT'S WRONG!" I shouted, pointing at him. My voice reverberated through the courtroom. "It's not meaningless! You have no idea... how hard their deaths affect us. We've changed because of this ordeal. So... don't say it's meaningless! That's one thing you don't understand, Toshihide. When I was on the chopping block, about to be executed, I realized... even after we die... we live on in the way we changed those around us. That's our legacy! That's the legacy of those who came before us! So as long as we remember them... as long as we carry their dreams and their wishes in our hearts, then nothing is meaningless!"
"Th-That's... what are you talking about?" The scientist stammered. For a moment, I swear his whole body flickered like old film. "That's not the point, here! The point is, the killing game is going to simply continue, forever, if we don't sacrifice one more person!"
"No one else." I said, unwavering. "I'm not letting you kill anyone else. I'm not letting myself kill anyone else. This killing game is over."
"It will never be over, don't you understand!? Are you mad!?"
I smiled. "Maybe. But it's not like I don't have evidence for my argument, either."
"Wh-What...?" He shook his head. "What argument? You're bluffing! There's no way!"
"A laboratory and a courtroom have one thing in common. Evidence decides everything. So, here's mine." Once more I pointed at the scientist. "The multiverse theory."
"A theoretical interpretation of our greater reality?" He scoffed. "You do know that doesn't account for actual proof, right?"
"You tell me, Ultimate Physicist. Back during Sakura's trial, I used multiverse theory as the only example when explaining to my friends how I could possibly be from an alternate reality. Back then, you didn't say anything to correct me."
"Because it was an unimportant detail. Besides, you forgot to mention that I had been silent for the entirety of that trial. Now who's the one leaving out details?" He had a smug smile upon his face as he twiddled his thumbs.
"Even so, my existence here proves the existence of parallel universes, some more or less similar to this one." I explained. "I can't believe I didn't realize such a basic fact until just now. But that means... there's a chance that it isn't the fourth dimension you're travelling through. You could be travelling through multiple universes, each one being at the time the killing game starts. You just simply take the place of that universe version of Toshihide Tomonaga. The previous cycles you left behind could still exist, without Toshihide Tomonaga. If my theory holds true, the rest of us have no stake in this. Only you."
"Y-You... If this were a court of law, you would be accused of conjecture! Your theory is incomplete! It lacks evidence! Where's the evidence, Albert!?"
I shook my head. "You're the scientist. Me? I'm just a guy that likes to solve mysteries. But right now... I think this killing game has wrung me dry. I don't want to play detective anymore. I just want to get out of here, and go home."
"Home!? I told you, you can't go home! It's impossible! And you need to provide evidence to your theory! Otherwise, it's meaningless!"
"Yeah, about the home thing... I believe you, it seems pretty implausible. What I was referring to was... well, wherever these guys decide to take me." I gestured to my classmates, my friends, my new home. "And to your main point... the only evidence I really need is in here." I gestured to my chest.
The scientist paled, his eyes wide, his jaw slack. "You have to be kidding me..."
"Throughout this whole killing game, I tried to believe in everything you told me, Toshihide. But Monokuma sowed doubt in me. Then I had evidence that you blatantly lied to me. The funniest thing is, even after all that... I still wanted to believe you so much. But... screw it. I believe in hope. I'll hope that my theory is true! I'll hope that we can escape from this place!"
He began shaking violently. "Y-You... that's... you're evidence...? Th-that's... you're hope...? Y-You dare... disregard my observations... and research... my logic... for your... your... blind faith!?" He was gripping the sides of his head now. "You are crazy, you hear me!? Insane!"
"I don't think you're in a position to say that, Toshihide." Byakuya said. "After all, Albert's the resident psychologist."
"Don't you dare take that tone with me!" He snapped. He looked between all of my friends. "You all... you can't seriously be considering this drivel as the truth!"
"Why not?" Celeste asked. "It is as you said... you shouldn't assume everyone else is as intelligent as you." She had a smirk on her face.
"That's not-!"
"Maybe I don't really understand all this stuff about other universes or whatever..." Hina said. "But if Al says it's okay to not vote for him, then I think we should do it."
"Albert!" The scientist glared at me. "You can't just escape your responsibility like this! It's still your fault that the Tragedy happened!"
"Is it?"
His expression told me I hit a bulls-eye.
"If I recall correctly, back before Toko's trial, you had found a way to temporarily distract me." I recalled. "I had an excruciating headache. When I glanced at different objects, I instantly absorbed a bunch of measurements about them. It was like... the part of my brain that did the thinking was working overtime, out of my control. In fact, I could barely control myself. Toshihide... can you mind control people as well?"
"N-No! I can only communicate psychically! I'm not some kind of comic-book character!" The scientist was sweating bullets now.
"That contradicts what you said before, does it not?" Celeste recalled. "I believe you mentioned something about... controlling insects."
"I-Insects are small, with simple minds. The human brain is far more complicated!"
I shook me head. "Give it up, Toshihide. The true reason I kept my mouth shut during the Tragedy... was because of your pride, not mine. That's my final piece of evidence to blow your argument to pieces."
"No!" He pointed at me. "Albert! Correct this error! You know this isn't how this is supposed to go!"
I shrugged. "No one can truly know the future. If there's one thing my time at Hope's Peak has taught me, it's that. All we can do is pick what seems best, and go with it. I'm done thinking with my head. My gut tells me to side with my friends, and I'm going to listen to it."
"Looks like this is over, then." Kyoko said, folding her arms. "Let's start the vote."
Chihiro nodded. "We won't let anyone split us up again!" We all quickly made our way to our podiums.
As I passed Makoto's, I nudged his shoulder. "Thanks, man."
"Huh?" He stared at me. "What did I do...?"
I offered him a grin. "Who do you think taught me to be so optimistic?"
Toshihide paled as he tallied the votes from atop Monokuma's throne. "I... I see..."
"So?" I asked. "What's the results?"
He stared at me. "It's as you would expect. The class voted unanimously for Albert to live, at the risk of a cycle reset." He stepped down from the throne. "You know, it's funny. Monokuma always adhered to the rules. I don't have to. I could kill Albert right now, if I wanted to. I doubt any of you could stop me from simply separating his atoms. But I won't."
"And why is that?" Byakuya asked.
"Simply put, I don't wish to. I may seem cold, but I'm not heartless. I do feel some remorse for having put you all through this."
"That's good." I said. "Remorse is the most important step to atonement. It means more than you might think. I was actually thinking of pinning you as a sociopath, but I don't think you fit enough requirements."
"Hmph. Seems the headmaster wasn't too far off. With some training, you would make a decent psychologist. Probably not Ultimate status, though." He slowly walked over to me. "I suppose it would be too much to ask for your forgiveness?"
I considered it. Then I realized, if I have to consider it, it probably means I can't give it. "I'm sorry, Toshi. You betrayed my trust. I'm all for second chances, but... you were planning to kill me, y'know? That's not the kind of shit I can just say "water under the bridge" to. I considered you my friend. If it means anything to you, even after everything, I still do."
He smiled. "It means more than you could imagine to hear that." He held up his left hand, and his fingertips seemed to flicker as they moved, like they were after-images of something that wasn't there. "Oh. Would you look at that?"
"What's that...?" Hina asked.
"It means I'm not long for this timeline. As I've said, the only thing keeping me here this long was my own concentration. Unfortunately, that only gets me so far. Each passing seconds makes this harder and harder to keep up. This is my cue to say goodbye."
I stared at his hand as the effect ran up his fingers. "What does it feel like?"
"It doesn't." He waved his hand, and all of his fingers took a second to catch up.
"Do you have any idea what plan you'll try in the next cycle?" Kyoko asked him.
He thought for a moment. "I don't know. Honestly, this plan was my last, and I was so convinced it would work. I suppose I could try sending another message back in time. Get my past self to summon someone else. Maybe flooding the killing game with more people will increase the likelihood of more deaths. Or perhaps I have no way to truly escape. Perhaps this is just my personal hell. I'll have to live through every possible sequence of events before I can finally move on to the afterlife."
"Do you believe in the afterlife?" I asked.
"Not really. But maybe I'll experience something as my atoms are recycled into the cosmos. Preferably something peaceful. I know I don't deserve it, though."
I shook my head. "That's not true. You're a victim of the killing game as much as the rest of us. You deserve peace as much as the all of our friends who've died."
He squinted at me. "You're an odd man, Albert. Enjoy your new home. I'm sorry I took you from your first one."
"I will. And... it's fine. Well, it's not, but... I think I'll get over it."
He started walking away. The flickering effect was running up the length of his arm and sleeve, now. "The rest of you... take care of yourselves, and each other. This world is plagued by despair, and, as I've demonstrated here today, everyone is more interested in their own well-being than that of others. Be the exception. Albert's an excellent example to follow."
I smirked. "I mean, I wasn't gonna say it, but..."
"That's a good point." Celeste said. When I looked to her, surprised, she corrected herself. "Not you being an example to follow, although that may hold some truth. What I meant was, you mentioned having played a sequel to Danganronpa, right?"
"Don't tell me there's gonna be another killing game...!" Chihiro said.
I sighed. "I'll tell you about it when we cross that bridge. A lot of shit is gonna happen between now and then, a lot of which I don't quite have memorized. But I think we can get through it together."
"Indeed." Toshihide said, approaching Makoto. He pulled out the remote for the vault door from his coat pocket. The way his hands looked, it was almost like the remote was floating. He held it out to Makoto "Take this quickly, before I lose my ability to hold things."
Makoto took the control, and held it firmly. "So... now it's all over?"
The scientist smiled. "Yes, Naegi. It's all over." The effect was spreading quickly now, and Toshihide's entire body was now flickering and fading. "I suppose this is goodbye. At least, for you. I'll see you in another timeline. Or as Al theorized, another universe. You should hope he was correct in his theory."
He spread his arms, and closed his eyes. "Goodbye, Albert Wright." His form scattered into a mess of particles, and disappeared into thin air. There was a sort of sucking sound as it happened, the sound of something substantial being replaced with nothing. Toshihide Tomonaga, the Ultimate Physicist, was gone.
I closed my eyes, and gave a silent prayer. Then, I turned to Makoto and the others. "Let's get out of here."
Holy shit. It's over? Thank god... it's finally over.
Okay, so... Toshihide. I'm not sure how well I incorporated all of Toshihide's twists. I mean, I like to think I did okay, since I've been dropping hints since his first conversation, but I don't know if I was too subtle or too obvious. Well, it probably wasn't obvious, since no one was able to guess any of those twists. But I also must wonder if that means it's just a bad twist. As you could probably guess, I'm not very confident in my abilities in writing mystery. As I may have mentioned in previous chapters, this is my first mystery story, a genre I'm more accustomed to playing or reading, rather than creating. Either way, I feel like I did okay giving Toshihide a role in this story.
Now, as for Albert. We already knew that he was a student at Hope's Peak. The twist here is that he had a chance to become the Ultimate Psychologist. That was another thing I was planning very early on. Ever since Toshihide mentioned studying psychology. After all, Albert's whole thing is helping his friends with their problems, which is something a psychologist sometimes does. However, many of you may notice that Albert isn't very good at his talent. The reason for this is because, well, he's not an Ultimate. Where other gifted kids have their abilities come to them naturally, Albert has to struggle with himself to get the job done. Also, as discussed in previous chapters, Al is... a loser. Bad things happen, and he has to adapt. That's one of the defining things about his character.
Finally, this final battle. All of the canon games have some big themed debate at the end. The first game had Hope vs Despair, the second had the Past vs the Future, V3 had Truth vs Lies, etc. This game takes place during the events of the first game, so obviously, hope vs despair is still present, but I wanted Albert's story to focus on something else. I like to think the theme of this story was Life vs Death. Albert's actions decided who lived and who died, Toshihide is neither alive nor dead, and Albert, by the end of the story, is willing to give his own life for the lives of others. I didn't want the conclusion of the final battle to be some black-and-white "life is better than death" message, though, even if I believe that myself. Instead, Albert argues the value of life, and ultimately decides not to sacrifice himself for someone who has sowed as much death as Toshihide. Albert's final decision is, coincidentally, quite similar to an argument the heroes at the end of V3 use- that our lives are our greatest weapons. And our friends and experiences are what give our lives more meaning. It's still kind of black-and-white, but in the end, Albert is still willing to sacrifice himself if the need arises. So, ask yourself, what are your opinions on life and sacrifice?
Either way, in the next chapter, we will arrive at our final destination, and our journey will come to an end. Stay tuned for the Epilogue.
