Chapter 22: The Promise

The pressure is on. With the truth of them being part of The Ultimate Despairs out in the open. There is no more room for debate. However Yuri still refuses to accept it as the truth. With no other choice, MC must prove to her the absolute truth. Michelle has told all of them what they have done as Ultimate's. Despite them having no memories of the outside world.

Yuri: "I won't accept it! I would never do anything like that and neither did my friends!"

Michelle: "Are you sure about that? After all you found it interesting when you read about it with Michael."

Yuri: "I would never enjoy the things I've done. Especially with him."

MC: (Damnit! I don't want to do this, but … I don't have a choice. The thing that me and Yuri share is the hint that tells us more about what we done. I know the answer and so does Yuri, but she won't accept it or does she really not know it herself? How much longer do I have to argue with my friends? Especially my girlfriend.)

Yuri: "There is nothing that me and Michael share that reveals to us the truth outside! Tell them Michael!"

MC: "… I'm sorry Yuri, but there is evidence to what their saying is true."

Yuri: "No … don't tell me you agree with them? To her? To Michelle? What if everything she's been saying are lies? Why are you arguing with me, when you should be arguing with her!"

MC: "Do you think I want to agree with her! I had to argue with my childhood friend, I had to argue with a close friend of ours, and now I have to argue with my girlfriend. I'm more hurt than you think!"

Yuri: "Then stop agreeing with her. I don't want to argue with you either, but … it's all her fault! There is nothing that we share that tells us anything about the outside world as Ultimate's."

MC: "I'm afraid that's wrong."

Yuri: "Huh?"

MC: "The one thing we share together. The one thing that proves Michelle's claim is The Portrait of Markov!"

Yuri: "What!? No it can't be." She shares a blank expression.

Natsuki: "Yuri's favorite book? How is that a clue?"

Jason: "The Portrait of Markov isn't just some horror book. It's a retelling of what happened to all of you."

Natsuki: "Wait what!?"

Jason: "The book contains info of Project Libitina and how it went down. To sum it up, the experiment to create a super human. In order to do that, the scientists had to cut off certain limbs and attach them onto Elyssa. Due to this she ended up dead. Killed by her own dad's experiment."

Natsuki: "That's horrible! I know my dad abused me, but to experiment on your own child. How could anyone do that!?"

Michelle: "Father gave up his humanity long ago."

Natsuki: "What do you mean?"

Michelle: "Everything he did was for the sake of research. Research to help with his plans to bring this society of ours to the ground! Ah yes him and me both share the same ideology. Well that's a story for another day!"

MC: "What? That's his only reason for doing all this?"

Michelle: "Look if you wanted a villain with more reason than that, then just go watch a fucking movie then."

Natsuki: "This bitch. Well if she won't say anything else can you continue on about the book?"

Jason: "Sure, after the project failed they got started with The Ultimate Despair Project. Michelle volunteered while Michael had to be brainwashed. Unlike Elyssa, the Conner siblings were injected with drugs giving them their abilities written in the files. Soon enough the rest of you fell into the project."

MC: "Can I ask you something? What about the Main Character? Who is that character based on?"

Jason: "The Main Character is based off of Yuri since she was the last one to be turned into an Ultimate."

Sayori: "I have a question? How come you survived?"

Jason: "What was that?"

Sayori: "I mean … if you know us this well enough, I thought that maybe you were with us when this occurred?"

Jason: "I wasn't a part of your club, so there was no way for me to be part of the project. During The Great Massacre I spent most of my time working hard building this world. I was aware of all of you being brainwashed so I did what I had to save you all."

Sayori: "How did you get us here? If we're all evil then surly we wouldn't want to be here right?"

Michelle: "Excellent question! Too bad Michael can't remember since he's the one who brought you all here! Oops did I let that slip out again?"

MC: "I did what?"

Michelle: "Oh well, might as well be honest here. You're the one that brought the girls here right after you betrayed us all."

Monika: "Wait Michael betrayed The Ultimate Despairs?"

Jason: "That's not important. Right now we need to stop Michelle."

Yuri: "W-why?"

Jason: "Michelle, tell them the truth. Tell them your plans or were you lying about honesty?"

Michelle: "... Dick."

MC: "Plan? What plan?"

Michelle: "Why do you have to ruin my surprise? Oh well guess it's time to confess. You see my plan is to take control of all your bodies and use them to continue our original plans."

MC: "What!?"

Jason: "Her plan is to trap all of your conscience in here and use your bodies to cause mayhem once again."

Sayori: "That's horrible."

Michelle: "Hey I was gonna share it with them … eventually?"

Monika: "So never?"

Michelle: "Maybe?"

Natsuki: "Wait if that's her plan then how come she didn't go through with it sooner?"

Jason: "Most likely because she isn't good when it come to technology?"

Michelle: "Dick!"

Jason: "I only found out her plans just recently. I asked the same questions as you all did. Is that truth Michelle?"

Michelle: "Yeah, yeah. Don't rub it in Brainiac."

MC: "Now hold it! There's something that's been bothering me. You mentioned that I betrayed the Ultimate's. What occurred when I did that?"

Jason: "Look right now we need to stop her. We can talk about it after we deal with her."

MC: "No, I want to know now. Tell me what happened and why I betrayed the Ultimate Despairs."

Jason: "… Very well. I'll tell …"

Michelle: "Allow me to explain!"

Jason: "What?"

Michelle: "It would make better sense for a member to tell him rather than you."

Jason: "Tsk!"

Michelle: "Well now. Allow me to share a story with you all to what happened. A year ago Michael and I killed Father for love. We did it, so we could ease his pain and maybe give him a taste of his own Despair. Soon after that, I noticed something different was going on with big brother. He was starting to act like his old self. Soon enough he turned his back on us mostly me as he cared more about you tramps than his own little sister. After he knocked you all down he confronted me and we both battled to determine your fates. Michael ended with the big W and killed me."

MC: "Wait what did you just say?"

Michelle: "You killed me, just to save your friends." She says seriously with a cold stare.

Natsuki: "Wait if she's dead then …" Michelle starts laughing uncontrollably.

Michelle: "Science is amazing wouldn't you agree!? Even after death my conscience remains alive as a virus."

MC: "A … a virus!?"

Michelle: "That's right! My real body is gone, but my brain remains."

Natsuki: "So that's why you didn't care if we all just gang up on you? It's because we would just go through you?"

Michelle: "That's right! None of you can hurt me."

Monika: "Wait if she's a virus then …"

Jason: "She's the reason why I couldn't save you all and the cause of all this mess. I tried many things to get you out of here even though you all weren't ready to come out. If I pulled you out earlier there was a chance you still be Ultimate's. I was planning to literally pull the plug, but I wasn't sure what the after effects would cause to you all, so I didn't go through with it. I didn't want to take a chance with you guys."

Michelle: "And look what happened! They all suffered, because you couldn't delete this virus and with that I was able to infect everyone."

Yuri: "Infect us? What do you mean?"

Michelle: "Despair is like a virus. Ever wonder why you all acted crazy and decided to kill yourselves? To harm each other like yanderes? It's because I gave each of you back some fragments of your memories! It was so easy infecting you all with Despair. Especially Monika. Just Monika."

Monika: "M-me?"

Jason: "She's referring to how you went crazy and deleted your friends. She corrupted your mind causing you to kill all of your friends, by telling you that your trapped in a dating game."

Michelle: "You're so easily manipulated that I could easily convince you to kill everyone so you can have Jason to yourself."

Monika: "Jason to myself?"

Jason: "When your mind was corrupted, she made you crazy enough to talk to me instead of Michael."

Monika: "But why would I do that? How come I couldn't talk to Michael?"

Michelle: "Because of the secret deal Michael and Jason made before entering here."

MC: "A deal? What are you talking about?"

Michelle: "Ask Jason."

Jason: "Uh …"

Michelle: "Come on man? I was the one being honest here. It's your turn to share your secret. Tell Michael about the promise you made to him."

MC: "The promise? Jason what is she talking about?" Jason remains silent. "Jason! What is she talking about?"

Jason: "… To take control of you. That was the promise I made to you."

MC: "What was that?"

Jason: "Before you entered. The original plan was for each of the girls to help each other overcome their personal problems. It was to help them overcome Despair, but you wanted to be with them, because you cared for them. You wanted to help them, but felt unworthy to interact with them, so you asked me to take control of you like a playable character.

With you in the game I decided to change my plans and make you date each of the girls to help them overcome their problems. First was going to be Sayori, then Natsuki, after her Yuri and lastly Monika. You were you to date them all, but due to the virus I lost control of you."

MC: "Then that means …"

Jason: "The reason why you couldn't stop the girls from killing each other and themselves is because I lost control of you. Every time something occurs I would lose control of you and you were force to watch your friends die over and over again. Not only that, I would also lose complete control of you and you would kill yourself."

MC: "So no matter what I'm helpless."

Monika: "Wait so are you the reason why Michael acts differently?"

Jason: "Yeah, Michael wanted me to do whatever I wanted to him. Like change his name from Don't touch me to Mark to Jack to any name. Change his personality, interests, and so on."

Sayori: "Wait, so the one standing in front of us is?"

Jason: "The real Michael. The one before he was brainwashed. Ever since I let him have his free will again, less things started to occur."

MC: "So that's why you apologized to me in my dream? You wanted to save us by breaking our promise."

Jason: "Yeah, I had my doubts that the Virtual World was perfect, but I had no other choice, but to use it to undo your brainwashing. I'm sorry everyone."

Yuri: "May I ask a question? If we are all Ultimate Despairs then what happened to the others?" Jason kept silent. "What happened to them?"

Michelle: "There all dead!"

Yuri: "W-what?"

Michelle: "There all dead for following my orders."

Monika: "What did you do?" Michelle burst into laughter.

Michelle: "I gave them all the order to kill themselves! As Ultimate's, they did what felt pleasing to them. Taking their own lives was the greatest pleasure they could ever have, so I told them all to commit suicide."

Monika: "Y-you … How could you do that!?"

Michelle: "What's wrong jealous that you and the others weren't there when it occurred?"

Monika: "Huh?"

Michelle: "You along with the rest of the girls were with Michael when I gave the order."

Natsuki: "Wait … could those name tags be?"

Michelle: "Those are our club members."

Monika: "Our club members? What do mean by that?"

Michelle: "Like I said our club members. Those people joined The Literature Club after you all gave your performances at the School Festival. Soon enough they would be brainwashed and join us for our cause."

Sayori: "We actually got people to join us and they all died!?"

Michelle: "Yup and I was also a member. Though I was the last one to join."

MC: "And because of you! We're all in this mess!"

Michelle: "Like I said those who cling to others are doom to fail. All of your bonds with each other made me sick. Seeing all of you happy with Hope. I just wanted to tear that apart. Reveal your true selves."

MC: "Your wrong! We were all doing just fine, but people like you! Who just want to cause mayhem, to see us depressed. It's wrong!"

Michelle: "And what will you do? It's also your fault."

MC: "Huh?"

Michelle: "You had plenty of opportunities to stop me, but you didn't. During our night out, you had the opportunity to kill me, but the girls held you back from doing it. If you ignored them and shot me that night, none of this would have happened." She says seriously.

MC: "I …"

Michelle: "No matter what you're helpless and weak. You let those girls stop you from doing what's best for everyone and look what happened. The suffering they had to endure."

Jason: "Your wrong!"

Michelle: "Hm?"

Jason: "Even after everything had occurred I believe they will make the right choice in stopping you."

Michelle: "Interesting. Wait … I have a great idea!"

Jason: "Huh?"

Michelle: "How about I let the five of them vote on it! If they all agree to go out there in the real world then they can leave. However if one of them votes to stay here, then you all lose."

Yuri: "I-if just one of us would vote to stay?"

Natsuki: "If one of us votes to stay here we're all screwed!"

MC: "It's fine. No one would vote to stay here."

Michelle: "Are you sure?"

MC: "Huh?"

Michelle: "Just look at their faces." She points at Yuri and Sayori.

MC: "W-what about them?"

Michelle: "Just look at their face full of Despair. Seems to me they would rather stay here than to face the harsh reality."

Natsuki: "You guys." She says angrily.

Michelle: "Well then time for another debate."

Monika: "Another one?"

Michelle: "I still want to be fair to you all since I love you all. If your able to convince Yuri and Sayori to join you, then that's a loss for me. Now then let's begin our final battle between Hope and Despair!"

MC: (Damnit. How much longer is this going to take? I need to convince them to come along with us. If I don't we're all suffer in this world forever.)

End of Chapter 22