Royal Treatment
Disclaimer:
Danganronpa is owned by Spike Chunsoft and Lerche
Okay…in spite of the lockdown imposed on my country due to the corona virus, I managed to finish this chapter ahead of the DEADLINE that I set…this is supposed to be up by next month, but decided to upload it now (along with the other fanfics I managed to finish) in anticipation that I might have difficulties in uploading future chapters in case the lockdown in my country extends, so for now enjoy this finished, if rushed, chapter…
Many thanks to those who read and reviewed this fic. I really appreciated it and this gave me inspiration to work on the next chapter and here the FINAL story arc of this fic will commence, and this is where Naegi gets into a situation where his life would be on the line…as his final daysof vacationing in Novoselic would take a turn for a disastrous turn…
Well then, read on and enjoy!
Ch. 43: Shūban part 2
The shopkeeper smiled as he admred Naegi's humility and kindheartedness and assured to him that he won't mind giving the Luckster a discount as he says that Naegi being a good friend to Princess Sonia is an honor and urges him to choose anything the boy wanted, though the SHSL Luckster appeared reluctant, unsure if he should proceed.
The shopkeeper nodded and tells Naegi that it is okay and assured that to the boy that the shop will not go bankrupt and that the shopkeeper said that he has everything under control, so there is nothing to worry about.
"It's fine, lad."
"Really?"
"Of course. Don't worry about it."
"Um..."
"You don't have to be so modest..."
"Are you sure that..."
"Yes."
"..."
Sighing, Naegi reluctantly nodded and began to choose something he like, and the shopkeeper smiled and tells the boy not to be shy and choose what the liked most, especially for his family who are waiting back at his native Japan.
"It's fine, go on. Choose what you like."
"Really?"
"Of course. Don't worry about it."
"Um...I..."
"It's okay."
"Are you sure that..."
"Yes."
"..."
Suddenly, one of the sweet shop's patrons came and told the owner and Naegi that he saw a newsflash about an incident happened at the royal palace, in which an explosion took place, and the shop owner opened the TV, where the live news is shown, where it showed that the royal limousine is burning and saw two charred bodies being brought out, which the cameraman zoomed the scene, which the live footage appeared to be that of the king and queen of Novoselic.
By then the live footage shifts to the chancellor, and there he can be heard and said that he found Naegi's passport at the scene of the crime, and Naegi stared in disbelief, as he checked his bag and is astounded that his passport is not there and he suspected that the chancellor must have took it.
Naegi then told the shop owner that he will head back to the palace to clear his name, which the shop owner and the patron advised him against it, saying that the chancellor will only make himself look good and make Naegi a political scapegoat, yet the Luckster said that he can't just stand here and wait, as he need to prove his innocence.
"Don't go, lad!"
"But..."
"That damn chancellor will make himself a hero by using you!"
"I can't just..."
"Believe me, he'll only implicate you further!"
"But Princess Sonia might..,"
"Trust me, lad! You need to back up your claim, otherwise that chancellor will just jail you!"
"I..."
"Relax, lad. Calm down!"
The other patrons stepped in, having heard what the Luckster said, and they told Naegi that right now it is dangerous for him to show up at the palace, and that he would have to stay here for the time being, worried that the chancellor would use his propaganda-like antics as an excuse to pick on Naegi and said that all would rest on Sonia, as she is the only one who can prove Naegi's innocence.
They urged the boy to calm down and keep his cool, saying that they believe that the SHSL Luckster is innocent and will not let the chancellor have his way.
"Easy, kid."
"Relax."
"You can't go back to the palace right now."
"You'll be made into a scapegoat."
"Let Princess Sonia deal with this."
"Believe me, the chancellor will use this as an excuse to lock you up and embarrass your country."
"They're right, kid. It's best if you stay here for now."
"…"
Naegi is moved by the comments, and slowly calmed down as he thinks of a way o prove his innocence while he would have to stay out of sight for now, as he begin to weigh his options and come up with a way to expose the culprit and prove who is behind the attack and who framed him.
-x-
At a convention where fortune tellers from all over the world are convening, one of the participants came and called Hagakure, and showed him the live news footage of what is going on at the royal palace, and there the SHSL Fortune Teller could not believe this and reiterated that Naegi could not do something like this and believed that his classmate is being set upped by someone.
Hagakure reiterated that Naegi has no experience with politics and the like, and thus he said it is impossible what the chancellor is implying and that Naegi would not gain anything in killing the king and queen, which the other fortune tellers agreed.
"He's right..,"
"The kid is innocent..."
"I bet that chancellor set this up..."
"I agree...he always pick on that boy..."
"Should we help?"
"Like how?"
"I can read a fortune..."
"Shut up..."
Then, the next news footage showed that Sonia's tiara is found, with bloodstains, and also found at the scene is Naegi's Hope's Peak Academy ID, and there the chancellor said that this proves that Naegi is the suspect and stated that Sonia is likely dead, thus the throne has been vacated and made it appear that Naegi intends to take the throne for himself, and the prime minister came and RELUCTANTLY proclaimed that Charming will have to assume the throne and become the new ruler of Novoselic.
Hagakure stared in disbelief and said that Naegi can't be the culprit, as he said that his classmate wouldn't do something foolish like leaving his ID behind like that, and he has a feeling that someone within the palace may have planted it so that the chancellor would have an excuse to arrest Naegi, which the event organizer and the other fortune tellers agree.
"He's right..,"
"The kid is innocent..."
"I bet that chancellor set this up..."
"I agree...he always pick on that boy..."
"Should we help?"
"Like how?"
"I can read a fortune..."
"Shut up..."
Suddenly, a convoy of police cars arrived, and police came out and surrounded the fortune teller participants, and they checked the papers and soon identified Hagakure, and the police chief said that he is SUMMONED to the police station to provide the whereabouts of Naegi, saying that the Luckster is now wanted for three counts of FRUSTRATED MURDER.
Hagakure vehemently deny the charges and reiterated that Naegi can't be the murderer, and said he cannot come since he is not involved in the crime and that he has no idea where Naegi went, as well as that he is innocent in all of this, but the police chief said that this is the order of the prime minister and the new ruler of Novoselic, which is Charming.
"Sorry. We're just following orders."
"Eh?"
"As of the moment you are deemed a PERSON OF INTEREST..."
"What?"
"You have to come along for interrogation."
"That's..."
"Sorry, but that's about it."
"No way!"
The participants of the fortune telling event protested, saying that it is unfair to pin Hagakure as an accessory since he is not there at the scene of the crime and that he has been here the whole time when the incident occurred, and said that the chancellor and Charming are just using this as an excuse to flush out Naegi, and demanded that they leave Hagakure alone.
"Hey!"
"Stop that!"
"That's harassment!"
"And downright unconstitutional!"
"Hagakure has nothing to do with this!"
"He's right!"
"Get lost!"
"You idiot!"
However, the police chief said that he is just doing his job, and ordered his men to take Hagakure into custody, and the SHSL Fortune Teller protested as he is being handcuffed and loaded inside the police car, just as the police chief began reading Hagakure's RIGHTS, which Hagakure said that this is basically human rights violation, reiterating that he has no knowledge of where Naegi is right now.
"Let's go..."
"Let go!"
"Load him in..."
"I'm innocent!"
"You have the right to remain silent..."
"I want a lawyer!"
"Anything yiu say can and will be used against you..."
"Someone help!"
As the police cars leave the scene, the event organizer and the participants wondered what would happen to Hagakure, seeing that he is now under the new ruler's mercy, and felt that this is a travesty of justice, as an innocent person is taking he fall just because he is associated with Naegi, and they wished that someone would expose this charade and farce, and that the real culprits be exposed.
"This is bad..."
"Very bad..."
"That damn chancellor..."
"And now that stupid prince is the new ruler..."
"Novoselic is done for."
"Someone help us..."
"I wish the true culprit is exposed..."
"Yeah..."
-x-
At the police station, Hagakure is being interrogated and he reiterated that he has no knowledge of what happened to the Royal Family and that he has no idea where Naegi is, as he has not heard anything from him since Charming's birthday party ended, which the interrogators were seemingly willing to let him go seeing that they have nothing against the SHSL Fortune Teller.
However, the chancellor arrived and began picking on Hagakure, sternly telling him to reveal where Naegi is hiding, but Hagakure told the chancellor that he really don't know where he is, and said that he believe that the chancellor planned this, saying that Naegi would never do something like this, and if ever Naegi do commit the said crimes, he would not do something stupid like leaving his identification documents behind, saying that it is impossible for him to carry his passport and student ID around like that, and he tells the chancellor that if he finds out that the chancellor planted the evidence, then Novoselic would get a DRESSING DOWN from Japan.
The chancellor is livid and began to grab Hagakure by his collar and shook him forcibly in rage, which Hagakure was quite shaken yet he reiterated Naegi's innocence and refuse to believe that his classmate committed the crimes.
"You will tell me where that brat is!"
"I won't!"
"What?"
"Naegi-chi is innocent!"
"You dare cover for that brat?"
"You're the brat!"
"How dare you?"
"See? You really are a brat!"
The police interrogators pry the chancellor away an told him that they cannot hold Hagakure as they do not have evidence against him, but the chancellor insisted that they keep the SHSL Fortune Teller in custody, saying that Hagakure is an accomplice of Naegi because of the two students' connection and threatened to have the interrogators charged, but the police commissioner, who have just arrived after getting word of what happened, began to stood up against the chancellor, threatening of counter charges if he were to threaten any of his men.
The chancellor stared in surprise as the police commiioner reiterated that they cannot hold a person against his will if there are no evidences found to prove it and said that unless there is probable proof and cause, they will have to release Hagakure, and will not let someone like the chancellor influence the police investigation.
"W-what...?"
"You heard me."
"Y-you..."
"Just because of your position doesn't mean you can bully anyone. I am in charge here and I will follow the due process and not violate one's rights..."
"How dare you!"
"I beg your pardon?"
"..."
"Please leave now."
The chancellor fumed before leaving and the police commissioner apologized to Hagakure for what happened, and assured to him that due process is being followed, and once there are no evidences found, Hagakure will be released from custody.
The SHSL Fortune Teller reiterated that Naegi can't be the culprit, and the police commissioner said that it would depend on evidences found, and suggested to Hagakure to find one if he believe that Naegi is being set upped.
To Be Continued...
Hope you liked this chapter, as the Endgame arc is now underway, which now becomes a political one dudue to the circumstances involved…
And it looks like Naegi is in the midst of a political storm following the assassination of the king and queen of Novoselic, and that Naegi is being implicated due to the passport found…no doubt it was stolen and the chancellor is taking advantage…
Preview:
The next chapter continues the ENDGAME arc…as Naegi becomes a subject of a manhunt as an unexpected incident took place, and the Luckster becomes the prime suspect and he is forced on the run, while Sonia also goes MIA…
Reviews are welcomed, but needed…
