I remember the first time I met him. It was the first day of school, in kindergarten. I would say we were six years old at the time, each.
When I met him, he was sitting alone at a table. I took a seat besides him, because I didn't want him to be lonely.
We seemed to get along almost immediately. In just only a week of knowing each other, we wanted to have playdates at each other's homes.
My house was the first house where our playdates took place. I remember how excited he seemed to be. Right when you entered, there was a rock garden with succulents waiting to greet you. Just down a shallow set of steps was the living room, with a couch facing the TV, and an electronic piano sitting in the corner. Just off to the side was the kitchen and dining room, the tables and chairs overlooking the tv from a distance.
We also had a playroom, that being where we would spend most of our time. It was entirely carpeted, with a fireplace at the end of the room. We would get out bins of toys to play with and make stories, and for hours on end we'd be dreaming. Then, we'd eagerly sit at the table while my parents laid out a freshly ordered pizza. Even though Kozaki didn't seem too keen on eating vegetable pizza, he ate it without complaint. He never took anything for granted, and he was always grateful.
The first time I went to his house, I was surprised by how...rich he seemed to be. His house was decorated with such lavish furniture, and his toys and videogames were the most popular at the time.
But that only lasted until…
When his family was slammed into poverty by refusing any more money from his uncle and having to pay that ridiculous medical bill, everything changed. The number of toys and video games became scarce, and his smile became even more rare.
He was scared to be in his own home. Whenever we would have future playdates, he would always want to come to my house instead. Not even just playdates, but sleepovers too. I can only remember two times we had a sleepover in his house. But now, it felt almost like he wanted to be a part of my family.
That wasn't to say he was afraid of his parents. I know they were good people, and that he loved them dearly.
But...his own house felt dangerous to him now. Like if he stayed there any longer, something would kill him.
I remember our meeting in the forest, when we exchanged our gifts with each other. That little string bracelet Kozaki made for me felt like it was made of gold. The pure youth that was still in his heart, it felt like he was sharing that piece of him with me.
And yet in his eyes, something felt distant. Maybe I was too young to realize it at the time, but...maybe I was getting that first glimpse of him before his downwards spiral in mental health.
I wish I could've been there for him. If I had, would things have gotten to that point? Would he have continued to commit arson, would he have tried to end his life?
When I was finally able to reveal myself, I felt like his suffering would finally begin to come to an end. I thought that by being able to return to his life, I would be able to ease his pain. That we could go back to being best friends, and we'd be able to go home.
But...that's not what happened at all. It was almost like by coming back, I had made things worse.
I felt like I wasn't needed anymore. He had new friends to fill the hole in his heart. It was far too late for me to make that positive change I had hoped for.
But I didn't want to let it go, and I feel like he didn't want to either. We wanted to get back to being friends. And yet…
They say that time heals all wounds. I think what happened between us was proof of the opposite.
...
My only hope is we have just a little bit more time left. Just enough time so that we could feel that closeness we did when we were kids, when we were those dreamers who could face the world.
Enough time so that I can save him...
"We're-going-to-start-this-off-with-an-explanation-of-the-class-trial." Monobotto tilted its head slightly to the side. "After-all. You're-not-looking-for-the-blackened. So-there-are-a-few-new-rules-in-play. But-first. Please-put-on-your-gloves."
I sighed as I slipped on my glove, wiggling my fingers lightly. It always was incredibly uncomfortable for me to wear, and with good reason too.
Once we all had our gloves on, Monobotto hopped up and down while a holographic screen appeared off to the side. "Please-take-a-looksie-!"
I crossed my arms as I read the rules to myself.
1. Neither Tobi nor Monobotto can reveal the mastermind.
2. Neither Tobi nor Monobotto can hint who the mastermind is.
3. The mastermind must be voted for with a unanimous vote.
4. If the mastermind is not voted with a unanimous verdict, everyone else will be executed.
5. If the mastermind is voted for with a unanimous verdict, they alone will be executed and the killing game will end.
6. The hostage will only be released if the mastermind is caught.
7. You can use whatever evidence or truths you've found throughout the entire killing game to help you.
8. Previous rules of the class trial still apply. For example, if you take off your glove, you will receive punishment. Fatal punishment, to be exact.
9. The mastermind cannot run away. If they are caught, they must accept defeat.
10. New rules can be added at any time.
…
It took me some time to process these new rules. They really did seem to imply that one of us could be the mastermind.
But that's ridiculous. After all, Erito Hajimoto is the mastermind of an entire cult organization. As far as I could tell, neither of us would do such a thing.
Okay, okay. I need to close my eyes. I need to think, to breathe, to clear my mind. I can't let anyone tell me what my truth is. I believe in my friends. I believe in Kozaki, Zraiko, Weise, and Kyohi. I know Erito Hajimoto isn't here. I just have to prove it with the others.
"Are-the-rules-clear-?" Monobotto asked as the display vanished.
"Hey, hey, what do I get to do?" Tobi asked, still swinging from the ceiling. "Do I just hang out here?"
"Yes." Monobotto responded, annoyed.
"Hah, hah, hah." Tobi struggled in the ropes for a moment before sighing. "Give me a moment. I'll get out of these ropes. Just you watch me, ya bucket of bolts!"
I could feel a faint chuckle slip out from me. Even Tobi started calling Monobotto by that, huh?
Monobotto ignored the alleged lab assistant. "I-do-have-one-more-thing-to-add."
"What's that?" Kyohi asked, rubbing his arms.
"You-might-be-wondering. Where-do-we-even-start-?" Monobotto casually spun around. "I-am-here-to-say. You-must-start-at-the-beginning."
The beginning?
"Aha, well!" Weise pridefully smiled. "I was born in Paris, France to my parents-"
"Not like that, Weise." Zraiko sighed and crossed his arms, rolling his eyes. "The tin can probably means...the beginning of this game."
"Oh." Weise looked to the side. "Well, when we all woke up and were brought to that stage-"
"Weise, I think we're looking for before that." Kozaki awkwardly smiled, scratching the back of his head. "Like...the organization behind this? How the cult started?"
"But we don't know anything about that." Kyohi sighed, knocking on his helmet to think.
"I atleast have a starting place to offer." Kozaki sighed. "My uncle."
"Hmm...there was that saying he was second in command. That does imply he plays a significant role in this, right?" Zraiko asked, thoughtfully.
How is Haiji Daisuke involved in this?
"I think this has to do with him being a previous winning blackened, as well as working for Team Danganronpa." I looked to the side. "I can't explain his motive for creating this game when he already had his own success, but...if he worked on other killing games before, maybe he had a reputation of being quite the asset to have."
"Oh, and his talent!" Kyohi raised his hand. "He was, and still is, a psychologist."
"And in the last trial we found out he is studying Kozaki in the game." Weise twiddled his fingers.
"That's right. That gives Kozaki a reason for being here." I replied, though feeling quite discomforted about it. "Maybe from here, we should try to explain why all of us were here."
Zraiko looked to the side. "You mean based on those books?"
"Or other factors as well." I crossed my arms. "For example…"
Why am I in this killing game?
"I'm here because Kozaki is here." I explained, looking back on my kidnapping from what felt like years ago. "Not only because my kidnapper quite literally told me so, but also because we had our connection in our past. It might've been Haiji's idea to bring us together."
"I think so, too." Kozaki looked down. "I can't really trust my memory from before the game at the moment, but I know we grew up together, Mikanne. We were best friends, and my uncle knew that, too."
"Hmm…" Kyohi took some time to think. "Neizami's last name was the same as the protagonist from the same game Kozaki's uncle won. We agreed that's the reason why she was here, right?"
"That's right." Weise nodded. "Yuuta and Soro also shared last names with other people from other killing games."
Zraiko nodded. "And a few others as well. However." He then raised his index finger to pose a question. "What about those who were here who did not share a last name? More specifically, Ingreis, Tikari, Mei, Weise, Kyohi, Riko, Fraize, and myself. Excluding Mikanne and Kozaki, as we already know their story."
Weise puffed his cheeks. "I've got a good guess!"
"Oh?" Zraiko adjusted his glasses. "Let's hear it."
"Because it's me!" Weise nodded, confidently. "I am the Super-Highschool-Level Fashion Designer for a reason! My brand reaches all over the world! I bet everyone knows my name!"
"So what you're saying is…" Kozaki took some time to think. "You were taken because you would be recognized and a lot of people would be viewing for you. That does line up with what your father told you in the loved one's call, right?"
Weise nodded again. "Yes, yes! That must be it!"
"I agree." I felt my left wrist. "I think this also explains Ingreis. Being the athlete that she was and going to all those competitions."
"What about Mei?" Kyohi asked, looking to the side. "Was it because of her being part of a revolution?"
The hacker adjusted his glasses, calmly. "I suppose it's the best answer we have."
"Fraize was here for me…" Kozaki sadly pressed his hands over the locket he was wearing. "He was here to protect me. I still don't understand completely what he was doing in the cult, but it at least explains why he was in the game with us. Well...more specifically, with me…"
"Zraiko, do you have an idea why you're here?" I turned to the hacker.
Zraiko tugged on his tie while glancing to the side. "Well, if I had to guess, it would be because of my connections to the Japanese government."
Connections to the government…
I know someone else who had connections like that.
"Would it be fair to say that you and Tikari could be here for the same reason?" I asked, thoughtfully.
"Tikari?" Weise blinked. "But she didn't have connections to the government, did she?"
"Actually Weise, she did." I nodded.
"Huh?" The young fashion designer tilted his head. "How so?"
How was Tikari connected to the government?
A) She was a member of the government herself.
B) She had a relative involved in the government.
C) She had a friend involved in the government.
If I recall correctly, Tikari did have a relative involved in the government.
Who was that relative?
A) Her mother.
B) Her father.
C) Her brother.
It was her brother. She had mentioned from time to time how she was wondering how his elections were going.
"Tikari's connection comes from her brother." I answered, nodding.
"Mikanne's right." Kozaki nodded as well. "Tikari has an older brother running in an election."
Kyohi raised his hand. "But why would they take Tikari? Just because of that?"
Zraiko nodded. "Think about it. Wouldn't the vote be swayed once it got public that Tikari - a candidate's younger sister - was kidnapped into a killing game?"
"It would be…" I nodded. "I think that actually introduces an interesting fact about the cult, if that's true."
"What's that, Mikanne?" Kozaki asked, looking in my direction.
If Tikari's kidnapping was done to sway the election her brother was in, what would the cult be achieving?
While I cannot explain it with a specific answer, I can answer it generally to make other connections. That being, it shows how the cult is able to manipulate real world politics.
Why would the cult manipulate affairs in politics?
I'm honestly not completely sure how to answer that as of now. It does show they have power over the world, however.
But...why would the cult want that if…
…
I'll keep this in the back of my mind for later.
"By taking Tikari, the cult quite possibly changed whatever the results would have been of that election. This shows an example of the cult having the desire to manipulate politics and relations." I frowned, shaking my head. "I...can't explain fully why they would want to do this. Atleast, not for now. But it does lead me to suspect...the cult is working on something bigger than this killing game."
There was an uneasy silence between our group.
"Let's come back to this once we've finished going over why each of us were brought here." Zraiko adjusted his glasses. "Perhaps I am here for a similar reason to Tikari's. I do not have family members running in an election, but I still do have family members in the government. I mean, even I'm technically employed."
Hmm...I see.
"Wait, but I have a question." Kyohi raised his hand. "What about me, and what about Riko? We don't have those kinds of connections."
That's a good question.
"I'm not sure, to be honest." Kozaki looked to the side. "You guys don't fit the same pattern...so maybe you have your own reason?"
"I think it's worth a debate." Zraiko nodded.
And so, a debate began.
"Hmm...maybe they have family members who were in the game?" Weise asked, tilting his head while thinking.
Kyohi shook his head. "No, my family is all from around Africa. I have relatives in Ethiopia, but not from Japan."
"Well, how about one of those relatives being in the government?" Kozaki asked, feeling his right arm. "A more distant relative?"
Kyohi again shook his head. "No, not as far as I know."
"Even then…" Zraiko scratched his chin. "It's not the same as having a direct family member involved, like Tikari and myself."
"R-Right…" Kozaki crossed his arms to try and think. "Hmm...are you here just because you're talented?"
"I don't think that's enough justification." I replied, feeling my left wrist. "So far we've confirmed reasons for the fourteen of us. It doesn't make sense for the last two to just randomly be here."
Kozaki sighed. "Fair...but now, I think I'm out of ideas."
"Well, how about them having other connections?" Zraiko proposed.
"Other connections?" Kyohi looked at the hacker. "Like what?"
Zraiko eyed between Kozaki and myself. "Did you know anyone here from before?"
"Nope." Kyohi shrugged. "I've never met any of you guys before."
"What other possible connections could there be?" Weise placed his hands to his hips. "Maybe there's nothing to connect them at all."
What other possible connections indeed, Weise.
But...there is one more possibility! That possibility being why Kozaki is here in this game!
"I agree with you, Zraiko!" I pointed to the hacker.
He seemed to be quite startled. "O-Oh, you do?" He adjusted his glasses. "This is certainly the most...vocal you've been, Mikanne."
"Ah…" I pulled my arm back. "Apologies…"
"Hehe, did I rub off on you, Mik?" Kozaki smiled at me, chuckling lightly.
"Just a bit." I calmly crossed my arms. "Anyways, Zraiko. I believe there is some other connection." I turned to Kyohi. "Is there anyone who exited your life? Who went missing or vanished? Even someone in your family?"
Kyohi quietly took a moment to think. "Well, there was...but Monobotto said they were murdered."
"Hold on a minute!" Kozaki pointed to Kyohi. "You're talking about when Monobotto was answering questions for us, back when Anne, Neizami, and Tikari were still with us. Right?"
Kyohi nodded. "That's right."
Kozaki frowned. "I don't think you can fully believe what that robot told you."
"Nah-uh!" Tobi called out, swinging his legs. "Can't believe that robot for a minute if you're swung up in Faceless!"
Swung up in Faceless…
Kyohi held his left shoulder. "But...why not?"
Kozaki frowned. "Monobotto lied to me that Mikanne was dead. You can see for yourself, he's alive."
Kyohi seemed to be struck with realization. "Gosh, that's true! But, there's no proof that my cousin is alive, is there?"
"And here's that connection." I tapped on my podium. "I think that your cousin...is a member of the cult."
"No way…" The hockey star gulped. "But...what proof is there?"
"Unfortunately, at this time...we can't quite prove it other than your presence in this game." Zraiko crossed his arms. "Same goes for Riko. For now, despite how I dislike having to accept things as truth without evidence, we'll have to go off on that assumption."
Kyohi and Riko, having a relative in the cult…
Even though I don't want to think in this way, maybe it's a reason why they're even still alive now.
I looked back to Tobi for a moment. Swung up in Faceless...could that have been a hint?
"So now, for the most part, we know why everyone's here." Zraiko crossed his arms. "Where would you like to branch off from here?"
Kozaki scratched the back of his head. "Well, I don't know. We have to prove there isn't a mastermind, right? So...how do we get to that point?"
"Oh, oh!" Weise pridefully pointed to Tobi. "Let's ask!"
"But the rules say Tobi can't hint to the mastermind's identity." Kyohi knocked on his helmet. "If there isn't a mastermind, I think he wouldn't be able to hint to that either."
Tobi sighed and nodded. "Rules are rules, kiddos. But, if you've got any questions not about that, I could answer!"
Monobotto eyed at the interloper, seemingly annoyed.
"Aha!" Weise nodded. "Tell us, Tobi! What does Erito Hajimoto like to eat?"
That...certainly wasn't a question I was expecting.
"Nyah?" Tobi tilted his head. "Master does like to eat the more expensive foods. Mostly because it's hard to come by them, especially out in space now."
"Ah…" Weise puffed his cheeks. "Hnn, hnn...what is Erito Hajimoto's favorite color?"
Tobi looked to the side. "Master's favorite color? I think it's m-"
"Enough." Monobotto interrupted. "You're-walking-on-a-very-thin-line."
"But this isn't hinting to Erito Hajimoto's identity." Kyohi shook his head. "It's just general questions."
"Well-too-bad." Monobotto hummed, annoyed. "I-prohibit-Tobi-from-answering-any-questions-about-Erito-Hajimoto-from-now-on."
Tobi sighed. "So much for my participation."
Zraiko sighed, shaking his head at the young fashion designer. "Thank you for trying to help, Weise. Unfortunately, that help was cut short."
Weise sighed, looking down. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologise, Weise." Kozaki smiled. "I guess we just have to find some other way to learn more about Erito."
"Before we do that, we need to continue with our timeline up until the beginning of the game." I crossed my arms, thoughtfully.
"Let's go over something we all went through, in that case." Zraiko nodded. "Our kidnappings. Where it all started. Is there anything in common we all experienced?"
Kyohi looked to the side. "It happened to be while I was visiting a graveyard."
Weise twiddled his fingers. "It happened to me at the Eiffel tower."
I crossed my arms. "It happened to me on a train."
Zraiko nodded. "I was on my way back from shopping at a market."
Kozaki looked to the side. "I was alone, in the forest."
"So, all of our locations were certainly different." Zraiko crossed his arms. "What time of day was it?"
"Broad daylight." I replied, recalling what had happened.
"Daylight for me as well." Kyohi nodded.
Weise puffed his cheeks. "Nice and sunny for me."
Kozaki felt his right arm. "Me too, though it was raining a bit."
Zraiko adjusted his glasses. "For me it was more towards the early morning. The sun was rising at the time."
Hmm...though I don't think these similarities in particular are helpful.
"What about any people you noticed?" Zraiko inquired. "I was in a crowded market, so it's hard for me to say…"
"There were no other people with me when I was taken." I sighed, shaking my head.
"Mmh, as for myself, I wouldn't know." Weise shook his head. "Tons of people are in Paris. Anyone could've seen me."
Kozaki closed his eyes. "I was with my attorney just before that. But, as for the moment I was taken, nobody else was around."
Kyohi looked to the side. "I did see two other people nearby."
"What did they look like?" Zraiko asked, leaning in. "Did anything stand out?"
The hockey star sighed. "It's been over a year, don't forget. I can't be sure I remember. One of them was taller with...black hair, tied into a ponytail."
"That narrows it down to nobody." The hacker sighed.
"They did stand out to me, though." Kyohi knocked on his helmet. "Do you remember such a man?"
Weise hummed to himself for a moment as he tried to remember. "...There was a man, like that. He was walking with someone shorter than him. The two of them were wearing matching clothing, yes. Formal suits with white roses clipped onto them." He nodded. "I recall their clothing because the roses stood out to me. As a fashion designer and all, yes."
"White roses?" Kyohi knocked on his helmet. "...Hey, wait! The shorter person was carrying a bouquet of flowers when I saw him! Now that I think more about it, they could've been white roses too!"
But how can we tell if this is a connection, and not just a coincidence?
I mean...playing devil's advocate here. Two men, one shorter the other taller. The taller man had black hair tied in a ponytail. Both sightings involved these alleged men carrying white roses.
That's not hard evidence. That's circumstantial at best.
"And you, Zraiko?" The hockey star turned to the hacker.
Zraiko scratched his head for a moment. "...Hmm. There was a man I had bumped into on the way to the market. Same as you describe with the hair and the clothing, and the white rose clip. If I recall correctly...he mentioned needing to hurry on his way to meet a new client."
"A new client?" Kozaki asked, tilting his head. "Did the man mention what it was about?"
Zraiko sighed. "Sorry, I...can't remember it very well. I wish that I could."
"It's not your fault for not remembering." Tobi spoke up. "The program did that on purpose."
"The program?" I asked, looking over to the alleged lab assistant.
Tobi glanced to Monobotto to double check that he wasn't breaking the rules by speaking up. "Yeah, yeah. You've all gone through a bit of a memory blocking process. To hide away what you've seen, especially about Faceless."
"So the reason why we can't remember those two people in particular well is because their identities were redacted in our memories by Faceless?" Zraiko adjusted his glasses. "Hmm...but why be so cautious, especially if…" His voice trailed off.
"Huh?" Kyohi turned to the hacker. "Is something wrong?"
Zraiko looked over to me, then back to Tobi. It felt as though it were some kind of signal.
I then turned to face Tobi myself. Examining his face, his eyes. His body language. Tobi looked right back to me, unflinching.
I get it. Tobi is trying to clue me into the truth without breaking Monobotto's rules.
Then, what is that truth? It seems like Zraiko's already figured it out.
Let me think back on what Tobi said before.
You've gone through a memory blocking process to hide away what you've seen.
Why the need to hide what we've seen? Well, I can think of a reason for that.
We must have seen members of Faceless.
But not just any members. After all, given what we've been talking about, I can only assume from here that the members we saw were higher ups. No, not even that. Masterminds.
Well...I say we, but I can't remember seeing anyone at all. Maybe it's because I was so focused on catching the train, I wasn't paying attention.
…
But wait, if we did see the mastermind, the Erito Hajimoto...why erase him from us if he's a member of Faceless, hidden away in the background? Untouchable?
The only thing that makes sense is…
…
Erito...is in the game.
Erito...is standing here, right now.
Erito...is one of my friends.
"Haaah, blue boy, you've gone pale!" Tobi called out to me. "Didja figure something out?"
I gulped, looking around the podium ring. Looking at the faces of my friends.
A) Zraiko.
B) Weise.
C) Kozaki.
D) Kyohi.
One of them is…
N-No, that can't be.
Maybe Erito already died.
No, but...then the game wouldn't have continued. No, it would've had some kind of conclusion. Something would have happened to us.
…
D-Damn it!
"Mikanne, what's wrong?" Weise worriedly held his podium. "Y-You've gotten so quiet…"
I looked back to Zraiko. He slowly nodded to me in return. Turning to the others, I closed my eyes and sighed. "One of us is Erito Hajimoto."
"W-What the hell?!" Kozaki frowned, startled. "Y-You've got to be kidding, Mik! We're here to prove Erito isn't-!"
"Mikanne is right." Zraiko nodded to me. "Think about it, Kozaki. You're good at that. Come on, don't tell me the thought didn't float into your mind."
Kozaki gripped his podium. "...Damn it, then you're saying we don't remember seeing Erito because he's here, in the game?"
"Not just in the game." I held my left wrist and squeezed it. "K-Kozaki...Erito is here, right now. One of us is him."
The former arsonist shook his head, slowly. He didn't say anything in response.
"Nya, I've got just the question to ask." Tobi spoke up, as he continued to dangle from the ropes.
"What-question-?" Monobotto tilted its head to the side. Seems like it was ready to strike if Tobi even spoke a single word out of line.
Tobi turned towards me. "Hey, hey! Blue boy! Does Erito Hajimoto currently exist?"
That question seemed to alarm Monobotto. "You-!"
"I'm not breaking the rules!" Tobi swung his legs at the robot. "I just asked a question, I did!"
And yet, what kind of question is that supposed to be?
"...Back in Mikanne's shift room, several days ago." Kozaki looked up. "Tobi told Riko and I...that one of us was the mastermind. I refused to believe him, at first. Why would I believe him? But...if there's actual proof now, if it really is true…"
"W-What?" Weise shook his head. "No, but that cannot be true! We're all friends, making it through together!"
Kyohi looked down. "T-That's right. If one of us was Erito, why were we all fighting to live together?"
One of us is the mastermind…
Does Erito Hajimoto currently exist?
"...No." I spoke up. "Erito Hajimoto...doesn't currently exist."
"Huh?" The hacker looked over to me.
"The people who currently exist now are myself, Kyohi, Weise, Zraiko, and Kozaki." I crossed my arms. "...Tobi could be saying...one of us is harboring Erito."
"But...that can't be right!" Kyohi turned to me. "One of us, hiding away Erito this whole time? As another personality?"
"I don't think Erito is a personality, more so...he is an entity. His own being, and he created a persona to cover for him as a participant in this game." I frowned, looking down. "Whoever has Erito within them...wouldn't even be aware of it."
Silence swept over us.
"Do I...is it me?" Weise began to tear up. "Am I Erito? I'm still alive, but I was the grayed who got Neizami killed. Was that rule there to keep me alive?"
"We'll have to discuss each other, one by one. It's the only way." Zraiko frowned, sighing. "Alright, who has proof for or against Weise?"
"Weise has a lot of money…" Kyohi shook his head. "But he was a Zepto student, along with Kozaki. If they were being studied by Erito, I don't think either of them could be him."
"Hmm, fair point." Zraiko calmly took in a deep breath. "So it's down to myself, you, and Mikanne."
Another uncomfortable silence.
"What about Zraiko?" Kozaki asked, eying at the hacker.
"About me?" Zraiko looked over to Kozaki. "What is your argument?"
"This whole time, you've been contacting for help." Kozaki squinted his eyes. "Hell, I thought you said they were coming before Sayino died! So where are they?! This help that's coming - there is no help, is there? Nobody's coming for us. And you...you could've been lying this whole time about getting us help."
"So you're accusing me of being the mastermind." Zraiko sighed again, maintaining composure. "I'm sorry to say, you've got that wrong, Kozaki."
"How so?" Kozaki pressed his hands onto the podium and leaned forward. "Are you going to say Mikanne was with you every step of the way? Are you going to say you have evidence that confirms people are coming? You were cooped up in your Shift Room for so long, I think I have every right to find you suspicious. I mean - hell, where were you when Riko and I went to the lab?"
"I was at the auditorium." Zraiko glanced at Monobotto. "Because Riko told me that the tin can was there, fuming."
But that response didn't satisfy Kozaki. "If you were the mastermind, Monobotto would cover for you. You say that you were in the auditorium, but if nobody else saw you there, there's no proof."
Zraiko remained calm. "Then how can I prove to you my innocence, Kozaki? I sincerely hope that you're not just trying to pin this on me."
The former arsonist shook his head. "I don't want you to be the mastermind, Zraiko. I don't want any of us to be. We're all friends, damn it…I want to be wrong. So, please. Zraiko, please...refute me."
Something about what Kozaki said…
It didn't feel right. It didn't feel like Kozaki.
I couldn't put my finger on it, but something about it felt…
Artificial.
"I do have one thing." Zraiko crossed his arms. "Were you aware of an individual under the alias of Fifty-Three?"
Fifty-Three…? A person who goes by a number, and both Zraiko and Kozaki knew about them?
The hacker did mention to me they were able to successfully contact someone. Was this that person?
Kozaki looked to the side. "...Yes. Up until a while ago, they would sometimes send me messages to my Bottolet. Even give me advice. Why?"
"Did they tell you?" Zraiko leaned in. "About how they were coming?"
Kozaki slowly nodded. "They did."
Zraiko relaxed himself. "Did they tell you about me?"
Kozaki nodded again. "They did. They told me you were able to send them enough information to find us."
Zraiko adjusted his glasses. "I rest my case then."
"Wait, wait, I don't get it." Kyohi raised a hand. "Fifty...who? Who's this person that you're talking about?"
Zraiko took a moment to bring us up to speed. This anonymous person was a part of the rescue effort. According to Kozaki...they've become unreachable.
"That leads me to only one conclusion." Zraiko sighed. "Something went wrong. Maybe they were captured, or worse? We've lost contact with them. We can only hope they're alright."
Kozaki closed his eyes. "Alright. There seems to be proof in what you spent all your time doing. Though, I wouldn't say that's the only possible conclusion."
Weise tilted his head "Why so? What Zraiko says makes sense, no?"
Kozaki crossed his arms to think. "What if it was a trap? That the cultists were creating a false sense of hope in all of us?"
Zraiko looked up. "Hmm...I concur that this may have been possible. But we don't have solid evidence to credit or discredit either theory."
"Which in turn means there isn't solid evidence to credit or discredit you." Kozaki bit his lip. "Unless you have anything else to offer, that is."
The hacker adjusted his glasses. "Hmm...I will defend myself once you have new evidence to question me about."
The former arsonist sighed and nodded. "Fair point."
"What about Mikanne?" Weise asked, gulping. "It's not him, is it?"
I looked to the side, shaking my head. "Sorry, Weise. I'd like to say it's not me, but I have no way of knowing Erito is within me."
"It can't be Mikanne anyways." Kozaki shook his head. "Because he's here because of me. That's the only reason."
"...Wait, but that just leaves Kyohi!" Weise gasped. "K-Kyohi can't be the mastermind! He's nice, helpful, and also is very respectful."
"That could just be his persona." Zraiko crossed his arms.
"G-Gosh, you have a point." Kyohi nervously knocked on his helmet. "It doesn't help that my cousin could be involved with Faceless, too…"
"I think what we really need here is a debate." I spoke up. "And in that debate, we all need to defend ourselves. It's...the only way."
Reluctantly, we started our debate.
"My case still stands. I spent days upon end trying to reach help." Zraiko tugged on his tie. "I am not the mastermind."
"Are you completely sure you weren't lying?" Kyohi asked, feeling his left shoulder. "You're also super smart. You have the brains to pull it off, Zraiko. I think you are the mastermind."
"Kyohi, you just might be here because you have a relative in Faceless. I think it's fair for me to believe you are the mastermind." Zraiko replied.
"But it's only a theory, not fact!" Kyohi nodded. "And if that's the only thing that connects me, I am not the mastermind."
"Alright. Kozaki, you also have that connection to your uncle." Zraiko turned to the former arsonist. "And given how it's been established how high-ranking your uncle is in Faceless, could you be the mastermind?"
Kozaki looked away for a moment. "I don't know, Zraiko...I've been Erito's experiment this whole time…"
"Kozaki is not the mastermind!" Weise stepped up. "And neither am I! We are Zepto students!"
The hacker thought about it for a moment. "But you do have the money to pull this off, Weise. You could be the mastermind."
Weise puffed his cheeks and frowned. "Am not! What about Mikanne?! He was hiding his identity for so long! It could be him!"
"I'm sorry, I was forced to hide my identity from all of you." I looked down. "But, I'd like to believe I'm not the mastermind. I'd like to believe that none of us are."
One moment it looks like things are making sense and falling into place, the next moment they all just fall apart. None of the evidence is holding together, there isn't any place for them to lead us to.
We contradict ourselves over and over. Nothing can point to any one of us.
"Just one second!"
I looked over in Kozaki's direction. He was pointing in my direction before he pulled his hand back.
"I think...maybe I finally get it." He looked down. "I understand, now. It's finally all clicked for me. The mastermind, Erito...I think I know who he is."
"Oh?" Weise smiled, bouncing lightly. "That's great! Then we can end the trial!"
"Who do you think he is, Kozaki?" Kyohi asked, looking to hear what the former arsonist had to say.
He looked to the side. "This whole time, I've looked everywhere. I looked at you guys. I looked at the cultists. I looked all over. And yet...Erito Hajimoto couldn't ever be found."
"So...what's your point?" Zraiko asked, crossing his arms.
Kozaki didn't answer immediately.
"Kozaki?" The hockey player asked, worriedly. "What's the matter?"
Kozaki shook his head before smiling. He chuckled, as though not having any single worry for the severe meaning behind his next sentence. "I realize it now. The one person I never thought to look at. Myself."
Silence.
"At...yourself?" I frowned. "H-Hey, Zaki! Do you even realize what you just said?!"
He turned to me, still holding up his smile. "I-I do, Mik. I'm saying...exactly that."
"Exactly...what?" The fashion designer wasn't catching on.
"Think about it, Mik." Kozaki focused on me. "Who has all the connections here? Who has a family member directly involved in this, and in such a high ranking, too? Who has connections to all of you? All those sightings moments before you were kidnapped?" His smile wavered, he was trying his best to keep up a positive face. "I didn't see that man, and I didn't see any white roses either. I have no excuse not to see him. I was alone in the forest, I would have known if he was there. And the same goes for that second person, too. Of course I wouldn't see him spying on me...if he and I were the same person."
"T-That's…" I tried to think of something to say.
"Mik...the paper that Fraize gave you. Open it for me, please."
The paper?
...The torn out paper from the book Mei asked for. The one that held the greatest truth of our killing game.
I slowly dug into my pockets and pulled it out. Fraize's words echoed in my mind, you'll know when you'll need this.
…
I slowly unfolded the slip, skipping over paragraphs of text as my eyes were drawn to the final line printed in bold text.
The truth...was as clear as day.
Erito Zoukau-Shikidakou Hajimoto's other name is Kozaki Hotamoujou-Hiroti Daisuke.
These two names...were made up of exactly the same set of letters. Each name could be broken down and rearranged to form the other one.
…
N...No…!
"Mik…" He whispered, tearing up lightly while smiling even still. "Please...tell me what the paper says. I'm right...aren't I?"
I watched as teardrops splattered onto the paper as it shook. My own teardrops.
No, no...no...no, no…!
The other three were watching us in silence. Zraiko seemed to know exactly what was going on. He took off his glasses and even punched his podium.
Weise and Kyohi didn't seem to realize it. They watched, their faces both carrying anxiety.
"Mik, please…" Zaki forced his biggest, fakest smile I've ever seen. "Won't you...please tell me…?"
…
Select a suspect.
I couldn't look at him. I couldn't look at him, or the navy blue ring that now surrounded him.
I was trying so hard to find something that proved me wrong. But...everything snapped into place.
"W-What?" Weise looked over to me. "M-Mikanne, what are you…?"
I took in a deep, shaking, heavy breath. "Kozaki's name and Erito's name can be reconstructed to form each other. Erito's other name is Kozaki's name. That is what the paper has written. That was Mei's motive to kill him."
"Erito's other name…?!" Weise asked, I suppose it was just starting to hit him.
"It means…" Zraiko sighed. "Kozaki is the mastermind."
A short silence.
"How is that even possible?" Kyohi asked, averting his eyes. "I-I mean, come on guys! This is Kozaki. E-Erito is nothing like him. Erito caused this whole killing game, and founded a huge cult...and you're telling me the very same person who did all that is Kozaki?!"
A short silence.
"I won't believe it. I won't believe you!" Weise yelled out, it was clear he was deeply upset. "Kozaki promised me! He promised he would be there for me! That's not something an evil person would do!"
I had never seen Weise so worked up like this. I wasn't sure how to respond to him at all.
"I'll... I'll put an end to your ridiculous claim!" Weise pointed at me. "We shall cross swords, Mikanne!"
"Wrong minigame." Tobi muttered. "We do quick draws here."
"Well fine!" Weise shook his head. "Either way, I'll prove that Kozaki is innocent!"
The former arsonist was silent. That look in his eyes…
That empty, lifeless look...
"Fine." I nodded. "I'll do battle with you, Weise."
And so, we faced off in a truth bullet quick draw.
Who is Kozaki's uncle?
Kozaki's uncle is Haiji Daisuke. The winning blackened from season 38. A staff member of Team Danganronpa.
What was Haiji Daisuke's talent?
He was the Super-Highschool-Level Psychologist.
Why is Kozaki in this killing game?
Kozaki is in this killing game because of his ties to his uncle. Because his uncle wanted to study him.
Why was Kozaki a Zepto student?
This was because he had dropped out of highschool. The title of Super-Highschool-Level was a complete contradiction to him.
What was the goal of the Zepto students?
The goal was for the five of them to complete a final puzzle and survive. They would become something more. They would become Elite-Levels, like Tobi.
Wasn't Erito Hajimoto already an Elite-Level then?
He would have been. This could've been Erito's way of guaranteeing his survival. Even though he laid dormant inside of Kozaki, he still had an insurance plan to make sure he would survive.
What connects Kozaki Daisuke and Erito Hajimoto?
Not only did his uncle use that name during season 38, everyone in Faceless is said to be an Erito. And lastly... Kozaki's name and Erito's name can be broken down to construct the other. That can't be just a coincidence. It had to have been intentional!
What were they doing to Kozaki in the labs?
The only thing that makes sense...is that they were swapping Kozaki out with Erito! That's why Kozaki could never remember clearly what happened in the labs! Because he literally wasn't there to remember those events!
"I've got it!"
Weise silently looked to the floor as he ran out of life point. He looked like he still had a fight left in him, that he still refused to believe me.
"Weise, I…" I squeezed my left wrist. "I don't want to believe it either. But everything makes sense this way. Everything that's been happening to us, everything that's been happening to Kozaki. Erito has sealed himself away, inside of Kozaki. That's the truth."
Weise sniffled, trying to wipe his face to hide his tears. "W-Why? Why would...Why would Kozaki be Erito? Why would Kozaki want this killing game? It makes no sense...he's not a monster... he's…"
Silence swept over us.
"I wish I could answer you all." Kozaki looked down as he spoke up, still trying to maintain his smile. "You all deserve to know the truth, but I can't give it to you. I don't remember any of this. Isn't that so...pathetic?" He chuckled. "There were so many warning signs I never picked up on. My broken memories, my dreams, my delusions…" He then sighed. "And Fraize, who had the role to protect me. Because if I died, the game would be over. Isn't that right? He had to protect his master."
That sent shivers down my spine.
"And you…" Kozaki turned to Monobotto. "You even called me master before. Why didn't I pick up on it? Why didn't I realize it?! And you, Tobi! That's why you wanted to come here! Why you wanted to get close to me! It wasn't just to deliver me, it was so you could see your master again!"
Neither of them responded.
Kozaki began to laugh. "I get it now, damn it! It makes sense, it all does! Erito's experiment is me! I am my experiment! I turned myself into this protagonist that people would root for! I...I was the monster all along! Isn't that just so ironic?!"
"K-Kozaki, stop talking like this!" Weise tried to speak up. "This isn't like you!"
Kozaki shook his head. "Then what is? I'm just an experiment. I'm not even a real person! I'm a mask that Erito wears! A mask to deceive all of you!"
"Then prove it!" Weise challenged him. "Make Erito come out right now!"
Kozaki calmed down and sighed. "I can't, Weise. I can't control him, but he controls me."
A short silence.
"There's...a monster, inside me." Kozaki gripped his podium, shaking. "All this time, why didn't I realize it sooner? Why Erito was in my dreams...hell, the closest I had ever gotten to seeing him was when I saw my own reflection." He felt his face. "No, Erito isn't someone else...he is me. I am Erito...I am a monster…!"
"That's not true!" Weise insisted. "You are Kozaki! Our friend who fought so hard to keep us alive, to keep us going!"
"Don't you get it, Weise?!" Kozaki yelled out, he was on the verge of breaking down. "None of you would be here if it wasn't for me! I made this game, and I don't even remember why! Was it for fun?! Did I want to make innocent people suffer for my own entertainment?!"
Weise seemed to be shaken up pretty badly by that. "D-Don't say that, my friend. There's got to be some kind of-!"
"I am not your friend!" Kozaki snapped. "I'm a horrible person! Look what I did to you all! To everyone! All the victims, the killers, they're all dead because of me! You should hate me, Weise! You could've been by your mother's side while she was dying, but I took that away from you! I split up everyone's families! I've caused so much anguish and hatred! Hate me, Weise! Hate me, like I deserve!"
Weise bit his lip as he began to tear up.
There was yet another silence swept out through the room. You could cut the tension with a knife.
I closed my eyes to try and clear my head. There had to be something, just something out there. A way to change this.
…
Is Erito Hajimoto here now?
I opened my eyes, slowly.
That question...I had overlooked it earlier. But now...I think I'm starting to realize what it really meant.
"...Kozaki." I frowned, pointing to him. "I'm going to prove it."
Kozaki looked over to me, flabbergasted.
"I'm going to prove…" I raised my voice. "That you and Erito Hajimoto are not the same!"
Kozaki frowned. "Mikanne, what the hell are you talking about?! The evidence is there! You just fought over it!"
But I refused to back down. "I won't deny the evidence. However, deep down inside...I know that Erito isn't you. You are Kozaki. Kozaki Hotamoujou-Hiroti Daisuke! My friend! You are you, and I'm going to prove it!"
He didn't know how to respond.
"I hope you are prepared." I closed my eyes. "Because I'm going to fight with everything I have."
It's the only chance I have...to save you.
If I can just prove that deep down inside, you're not Erito. If I can just prove that deep down inside, you are a real person...I can save you!
As long as Kozaki and Erito are two different people, I can...I will save you!
~ Chapter Six, Class Trial Part One, End ~
