Chapter 48: Save the Overcast of Despair

Chiaki walked slowly through Shibuya during sunset. She couldn't recall the exact details, but this was a scene from somewhere in her past as a young girl. This part of the city, usually busy, was a ghost town. The area lacked any pedestrians, the hum of cars and horns on the street didn't exist, and a silence ambiance engulfed the area. Chiaki didn't know why or how this part of the city lacked activity, but the rare sight laid before her.

She kept her hands in her pockets, cradling a new game she just bought, hoodie over her head. In a way, the silence fit her since she never liked the noise anyway. It wasn't like she had friends to talk to or anything like that. When she got home, she'd do what she always did—lock herself in her room and play a game. So, she kept her eyes on the sidewalk until she got home.

She came up to Shibuya's scramble crossing, world-famous for holding the title of the world's busiest intersection. However, for the first time, the entire crossing was empty. Chiaki stood on one side of the crossing, ready to traverse the street and get home. But as the gamer shifted her gaze up, there stood one other individual on the opposite side. It caught her by surprise since the girl across from her seemed to appear from nowhere.

What's more, the girl across from her gave Chiaki a weird feeling. The girl had crimson hair, and she could feel her scarlet-colored eyes land on her from across the scramble. She wore a uniform and looked Chiaki's age. Most importantly…the look in her eye. The look in her eyes felt so familiar to Chiaki, like she stared into a mirror, but once again—the gamer didn't know what it meant.

Regardless, Chiaki began to walk along the crossing, and the girl across from her did the same, both headed for each other.

VVV

The gamer woke up, falling asleep against her will. She intended to stay awake but enduring the physical and mental fatigue of previous events weighed on her. Even with that short nap, her body still didn't want to move. And the most sustenance she had was the small bottle of water Mizuki gave her.

Trying to ignore her exhaustion, her mind went to the dream she just had. Due to the affliction Junko put on her, she feared sleep. Having nightmares of Junko's experiences made the natural act of sleeping stressful for her now. But instead, she had a strange dream that felt more like a jump to the past. Chiaki recalled something like that happening. But if that girl across from her is who she thought it was…

Chiaki smacked her cheeks. "No, that can't be… I'm only tired."

"With what happened with the Future Foundation and going to jail…: murmured Mizuki. "You must've been through so much. Why did Gekkogahara bring you to her base after we rescued you from the cell?"

It's not like Chiaki didn't trust Mizuki; she just didn't feel like going over the myriad of events. "I hid there. So, how many of my division was taken hostage? Is Yuuji or Hina there?"

"Yuuji is somewhere safe, and Aoi has taken refuge with Kirigiri's division. A lot of the agents taken were mostly rookies that got unlucky. But we'll save them, I know it."

Chiaki doubted they were just unlucky. After everything that's happened, the gamer learned someone always stood behind the curtain, manipulating events behind the scenes. If someone imprisoned her division, then she suspected someone purposely wanted to capture them. Is Ms. Yukizome behind this too? thought Chiaki. "Are we going to have any backup?"

Mizuki looked angry. "Sorry, but after Yuuji found their location, I couldn't get anyone to assist. Some still think the Thirteenth Division worked with Despairs, others are too busy with other incidents, I even heard some people say they couldn't spare the resources for such a small cause… The Future Foundation is such a mess right now…"

"I figured…"

"Don't worry. Worst case scenario, I'll sacrifice myself to let you escape. I just can't sit by while my allies are in trouble." Mizuki gave a thumbs up. "But I've got the girl who took down the Despara Carnival on my side."

Chiaki gave her a reassuring smile, but that level of usefulness was beyond her. She had none of Seiko's performance enhancers, and she barely had enough energy to stay awake. But she had to push through and save them so she could scramble to Jabberwock and help from the outside.

Mizuki reached for her phone before handing it to Chiaki. "I've been keeping an eye on the game. Things are getting pretty serious it looks."

Chiaki grabbed her phone, observing what looked like the final trial. Her remaining classmates tried to puzzle together the secrets of the Neo World Program, a task Chiaki could've done had she not lost. She tightened her grip on the phone, hoping the others could just hold on until she got there. "Also," said Chiaki, "have you seen Gekkogahara lately…?"

Mizuki shook her head. "She was the first one I went to after I found out what happened to our division. However, she's been missing ever since we delivered her to you. I was hoping you two would be together." Mizuki gave her a look of concern. "By the way, why are you keeping your eye closed like that? Did something happen?"

Chiaki narrowed her eye, staring out into the evening sky, the lowering sun giving the world a red tint. "No…nothing at all."

VVV

Finally, after an hour of struggling with wakefulness, Chiaki exited the helicopter along with Mizuki. They walked to their destination since the helicopter would bring unneeded attention to themselves. After some minutes of walking, the place of her agents' prison laid before her in the form of a sizable ship docked at an empty port. Chiaki raised an eyebrow since she didn't see any kind of crew working on the ship.

"… Are you sure this is it?" asked Chiaki, noticing Mizuki's surprise.

"I'm positive they're at this exact location. Didn't think it'd be on a ship of all things, but I've given up on understanding how these Despairs work." Mizuki rose from her position and gestured at Chiaki to follow. "Let's get this done."

Chiaki, still having her doubts, said, "Yeah."

The duo carefully crossed the docks and entered the ship. Chiaki had VEIL at the ready, expecting some guards or any kind of resistance. No such thing happened. Chiaki and Mizuki searched the ship's confines as they pleased without witnessing a soul. If she were still her naïve self from a year ago, Chiaki would've accepted this as a lucky break. Now, she had enough experiences to say if a hostile situation like this went this well, then somebody intended it that way. But she already came this far and Mizuki would never just up and leave now.

Casting her worries aside, Chiaki and Mizuki continued to search for her captive agents before coming upon the ship's lower interior. Here lied the brig, and behind the bars were the familiar faces of the Thirteenth Division. They looked dirty and they're suits were ragged. But once their eyes drifted towards Chiaki and Mizuki, they're temperaments changed immediately.

They began shouting Chiaki's name, surprised and happy to see her here. The gamer inquired about what happened to them and why this ship was empty. As for what happened to them, the story lined up with what Mizuki informed her. The higher-ups ordered their transport to a remote location for suspicion of working with Chiaki for the Despair's benefit, then Despairs ambushed their transport and dragged them to this location for imprisonment. No one could explain how or why it happened to them specially. Also, upon learning the ship had no one on board but them, they all seemed confused, explaining this place was full of them just a few hours ago.

Mizuki clapped her hands before she said, "Let's focus on getting the hell out of here. Now, where would the keys be to these cells?" Chiaki sighed, despairing at the prospect of finding a pair of keys on this huge ship before she heard Mizuki yell, "Found them!" She swung them on their fingers triumphantly after ripping them from the hook. "Heh, who says Despairs are crafty?"

That sealed it for Chiaki. This wasn't luck, this was all going as intended. But who could it be this time? Did Chisa decide to play one last trick on her for some reason? Chiaki could barely dwell on it before her now free former subordinates started thanking her for coming, shouting how they always knew her being a Despair was a lie.

"Okay," said Mizuki, "it's time to get while the getting' is good!"

"Hold on…" murmured Chiaki before everyone could take off. "Let's split into two groups and leave that way. Mizuki, you lead a group, and I'll lead the other." Mizuki tilted her head, confused by this suggestion. Chiaki couldn't give her a good reason why she wanted that… It was a feeling she had.

Despite her persistent glance of wonder, Mizuki said, "… Got it. If you think it's best, I believe you. Okay, half of you follow me! We're getting out of here!" Mizuki took off with half the group, giving Chiaki a reassuring glance to wish her luck.

"Let's go, everyone," said Chiaki, jogging to the opposite path. As she ran, Chiaki kept on the lookout for any strange transgression, but the ship remained as empty as when they entered. The gamer started to believe she overthought this. It's possible the Despairs might be busy with other matters considering how crazy things were right now. Maybe, for once, it'd be smooth sailing—at least until she went back to Jabberwock to assist with the final trial however she could. But, the gamer couldn't shake the feeling she'd missed something crucial.

Then, Chiaki and the group stumbled when the ship shook, and they heard loud creaking. That could only mean the ship started moving. The horn blowing was the confirmation she needed. And if the ship was moving, that meant there someone else did lie waiting. "Oh no… We need to hurry!"

They took off into a full run, desperate to escape the ship before it drifted too far from the dock. Once Chiaki reached the outside, her heart dropped when she saw the dock a distance away. Her thoughts went to if Mizuki escaped. Her path was shorter so she might've, but then her thoughts went to her group. Now, Chiaki became stuck with them.

And that wasn't all; out of nowhere, several Despairs armed with weapons surrounding them. Since VEIL couldn't help her now and no one else in her group was armed, Chiaki and the others had no but to surrender themselves. This was a trap… thought Chiaki. But who…?

So, instead of outright killing her, they separated Chiaki from the group—taking her somewhere else. Even in this predicament, Chiaki struggled not to pass out since she still felt exhausted in every way. But now, she had to deal with whatever this was. She kept her consciousness as the Despairs led her to the ship's bow, the world laid out before her under the reddish sky. They forced her on her knees. Her head bowed. All that went through her mind is who's behind this one. The only person she could think of was Chisa. Who else could it be at this point?

"You arrived right on time," said a deep voice that acted like an arrow piercing through Chiaki's brain. The reason being is she recognized the voice but couldn't believe she heard it. Slowly, the figure of the man wearing a suit with a helmet of Junko's face entered her vision, stopping in front of her with his hands behind his back.

"Enigma…?" murmured Chiaki, forgetting about the masked man she spoke with at the Despara Carnival, the man who brutalized Juzo, the man who Junko told Mukuro to follow the orders from, the induvial that gave her a feeling of unease she couldn't explain. His standing in front of her confused the gamer to the point where she didn't know what to think.

"Confused?" asked Enigma in his toneless voice. "I imagine you guessed long ago who I really was and accepted that as fact. But you should know by now the simplest answer isn't always the best one. Truthfully, I had my doubts you'd make it this far. Getting past Kitta was impressive, and you even survived the blindside of sending Mukuro Ikusaba. Remarkably interesting indeed…"

Who…? Chiaki thought to herself. Who in the world was the person standing in front of her? It couldn't be Izuru because he's in the Neo World Program, it couldn't be any of her classmates because they're there too. Was this just a stranger? That assertion didn't seem correct either thought.

Enigma chuckled, strange considering he'd only show one emotion up until now. "I can't imagine how your mind must be racing now. After everything you went through, I must've been the last person on your mind." Enigma stayed silent for a moment like he internally debated himself on something. "Chiaki Nanami, before I reveal the truth to you…I'm curious—who did you think I am?"

How could she answer that? Up until now, the gamer thought she solved the mystery of Enigma. Now, here this mysterious man was again—a person fitting of their name because a million questions surrounded him. Still…Chiaki had an inkling. She didn't want to acknowledge it, however, and did her best to ignore it.

"Can't guess? Here's a hint. Your execution at the hands of Junko Enoshima, the truth about Chisa Yukizome, and the game she's been playing—I knew about all of that. And the reason I knew about all of it was that I played a vital hand in making it all happen. Do you think you know now?"

Then, Chiaki knew why she couldn't guess who he was. It's because she didn't want to. She knew the truth now… She probably knew the truth since she met this person back at the Despara Carnival. She hadn't understood what it truly meant to run away from the truth until now. She wanted to run as fast she could away from this because she didn't want to believe it. But, as everything came together… Chiaki knew who the person in front of her was.

But, instead, she said, "… I-I don't know," while still refusing to lift her head.

"Hmm, pity. Here I thought my hint was too easy. Oh well, I can sympathize since you have a lot of things wrong with you right now. After all…"

Then, as Enigma kept speaking and he gently removed his helmet, Chiaki's gaze drifted upward. Slowly, Enigma's voice transformed from a deep tone to a light one. As his true face became more visible, Chiaki couldn't act surprised. She'd already know this was coming. She could deny it all she wanted, but ever since waking, even before that, she knew this meeting had to happen. Enigma's helmet now fully came off, revealing his true face.

Only, the face didn't belong to a man.

"… There are many things wrong with me," said a feminine voice Chiaki knew better than anything. Her long scarlet hair blew in the wind, and her crimson-eyes met Chiaki's, a grin on her face as she peered down at her. "The correct answer was…I'm Junko Enoshima! How's life been treating you, nobody? Bet you didn't—"

"You're a fake…" murmured Chiaki, cutting her off. The gamer didn't want to believe any of this was happening, so she chose not to. "You're…you're just someone imitating Junko…"

"Harsh. I know I look plain without my makeup on everything, but that was just uncalled for. I mean, seriously, who else do you know could get away with hiding her identity under a mask of her own face, hahaha!"

"No… no, no, no!" yelled Chiaki. "You killed yourself after you lost to Naegi and the others! Your own sister told me you were dead!" Chiaki didn't even believe her own words. She felt Junko's will influence her again. It chewed at Chiaki's psyche to murder the woman in front of her. The thought threatened to consume Chiaki as she tried to resist the urge.

"Now, here's the thing with that. Make sure to pay attention because this is some groundbreaking stuff I'm about to drop here." Junko bent down slightly. "It was a lie." The mastermind broke into more laughter. "Of course my trashy sister told you that. What, did you honestly think you broke her love for me? Listen well, nobody: once I dig my hooks in a person…they never come out unless I want them to."

Chiaki continued to deny. "You're a liar. I saw you die with my own eyes… My classmates even took your body apart…"

Junko rolled her eyes. "Gosh, do I have to explain everything? Seriously, this is the dullest part of always being the mastermind. I made two body doubles for myself and Mukuro. Those chumps just took apart the fake body of me; whatever effect it had on them is due to their own insanity. Do you think I'd go to all the trouble of doing that for Mukuro and not myself? The mutual killing game of my formal classmates was never supposed to my magnum opus. I always meant it to be a trial run of sorts."

"A trial run?" repeated Chiaki, frustrated. "You call killing all the people who trusted and loved you some kind of demo? You're disgusting…"

Junko snickered. "Glad you're finally caught up on that. Can't I just say I'm unique? That's how the world works now right? Someone could do some fucked up things to people or themselves, but it's okay because they're unique. Isn't it funny how words affect a person's perception?"

Chiaki hated listening to her, her speech like needles that constantly poked at you, seeking out a soft point. "… If that's true, then why did you go into hiding as Enigma?"

Junko crossed her arms. "Because, after I witnessed the results of the mutual killing game, my role changed to that of an observer. My plan was to "create" another Junko Enoshima who could mimic my every move and take on my look. The results were, eh, mostly accurate to what I'd do. But, what I really wanted was to see how long the Tragedy could last with Junko Enoshima out of the picture." Junko put the helmet of herself to her mouth, making her voice deep again. "So, I took on the serious and stoic persona of Enigma, the Observer of Despair. But in actuality…" Junko tossed her helmet overboard into the watery depths below. "I was Junko fuckin' Enoshima the whole time!"

Chiaki wanted to keep denying the truth, but she couldn't because it all made sense to her now. Back then when she witnessed Junko's death, she did not feel happiness. It just didn't feel right at the time, and even Makoto echoed the same sentiment to her before. And now that Chiaki had Junko's will inside her, it gave her a new understanding she didn't have before. Would someone like Junko just end it all for a quick rush after everything she'd done? Chiaki couldn't hide the crushing dread of realization on her face.

Junko took notice of Chiaki's despair, naturally. "Heh, finally get it? Sure, the thought of suicide after losing to that twerp Naegi does fill me with a galaxy full of despair… Despair is kinda like a drug, meaning you constantly need something more intense to fulfill that high you got the first time. It's just how the human brain works. Our "tolerance" constantly demands something more extreme, almost liked we're wired by nature to be as chaotic as possible." Junko flicked her hair, her words seeping into Chiaki like a cobra's venom. "But that's what separates me from the pack. I'm able to hold off on a short-term high for long-term success."

"… And Mukuro and your friend Kitta Takara?"

"Pawns. Hey, don't get pissed at me; go ask you're the guy who used you too, Izuru Kamakura. When you're incredibly gifted, you don't see the world how a below-average person like yourself does."

Chiaki furrowed her brow. "Don't compare yourself to Kamakura. He might not be the most compassionate, but he's shown more empathy than you. You…you're just insane…"

Junko shrugged before kneeling to Chiaki's level. The gamer couldn't believe the form of all her pain was just inches from her own face. Even with her natural look, Chiaki could deny how alluring aura of Junko. No wonder the world fell for her as a fashionista. The gamer doubted anyone had such an extraordinary presence outside of someone like Sonia.

"If you really want to see the world like me, it's simple for you now." Chiaki gasped when Junko put a hand over her closed eye. "Just allow yourself to fall into the abyss!"

The moment Chiaki's eye opened, the disgusting memories flooded her mind, thousands upon thousands of images penetrating her psyche at once. Then her personality began to blend with Junko's changing her emotions from happy to sad to joyful to dreadful. Desperate to escape the pain, Chiaki broke from Junko, laying on the ship's floor in a cold sweat, panting before forcing her eye closed. The pieces that made her came together while a searing pain permeating in her head.

"I had the virus make a backdoor into the Neo World Program so I can observe everything the A.I. version of me saw. I thought that after the program allowed you to escape, your transformation into me was canceled… But something even more phenomenal happened. My memories and parts of my personality planted themselves inside your mind while the pieces that made Chiaki Nanami stayed intact. And the result is what you've become now… Fascinating."

"W-What are you saying…?"

"I'm saying that we're connected, two halves of the same coin… What I'm saying is we now have an unbreakable bond that will be with you until death! Haha, you're welcome, nobody. It's the closest thing the greatness you'll ever experience." Junko took out some glasses before developing an indecisive look and putting them back. "Hmm, I usually do the personality change thing…but I don't feel like it now. Ugh, being the boring Enigma might've ruined my shtick…"

Chiaki remembered the A.I Junko said something similar, but she didn't care about that now. She shared a mind with the worst person imaginable, and it'd never go away. Chiaki never acted as the aggressor, but she wanted nothing more than to blow Junko off the ship with VEIL—feeding her to a shark or smashing against raging waves. Sadly, her own exhaustion, the guns pointed at her, and the fact Junko would see it coming stopped that desire.

Chiaki struggled back to her knees. "… I've already told Ms. Yukizome. I'm done playing your game. Once my friends beat your A.I, they'll come to stop you once again. So, if you thought executing me again would help, it won't. After today, my classmates will never listen to you again…!"

Junko crossed her arms, amused. "How so? Those chumps have doomed themselves to a life of exile thanks to your failure back then. And do you really think Naegi and his band of losers can do anything? Soon, the Future Foundation will burn to the ground. Your dear teacher saw to that a long time ago."

Chiaki raised her eyebrows, confused at that same vague threat of destruction Chisa echoed earlier. "… What are you two going to do?"

"Me? I'm not doing shit. I don't have a clue with that psycho housekeeper has planned. You'd probably know better than me."

Chiaki didn't know anything right now. Ever since coming out of the Neo World Program, everything turned upside down. Her teacher tried to kill her, and now Junko Enoshima stood in front of her. She didn't realize it at first, but the gamer noticed that she did, in fact, think of this woman in front of her as the real Junko Enoshima. Strangely, she wasn't consumed with a strong emotional response, almost like her brain still struggled to compartmentalize how to handle this situation right now.

Chiaki shook her head, struggling to get more words of rebellion out. "I won't let you, Junko… I'll stop Ms. Yukizome from destroying the Future Foundation, and I'll help with the Neo World—"

"Oh my gosh…" groaned Junko. "Man, Yukizome really pumped your head up. There you go again…" Junko cleared her throat before mimicking Chiaki's voice. "I'm gonna save this! I'm gonna save that! I'll stop you from doing this!" The mastermind giggled. "What have you saved exactly? Sure, you can stop a random Despair; still, when it comes down to it—you haven't done anything. Your friends, the Future Foundation, my sister—you didn't save any of them. If insanity is needlessly repeating the same thing, then stupidity is trying to succeed when failure is guaranteed." Junko bent down to Chiaki's level, the two face-to-face. "You can't stop a damn thing, Chiaki."

Chiaki stared away, her nails grating against the metal floor. She couldn't refute what Junko said. However, one ace she still held kept the gamer confident Junko wouldn't succeed. Grinning, Chiaki said, "Even if I can't do anything, you'll still lose. Whether he's Kamakura or Hinata, he hates you more than anything. Once he gets out of there, he'll face you, and you can never hope to beat someone as amazing as him." The gamer hoped that'd result in a mixed reaction from the fashionista.

Instead, she said, "Nope, I'm not worried about him at all. Want to know why?" Junko cuffed her hand to her mouth and shifted her gaze from side to side as if she whispered a secret in a crowded hallway. "I know Izuru Kamakura's weakness; it's something even I'm not sure he realizes. The perfect being beloved by talent isn't so perfect after all."

"What…?" She had to have been bluffing. Chiaki witnessed Kamakura firsthand and she confirmed that no one could stop him if he took it seriously.

"While the Steering Committee creating him, I watched the project the entire time thanks to some negotiation. Once Izuru was nearly completed, I had my sister murder everyone and contacted him. So, as a result… the Izuru Kamakura project only became ninety-nine-point-five percent complete. Now, you might think that is insignificant, but it makes a world of difference. The thing with perfection is when it gets altered, even just a little—it's no longer perfect."

"But…isn't that what you wanted?"

"Absolutely not. See, if he didn't retain any of his humanity, controlling him would've been impossible. So, I decided to leave just a tiny bit of plain, insignificant Hajime Hinata in there to spawn some variables. And it worked perfectly because I played him like a fiddle! You know, in a way, because I did that—it let him recall his feelings for you in his past life which led to him recusing you… You're welcome."

Chiaki didn't know if this was another trick but based on what Chisa explained about the Izuru Kamakura Project—it did explain the "anomalies" in Izuru's behavior. The gamer still wanted to believe the bond she and Hajime had explained it, but real life usually didn't have that much romanticism. Nonetheless, a smile escaped Chiaki's lips once something occurred to her. "Even if that's true, it gives me validation that the gap between us may not be that big."

"And why is that?"

Chiaki met her eyes. "Because he chose me over you."

It might've been insignificant, but it still gave the gamer a bit of happiness in this ocean of despair that surrounded her. What's more, for the first time since she saw the face of the genuine Junko Enoshima, she said a statement that made her smile falter a bit. Even for the fashionista, she had to admit the fact Izuru grew bored with her but still found Chiaki's actions interesting said something.

A smile returned to Junko's face before she flicked her natural scarlet hair. "Technically, that game between me and Chisa Yukizome is still active."

"… Again with this game? What did Ms. Yukizome say to you?"

"When you were still in comatose, she and Kamakura visited my castle where you fought Kitta. It was there… I made a little wager. I'd taken the mantel of Enigma by that point, so it wasn't like I had anything better to do really. You could say that set the path your life would follow after waking up. I'll give you kudos when I say I didn't think you'd make it this far…but I'm glad you did."

Chiaki pondered what conversation happened between the three. Obviously, it turned out Chisa just did it to build up to an inevitable downfall that would result in the gamer's despair as she confessed earlier. Still, she wanted to know the details of what they agreed on. And what was Izuru's part in this? After being kept in the dark for so long, Chiaki wanted all the answers that'd been denied her.

"What exactly is the deal you three made? What's the actual relationship between you and Ms. Yukizome? Was it all just so you two could enjoy me drowning in despair? And what were Izuru's true intentions? Why…why are you so interested in me of all people…? If I really am just a nobody and no threat to you…why did you go through all this just to see if I could make it this far…? How…how was it possible for you to corrupt people so easily even without the despair brainwashing video…?"

These questions weren't all she had to ask, but the main ones she wanted to know immediately. From what she knew of Junko, she hated bothersome things. But she stuck with this one thing for almost two years, so there must've been some incentive for her. It could've been just like Ms. Yukizome, the two so insane that they could find entertainment in toying with her.

As Chiaki anticipated some answers, with a stoic face, Junko said, "Nah, I'm bored of this."

"What?"

Junko crossed her arms. "I mean, I'm bored of explaining all this. If you can't figure out the rest…not my problem." Junko grinned before gesturing towards Chiaki's closed eye. "Of course, if you want the whole truth…just let yourself be lost into our unbreakable bond. Everything is right before your eye."

Chiaki sharply turned her head. "Never."

"Heh, fine. Not my fault you don't want to see the truth." Junko put a hand on her hip, sizing Chiaki up as the wind increased in strength. "Now, the question is…what am I going to do with you now? You made it past my sister and Kitta, but you've failed against me every time. However, you've managed to weasel out of death on every occasion. Hmm…how should we settle this game? Maybe I should just kill you here and be done with it."

This was it. Ms. Yukizome wouldn't pull a trick to help her, Izuru wouldn't come to her rescue… She was all alone. The armed Despairs around her assured that VEIL wouldn't be of any help, and even so—the genuine Junko Enoshima stood in front of her, the woman who always stayed a hundred steps ahead of anyone and anything. Junko standing in front of her still hadn't fully sunk in for the gamer. She always had a feeling, like a distant nightmare that always crept its way into her consciousness. This was, without a doubt, a completely hopeless situation.

However, Chiaki hadn't folded just yet. For better or worse, she and Junko were connected now. Junko doing all this just for a laugh at Chiaki's expenses…it didn't feel right. Somewhere in this insanity lied the truth of this game Junko waged against Chisa. Maybe the crazed housekeeper really did make it all up, but still… Chiaki couldn't explain it—the true face of her antithesis had yet to show itself. It might've been her own naivety since she'd lost numerous times in head-to-head matchups against Junko, but maybe the inner gamer in her refused to back down from one final challenge with her last life.

"No, Junko," murmured Chiaki, "you aren't going to kill me."

"Huh?" Junko raised an eyebrow. "The hell are you on about? You don't really think you get to choose whether—"

"I mean you can't kill me…because you still don't know if you can beat me." Chiaki looked the mastermind in her unmoving eyes. "Back then at Hope's Peak, in the Neo World Program, you've never once played me one-on-one on a neutral field. I've always been the one injected myself into your game, and you always make it so I have no chance of winning. You won't kill me Junko…because you know you could never be the Ultimate Gamer in a game of her choosing. And that indecision interests you…meaning, you'll never be able to kill me because you need to know. Ms. Yukizome might've been lying, but I think she discovered something by accident. I don't know how yet, and I still don't know the truth of everything, but…I can beat you in one last game!"

The gamer took a breath after blurting out her final effort to prolong her life. Junko started back at her; the mastermind's crimson eyes were still unmoving. Chiaki hoped that could've triggered a switch in Junko that'd make her willing to face her one more time, but maybe she just pissed her off into executing her right here and now. Either way, Chiaki meant what she said, and didn't back down from her gaze.

Then, Junko smiled deviously, before grabbing Chiaki by the hair. After forcing her up, Junko yelled, "Get me a life preserver!" The redhead forced Chiaki to the edge of the ship, raging waters right below her. After a Despair forced the life preserver around Chiaki, Junko held her over the edge.

Chiaki breathed nervously since she wasn't the best swimmer and it felt like Junko was about to pull a few hairs out. "What are you—"

"One month, nobody. Regardless of the results of the Neo World Program, I'm going to go all out. No more toying around, no more games—I will kill everyone in the way and put this world in despair forever. In that time, come up with whatever stupid game you want, and we'll face-off—just the two of us. Hope versus despair, the star vs the nobody, the duel to decide the future, this deathmatch will be the finale of this long game! Once you get everything ready, just let me know. Hehe, I'm sure you'll find a way to get my attention."

Junko dug in her pockets and pulled out her Game Girl Ultra. "Wouldn't want this getting wet. One month, Chiaki Nanami. I sure hope the Ultimate Gamer can make a game worth playing, hahahaha!"

Chiaki grunted as Junko kicked her gut, sending her over the edge of the ship. Chiaki stared into the red eyes of Junko as she fell, the world slowing down. The game knew: this was the beginning of the end. The fate of whether this world would turn towards hope or despair rested on this final game. The future stood between them, and only the victor would decide where it'd go.

The gamer took all her pain and hatred from all this suffering she'd gone through and yelled Junko's name before falling into the watery depths.

VVV

Once Chiaki finally reached land, drenched and exhausted from everything happening to her, she just laid her back on the sand and stared up at the red sky. What just happened left her in such a state of shock after it was over, her body didn't know what to do. Junko Enoshima still lived, and Chiaki challenged her to a final game. Chiaki didn't even feel like that all just happened, like a lucid dream. As if the world herself taunted her, Chiaki turned her head to see Junko's helmet inches from her face, washed ashore in the perfect position for the gamer to stare into its mocking face. Chiaki sighed before struggling to her feet and walking towards the city nearby.

As she walked, she didn't have a thought in her head. After what just happened, one might think she'd exude an aura of burning revenge, determination for the final game against Junko, or paralyzing worry over her agents and classmates. But no, she just stumbled along, her eyes empty as they stared ahead. All she wanted in those moments was to find someone to help. She'd even take Chisa at this point. She just wanted something, anything to make this empty feeling go away.

When she finally reached the empty streets of the city, she saw the flashing lights of a paramedic vehicle. Her mind blurry from all the exhaustion since the Neo World Program, Chiaki weakly said, "Help… Junko is back… Please, help me…"

One of the paramedics spotted her, but something else caught the gamer's eyes. The paramedics already had someone on a stretcher, the person motionless meaning they likely died. But the following seconds wouldn't have sent a knife through Chiaki's heart had she not seen the face. She wished she hadn't look. When she saw the face, she wished she had died falling off that boat.

The frozen face of Miaya stared back at her, head bent in the wrong direction as her innocent eyes didn't move.

The final straw that broke her snapped and tears flowed down her face; her eyes stayed glued to her dead friend. The gamer swore her heart stopped working at once as she whispered, "Don't leave me too… Miaya…" before finally giving in to the exhaustion and pain. She heard someone shout at her.

At this point, the gamer hoped she never woke up again.

VVV

"Hehe, just thinking of how much despair will ensue after my death is the greatest feeling ever," said Chisa, insane eyes climbing to the chandelier above while all the Future Foundation leaders laid unconscious on the ground. Her game to destroy the Future Foundation had begun, and her death would be the catalyst for the chaos that would happen. She placed all her pieces on the board as best she could. Now, she could finally stop struggling against despair and succumb. And of course, there was Chiaki.

"I did all I could… I made the best use of the time I had left. Now… I can finally…" Chisa reached the top of the chandelier, threw her body up before bringing herself down on the sharp strands of the chandelier. She gasped as pain shot from every part of her body. Yet, a smile crept across her face as she felt the perfect despair right now. This would set off Kyosuke's despair and destroy the Future Foundation. She wanted nothing more in that.

And then it happened.

"What?" murmured Chisa. She felt her despair fade away as if her brain rewrote itself in her final moments. Her true self burst from the cracks while she began crying, images of her partners of the Future Foundation and mother flowing through her head. She faced her former class as they stared back at her. Then, Kyosuke and Juzo came to mind, her dear friend and the man she loved smiling.

Despite the pain, Chisa smiled. "Looks like I got to come back. Even if it's for a few seconds…I'm happy…I'm so incredibly happy right now…" Finally, a final image stuck in her head, that once lonely girl who loved games standing across from her. She reached out her hand for Chisa to grab.

"I give my will and spirit to you now, Chiaki…"

Chisa took her hand; the housekeeper felt whole as a bright light enveloping her, and everything washed away in a symphony of warmth as the pain and despair finally disappeared.

And that's the end of this arc. As you might've guessed, the final part of this story is next. I had all this planned for a long time, but this really is an all-time low for Chiaki who had a hard time this entire arc and had to go through everything from almost getting killed multiple times to facing Chisa to witnessing Miaya. And of course, the return of Junko Enoshima. How many of you guessed it was her all along? It also pained me to say goodbye to my cunning despair housekeeper (the same with a certain someone who will be incredibly sad) but the story must be told. The final arc of this story will be a big one full of revelations, surprises, twists, and the conclusion to this over three-year epic tale. Thanks for reading!

Anyone that's been keeping up with this story probably noticed I've been updating much more infrequently lately. Due to many events happening in real life—and I don't mean that negatively because most of it has been incredibly good—I don't have as much free time to stick to a consistent writing schedule like I could before. However, since I've come so far with this story and we're remarkably close to the finale, I'll try my best to conclude it sometime in the future—hopefully sometime next year but I'm not sure. So, I'll keep doing my best in the meantime to work on it, and I apologize for the inconvenience.