Chapter 37: Save the Inquisition
Chiaki hastened along the sidewalk, the sound of thunder in the distance. She struggled to keep her energy high since she hadn't slept much lately. In between visiting all the division leaders, convincing them to join her party, and her work for the Future Foundation, the image of her laying on a bed made her drowsy. How Ryouta lived this way every day, she couldn't fathom.
As it stood, the only division leaders left to convince were Ruruka—as well as Izayoi since they were obviously a packaged deal—Kyoko, Juzo, and Kazuo. The chairman and Kyoko would be simple, Juzo would probably come just because of his friend returning, and Ruruka… That'd be interesting. If it was like VEIL, she'd have to start cleaning for her next.
But today, the gamer took a break from that, focusing on a task given to her by Chisa. The duo talked much less these days, so hearing one of Chisa's orders offered some sour nostalgia. According to her, something suspicious was in the area outside an abandoned city. She'd be doing this alone, or a better way to say it would be Chisa didn't want anyone else there.
Right now, she walked on the outskirts of the abandoned city, headed towards an area with lots of trees. Traveling through the woods reminded her of the climatic time with Mukuro. She couldn't help but check over her shoulder for any hunters.
If Ms. Yukizome wanted me out here alone…maybe there is something like that waiting for me, she thought. But why would—
Once Chiaki got through the small woods, the area opened into a stunning sight. In front of her rested an amusement park, or at least the remnants of one as the broken-down rides and foliage growing over objects suggested. The gray sky overhead complimented the dreary look. A symbol of merriment like an amusement park abandoned and broken down is something a Despair would enjoy.
Death mazes, despair carnivals, a crazy woman's castle, abandoned amusement parks… Why can't it ever be an arcade or a pillow factory? Chiaki reluctantly entered the abandoned park, on the lookout for any funny business.
The park wasn't super extravagant, only modest in its size. It featured the staples of any amusement park: merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, etc. The gamer visited amusement parks only when she took trips with her class, so it brought back fond memories. The sounds of happy jingles and laughter, the smells of hot food, the busy scene of people having a good time—it's an experienced she wished could happen again after things calm down.
But the abandoned park in front of her had none of those things. It mirrored the image of Hope Peak Academy, a husk of what it used to be, a perfect setting for the Tragedy. As sad as it was, working for the Future Foundation normalized her to this kind of scenery, a picture only someone like Junko could love.
Chiaki drifted through the amusement park, searching for anything suspicious. Her orders were only to patrol the area for any Despairs. Chisa gave no orders to apprehend or investigate, but only to search the grounds for anything suspicious. What "something suspicious" meant to Chisa could be many things. But Chiaki's search turned up nothing odd so far.
She spent an hour combing the park, finding nothing but old discarded trash, no signs of Despairs or other suspicious activity. In frustration, the gamer stared upward, her feet tired, a light drizzle beginning to fall. She could be inside, warm and playing her game, but instead the housekeeper made her search for a ghost.
"What am I looking for, Ms. Yukizome?" Sighing, Chiaki took out her phone, intent on contacting the housekeeper. "I doubt I'll get a clear answer, but I need to—"
Chiaki jumped when she heard a strange sound. It took her a moment to realize the source: the merry-go-round next to her roared to life, a jolly tune coming from its speakers as bright lights shinned from it. Following suit were most of the rides in the park, roaring to life as the once dark area became bright with artificial illumination. This place is operational?
She put a hand on VEIL, eyes scanning everywhere they could. Her heartbeat hastened, the vision of a nasty surprise jumping out at her prevalent. Somebody turned on the power, which meant she wasn't alone in this park. And, as the theme of her life since awakening went, situations like this meant trouble. No one was there at first…
And then she turned around, spotting him.
The sounds around her drowned out, the feeling of the rain colliding against her skin faded—the only thing in the world was the person meters across from her. The bright lights of the park revealed who they were… Chiaki's mouth hung open as she saw the person in front of her for the first time since her "death."
"Izuru…Kamakura…" she murmured. The drizzle made his hair conceal his eyes. When he swiped it aside, Chiaki took a step back, his crimson gaze piercing. They were the same eyes she saw upon meeting him the first time, the same eyes she saw after her execution, the same eyes in her dreams and nightmares… The same eyes that used to belong to Hajime Hinata.
Chiaki pushed down her anxiety, attempting to force her words out. "D-do you…remember who I am?"
He stared back at her, his eyes so unmoving she wasn't sure if he knew how to blink. But then he said, "… I do, Chiaki Nanami."
After hearing him, she calmed down. Aside from if he concealed something in his closed fist, he didn't have any weapons. Of course, if his abilities were true, he didn't need them. Even so, Chiaki didn't feel any malicious intent. Then what was he here for? And why did Chisa want them meeting? Chiaki opened her mouth to ask a question but stopped because she had a hundred. Where should she start? Better yet, did Izuru even care to answer any of them? An air of mystery surrounded him, but there was something Chiaki knew—this man saved her life.
"Tell me," said Chiaki, a hand to her chest, "why did you save my life that day? If Hinata really is gone and you don't care about me…then why bother? Ms. Yukizome said that you cried… Just…what am I to you?" Chiaki intended to ask a single question, but two more slipped out. Izuru didn't seem annoyed; as always, his unmoving scowl faced her.
Finally, he said, "My reasoning is for my own interest. That day when tears fell, I was confused. Within you lies the unpredictability Junko Enoshima promised and failed to deliver in any meaningful amount."
Chiaki hung her head, expecting that answer since Chisa echoed it before, but still disappointed. She hoped part of Hajime stood across from her. But no, just like Chisa, he acted in his own interest regardless of what Chiaki wanted. "So then…there really is nothing of Hinata left? There was no other reason you wanted to save me…?"
"… As I said when you asked in the past, I have no recollection of my former self. Whatever feelings the one called Hajime Hinata held for you, I do not know."
Without thinking, she asked, "Then what does Junko Enoshima mean to you?" Huh? thought Chiaki, realizing what she asked. Why did I ask that?
"Junko Enoshima is the one who showed me unpredictability, for a short time. That woman holds no purpose other than being a tool for discord. Other than that, she's boring."
Chiaki grinned a little. From the tone of his voice, he didn't seem fond of Junko. Chisa said Kamakura didn't like Junko either, but now she believed it. It surprised her how happy it made her; it's not like Hajime said it. "Why did you leave me with Ms. Yukizome? If you can do anything, why not take me yourself?"
"Me taking you would not have been as optimal. Leaving you with the current Chisa Yukizome allows for a more unpredictable outcome in this game of hope and despair."
That made her anger rise again. There he was with the same kind of rhetoric Chisa repeated ad nauseum about this all-important game. Again, she didn't know why she had these unrealistic expectations of Izuru caring about her beyond his own agenda. They only talked twice up to this point,
But her temper fumed nonetheless, and she couldn't help but raise her voice. "Whether it's you, Chisa, or Junko, the only thing that matters is your own interests! You could've saved everyone like I begged you to that day, but you didn't even care! Isn't there a part of you that wanted to save me because of something more! Isn't…isn't there a part of you that still cares…!"
Chiaki let her exclamations hang in the air, panting from shouting as loud as she could. She couldn't stare at him, her eyes settled on the moist ground. Again, she failed to bottle her influx of emotions. Izuru was a stranger, but she yelled as if it was Hajime himself standing across from her. And that led to a question she had since awakening.
"Why…why did you do this to yourself…? Was I a bad friend…? Did I not make you feel like you mattered…? Please, just…say something to me…Hinata…" She waited for something—anything that'd prove a sliver of that boy she knew stood across from her, proving the real reason he saved her came from more than his urge to act on a whim.
Instead, the usual toneless voice of Izuru said, "I possess none of the memories or desires of my original self. Based on how you describe the one called Hajime Hinata, I can only surmise he felt inferior enough to want to abolish himself. My reason for saving you after Junko Enoshima's execution was based on my own interest, not a bond you had in the past with another version of me."
"If that's true," she murmured, picking her head up some, "then why did you cry that day…?"
"I don't know."
If what Izuru felt confused even him, a being made of nothing but pure talent, then perhaps hope existed. The way Izuru commented wasn't his usual concise answer, but rather he truly seemed like the phenomenon mystified him. Narrowing her eyes, Chiaki said, "… If you're here, then you want something from me. Just what are you and Ms. Yukizome planning?"
"Since you're awakening, I've been keeping up with your feats against those who seek to preserve Junko Enoshima's legacy."
"So, the time against Takara, Mukuro, and a bunch of others… You were there every time."
"Not every time. When I had other matters to attend to, I'd have the series of events relayed to me. I evaluated your progress and how Chisa Yukizome was carrying out the task I left her with. As far as my prognostic abilities go, there were only two times the outcome defied what I thought would happen."
"And those were?"
"I did not expect you to break free of Kitta Takara's brainwashing, and I didn't expect Mukuro Ikusaba to shield you with her own body."
He was watching me? Chiaki couldn't recall a time she saw or heard about him from any of her subordinates. Then again, the super stealth of a ninja or secret agent probably was in him as well. But…there was the possibility Chiaki saw Izuru and didn't know it was him. The man with Junko's head for a helmet crossed her mind. Was he Enigma the whole time…? "So now what?" asked Chiaki. "Why did you want to reveal yourself now?"
Finally, Izuru broke his gaze, looking off into the distance. "Since leaving you with Chisa Yukizome, I've allowed whatever events that crossed your path to happen with impunity, and twice you've provided the unpredictability Junko Enoshima promised. Unlink her, however, for some reason, I haven't lost interest in you yet. In a short time, I'll be entering this game as well as the Remnants of Despair so hope and despair can clash once more."
Chiaki gasped. "You mean my former classmates! What are you all planning?"
"That will progress in just a few days. As for today"—Izuru redirected his crimson gaze at her—"I've come to test the seed I entrusted to Chisa Yukizome." Without another word, Izuru turned before walking out of sight behind one of the amusement park concession stands.
"Wait!" yelled Chiaki, giving chase. "I still have questions!" When she reached the concession stand, Izuru was nowhere in sight. Confused, she scanned around until she spotted him several meters in the other direction where she previously stood. How did he move that fast!
Chiaki continued the goose chase all over the amusement park. Every time she arrived where she saw him, Izuru magically appeared in another position. Just as she'd catch a glimpse, he'd disappear behind another object and the cycle would continue anew. The artificial Ultimate Hope wanted her in a specific area she guessed.
She didn't know what to do after catching him. If he didn't want to answer her question or do worse, what could she do? If fighting Mukuro was akin to a level one character fighting a level ninety-nine boss, then going against Izuru would be like fighting against a boss where your loss was pre-developed into the game. It just wasn't supposed to happen.
Even so, she couldn't stop her pursuit. Her desire to know the truth from the man she met on the day she "died" meant too much. He might not have been Hajime, he might not be her friend, but he had the answers she wanted. So, she ran through the bright amusement park, the drizzle beginning to turn into a heavy rain.
"Where are you leading me, Kamakura?" whispered Chiaki to herself. Once Izuru entered a building, Chiaki followed haste, happy to get out of the rain. The lights overhead blared as a long staircase led downward. Izuru disappeared again, but only one way down existed so Chiaki jogged down the stairs.
After reaching the bottom, Izuru remained unseen. Chiaki traveled through a narrow hall, listening for any movement. When she turned, the gamer put her hand on VEIL once she saw someone across from her. However, after calming down, she realized it was simply her own reflection in a mirror. Mirrors were everywhere as far as the eye could see.
"A hall of mirrors," said Chiaki. She visited a hall of mirrors once in the past with her class. A bunch of shenanigans ensued, but the gamer barely took in the collection of mirrors since her eyes were on a game that came out the previous day. As usual, her lack of experience spoke for itself.
"Where did you go…?" In no time, Chiaki realized the huge annoyance of navigating this place. Not only was it a maze, but every time she thought a glimpse of Izuru entered her peripheral, it turned out to be her reflection. Izuru didn't let out as little as a peep, her own breaths echoed in the dead silence of the area. No wonder they use this place so much in horror games.
After minutes of searching, she still couldn't find Izuru. Was he even still in the hall of mirrors? She decided to call out to him since he likely knew her location already. "Kamakura? Are you in here?"
"I am," he answered, surprising Chiaki because she didn't expect him to answer back.
I still can't tell where he is. "What kind of test is this?"
"In this hall of mirrors, you are to find me, then lay a finger on me."
Chiaki raised an eyebrow. "Wait…so, this is a game of tag?"
"If you can touch me with VEIL, ever for a split second, it'll give me accurate foresight as to your fate in the upcoming game."
How would that prove anything? She chalked this up to something only a being like him would understand. Regardless, a more important predicament lay in front of her. Maybe one greater than anything she faced before this.
How in the world would she touch him with VEIL?
As alluded to earlier, Izuru could beat Mukuro, who was an absolute monster. When the Ultimate Soldier slept, the gamer never tried anything since she knew her life would end in a second. With Izuru, every stratagem seemed useless. He could, literally, see her coming from a mile away if he wanted. Even if she could clone herself, she'd still never hit him.
She only saw one avenue of hope because of what Izuru said earlier. She defied his expectations two times. Granted, she didn't have a clue how, but her opportunity awaited in making that happen a third time.
Now, as she was combing the labyrinth of mirrors for Izuru's whereabouts, the gamer had a few more questions. "Kamakura, are you Enigma?" Seconds passed and…no answer. "… What was your role in the Tragedy?"
"An observer to Junko Enoshima's ploy to plunge the world into the Tragedy. She showed me that despair can bring upon unpredictability, so I watched for anything that would surprise me during the fall of Hope's Peak Academy."
"Then, you really didn't murder the student council, or help Junko with infecting my friends with Despair."
"I remained a neutral party as to see what despair had to offer."
Chiaki took a breath of relief. While him not helping saddened her, hearing he didn't actively aid Junko in her task relived her. "The rumor of you killing them was a lie after all."
"Yes, Junko Enoshima conducted the entire event. She used me."
Izuru tone contained the same venom it did whenever Junko came up. The gamer speculated before, but now she was sure: He shared her hatred for the evil fashionista. This raised her spirits even more. "Why do you want me to be in this game? Naegi not only defeated Junko himself but also got the public to call him Ultimate Hope. Those are two things I've never done and never will do."
"While it's true Makoto Naegi defeated Junko Enoshima in the mutual killing game and earned the title of Ultimate Hope, the same things apply to the hope he exudes as it did with Junko Enoshima's despair. They both provided their moments of volatility, but in the end—neither held my attention for long. They were boring; you are different."
Chisa echoed the same thing, explaining how she differed from what Makoto was. And in that difference, held what Junko feared in her. The chairman also voiced his interest in her unique mindset. Honestly, Kyosuke assertion of her was more fitting. Ever since awakening, she felt like nothing more than a gamer with no real direction, thrust into situations she didn't ask to be in.
"Was…was Junko afraid of me…?"
"It's more accurate to claim you were an existence even she couldn't grasp fully. While I don't think fear was on her conscious mind, on an unconscious level—yes, you being alive is something she didn't want at that time."
Chiaki turned another corner, more reflections of herself staring back at her, Izuru's words heavy on her mind. "But if she viewed me as a threat, then she should've killed me in my execution, I think. Why did she rig it to where I wouldn't die right away?"
"Because by the time your execution had come, another part of Junko Enoshima desired to keep you alive despite her internal warning to kill you. She struggled internally with the decision in a way I can't fully grasp."
The question she wanted to ask above all hung on her lips. "But…why? Why be afraid of me of all people above you, Naegi, and the Future Foundation? And if she was, what made her not want to kill me…? I don't understand it at all…"
To her dismay, Izuru didn't give an answer. Yet again, she found another question he didn't want answered, or perhaps the inner workings of Junko's mind are something beyond even the being of pure talent. Chiaki gulped after taking a turn, face-to-face with Izuru; he stood about ten meters away. He stood in the middle a dead end that formed a circular space of mirrors.
"… Before we do this, tell me: After this reaches the end, what are you going to do?"
"I foresee many possible outcomes, but I will not exist as my current self in any of them."
Chiaki covered her mouth, a thought burning itself into her mind. "Wait, d-do you m-mean…"
As if he read her mind, Izuru said, "In order for the game to proceed, I'll need to abolish the identity if Izuru Kamakura and become Hajime Hinata once again."
"Then…I'll get to see him again?"
"Perhaps."
Chiaki smiled, the image of that event bringing feelings of joy. Of course, with this news, the nature of this "game" seemed that much more ominous, but the gamer took a moment to enjoy the possibility of them meeting again. In her mind, she long accepted the two would never meet again.
"So," said Chiaki, glancing at Izuru with a determined expression, "all I have to do is touch you with VEIL?"
"That is correct."
"And if I can't?"
"Then you've already lost the game."
Chiaki still didn't understand the point of this, but Izuru wasn't emitting any malice—or at least she didn't feel that from him. She didn't doubt Izuru wanted to do this for this own interest. And if this somehow helped with her reuniting with everyone, she'd give a try. But there was still the issue: How could she ever hit Izuru Kamakura?
Luckily, as the questions and answers were flying back and forth, she thought of one maneuver. She happened to think of it since it was in a game once. Using her silent steps wasn't an option, so the gamer would rely on a trick. If this didn't work, she had nothing left.
"Okay," she murmured, taking a deep breath. Chiaki visualized her plan one last time. It would last a few seconds at most, a minute margin of error. Don't think, just do!
Then Chiaki ran at Izuru, loosening her arms out of her jacket. She pressed the code at extreme speed, activating VEIL. Izuru was a stone wall, not moving even though she had reached within inches of him. Chiaki extended her arm before Izuru vanished in the blink of an eye. After her goose chase through the amusement park, she expected that.
From behind her, Izuru said, "You'll have to be fas—"
Chiaki threw her jacket at Izuru, redirecting his gaze for a split second. After he swatted her jacket away, the gamer reached out to touch him again, her right arm within inches of his chest. In a flash, he grabbed her arm…resulting in Chiaki smirking because that played right in her hands. Got him!
Next, she reached out her left arm, the arm she transferred VEIL to in the small window of time after she threw her jacket. It could've been her imagination, but Izuru eye's widened once he became privy to her trick. It lasted for a moment, but Chiaki collided with his closed hand before he jumped back out of her range.
"All that," said Chiaki, hands on her knees, drained from that intense clash, "and I only hit your hand. But I still managed to touch—"
She stopped when her eyes drifted to a shiny object on the ground. At first, she thought it was more garbage left behind from the amusement park's glory days, but a closer look made her gasp. She recognized the plastic object on the ground because of how much it meant to her. It was her treasured Gala Omega hairclip or at least a replica of it.
"Is that…mine?" she asked as Izuru bent down and grabbed it. Chiaki lost her hairclip on the day she "died" and figured she'd never see it again. But witnessing Izuru grab it gave her a realization. "Have you been…holding it this whole time…?"
He didn't respond at first. "You switched the hand your weapon was on and goaded me into grabbing you."
"… Yeah, it's a trick I thought of one time. I couldn't do it again, I think. And…you held back, didn't you? You can move way faster than you just did."
"Regardless, once more, you've defied my expectation. However…" Izuru averted his eyes for a moment, a phenomenon in itself since Chiaki didn't think he could ever be uncertain. "I've gauged your ability, and have come to a decision."
"Yeah…?"
"When you face Junko Enoshima again"—Izuru stared into her eyes—"you will lose."
"What…?" said Chiaki, wishing her ears deceived her. "Junko is alive…?"
Izuru turned away from her, walking away into the labyrinth of mirrors. Wanting desperately to have her questions answered, Chiaki ran after him. She traveled through the area, shouting his name, hoping he answered her pleas. But there wasn't a response. He probably left the hall of mirrors already.
After an hour of searching, she exited the hall of mirrors, arriving back outside where the amusement park still roared with life under the rain. Once again, she didn't see Izuru. She put her head down, realizing he had nothing more to say and left, her mind consumed with tons of thoughts. Izuru talking more about this "game," her friends and Hajime returning, Junko being alive, and the being created of nothing but talent predicted another defeat for her.
"… What does it all mean…?" She murmured, staring into the dark heavens, hoping an answer would fall from them.
VVV
"My," said Chisa, sitting with her legs crossed on the side of her bed, gazing at Izuru next to her apartment window, "what a time you had. And you think she won't win?"
"Yes," said Izuru. "As far as I can see, I do not predict a victory for Chiaki Nanami in the upcoming game."
"Oh dear… that would make all of this work I've done a failure, wouldn't it?" Chisa smirked. "But she's proven you wrong three times now. What's one more? Though, if she doesn't win, you'll be one with Enoshima. I bet that has to make even you feel despair."
"I don't feel any fear nor joy at whatever the results are. All I seek is to have my interest answer as to where unpredictability thrives in this boring world."
"It's always the same with you. I'm guessing you already know, but you're aware of where the extraction zone will be and who'll be there, right?"
"I do."
"Excellent." The housekeeper had a question she wanted to ask the artificial Ultimate Hope, one of the few questions she pondered. "Since we're nearing the end and I've been a good little housekeeper, I have to know: Why did you want me to look after Chiaki? Seems dangerous to leave her with an insane woman."
"Because like Chiaki Nanami, predicting your actions are more challenging than normal humans. With your mind the way it is, constantly swaying from hope to despair in an incalculable flux, I have trouble prognostication your abilities since I don't have precedent with people like you. Realizing this, among other factors, you were the best candidate for her rehabilitation."
Chisa chuckled, happy her first assertion correct after all. "How flattering. The whole 'you're not like other girls' line is cliché, but hearing it from you is the ultimate confirmation."
"I don't see you keeping up your balancing at for much longer. The pull of despair will consume you. How you were able to function in an efficient manner for this long is as much of phenomenon as my own existence. Can you yourself even say what you really want?"
"Hehe, it's as you said, I'm one of a kind. But since you ask…let me put it the best way I can…"
Chisa pounced to her feet, arms spread wide, smiling from ear-to-ear. "I am motivated by two wishes: to feel the ultimate despair, and to complete my revenge! Because, if Chiaki does indeed become what I want, the definitive validation of my existence will be fulfilled. And that's because… I am the true composer of this game! Not you, not Junko, not anymore else—me! Everyone is a pawn on the chessboard I've carefully crafted! Yes…I will be the catalyst that leads all this to the end I saw the day my eyes rested on Chiaki's comatose body!"
Once Chisa finished, Izuru studied her before going towards the window. "Truly, Chisa Yukizome…your existence is unlike any other. Even so, you still bore me."
"Heh, sorry I'm not your darling gamer," she said as Izuru jumped out of sight. "He really is such an enigma. Did I imagine it, or did I amuse him just now? Maybe he finally saw the ending I saw too…" Chisa flicked her auburn hair before smiling. "We're nearly there…Chiaki."