A.N: Hello again, everyone! This is the ninth and final chapter to this side story focused on Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Soldier! It takes place during Chapter Sixteen of The Academy of Hope. It's quite a lot longer than all the previous chapters, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway.
Chapter Nine: My Crush of Hope
Mukuro stared at the scene with incredulous eyes. The sight in front of her just didn't make any sense. It would have seemed unreal if she didn't see it with her own eyes. The soldier would have thought it wasn't happening if her boots weren't covered in that pink liquid of death. At that moment, Mukuro Ikusaba understood something.
Amidst all that despair, all that chaos, all that betrayal… she had won.
There were no clearer victories. There were no triumphs just like this one. There had never been nor would there ever be another sight just like this. There had never been so much despair and so much hope. Mukuro realized she had not moved in five minutes.
Why? Because there had never been a knife in Kyoko Kirigiri's stomach before. And in everything the world had known or would know, there had never been Makoto Naegi holding the bloody blade which had cut the girl's life short.
The disguised Ultimate Soldier felt her heart skip a beat as her eyes met Makoto's hazel. She heard the sound of the weapon hitting the floor, a sound that reverberated in Mukuro's ears like a lullaby of despair. Her eyes drifted elsewhere.
Blood. There was blood everywhere. It was pink, almost lavender. Mukuro couldn't even think of how ironic it was. Before she knew what she was doing, she spat. It felt good. She did it again. And again. Makoto stood motionless over the corpse. Mukuro looked at it with unimpressed eyes, grabbing the deceased detective by the collar.
Her violet eyes were still open, but they were devoid of everything. The life Mukuro had once seen in them was gone. No love, no passion, no warmth, no feelings. Not even coldness. Pure emptiness. It made the soldier question whether there had ever been anything in them in the first place.
She looked at Makoto again. He still didn't move. Mukuro tossed Kyoko's body where it lay before, eying it with high contempt. She didn't know what to think. It seemed so untrue, so impossible, yet so real. She'd seen her fair share of dead bodies in her life. She had sent to the other world more people than many could say they had. But right there and then, Mukuro was puzzled. What was she supposed to feel? Relief? Joy? Guilt? Disgust? Accomplishment? Hope? Despair? Was she even supposed to feel anything?
Another sound echoed through the room. It was a sob.
Mukuro turned around and noticed the Ultimate Lucky Student crying. Before long, he miserably fell to his knees in the pool of blood, staining his clothes, while the soldier observed the scene. It lasted for some time. It could have been a minute. Perhaps it had been an hour. For Mukuro, it felt like a lifetime.
She knew why he was crying. And cruelly, she knew just how right he was to do so. In another life, pink was the color she knew he loved, even when he himself didn't know it. However, in the one he was living in, pink would forever remain as the bloody color staining his hands. Mukuro knew he might have just stabbed his own heart.
There was a glance towards the camera. A split-second was all the time Mukuro allowed herself to watch it for, knowing that the world had seen what she had seen. Regret almost invaded her mind when she thought back to all the lives she had taken. What was human life worth? Mukuro knew it certainly wasn't worth her feelings.
She placed her hand on the boy's shoulder. He didn't react. She shook a bit, trying to earn a reaction, whatever it was. After a time that seemed like forever, Mukuro got a weak nod of response.
"We need to go."
The only sound in the room was that of Makoto's pitiful snoring. The boy lay on her bed, and Mukuro noticed in the air that his slumber was anything but peaceful. There was an unsettling atmosphere in the room, a form of tension that threatened to take over the lucky boy at any moment. The soldier stood still, looking over the boy she loved with extreme attention.
A question ran through her mind, and she realized it was an important one she'd have to find an answer to.
What now?
Revenge was a dish best served cold, and Mukuro knew it. She didn't feel regret, although there had been hesitation at every turn. This was not a path she wanted to take, but the past couldn't be changed. It had never been, and never would be.
Regretting her actions now would be pointless. She had before, and she now realized how futile it was. Her aim was towards the future now. A near future, in fact, the day after that bloody night. Mukuro could still see it: the blood, the look of betrayal in Kyoko's eyes, the words the detective would have liked to add but didn't have the strength to mutter.
The soldier could care less what her former enemy thought. What mattered to her was that what she thought didn't really matter. The facts were clear, and Mukuro hated that her selfishness had put blood on such innocent hands. It seemed the right thing to do, and in hindsight, it still was.
But still, as she looked over Makoto's sleeping form, the Ultimate Soldier in disguise couldn't help but think back to all these moments that she had the privilege of recalling. Memories only got you so far, and Mukuro knew the cruelty of taking them away. When she blinked, she could see Kyoko taunting her.
"Don't ever get into your head that he could like you."
She clenched her fist. Even now, that devil was there to haunt her. She probably would for the rest of eternity, and Mukuro already despised it. After all, she had caused the amnesiac detective's doom herself, whether she wanted it or not. Jealousy had driven her to an extreme she didn't even think of reaching. Just thinking back to seeing that knife in Kyoko's stomach made her shiver in an unhealthy mix of joy and disgust.
Things would be simple now, and it was almost unfair to all the others. For the first time in her life, Mukuro had an advantage, and she had made the best of it. Soon enough, Makoto would be hers, and she'd be able to walk on Kyoko's grave with an arrogant grin on her face. Physically, the Ultimate Detective was dead as a doornail, but Mukuro still had to obliterate her soul. Whatever remained of Kyoko Kirigiri in the world needed to disappear.
Mukuro would banish all thoughts of that disgustingly pretty, arrogantly intelligent, and despairingly exceptional girl from Makoto's mind, even if she needed to pay the price for it.
After all, she had accomplished too much already to stop there. The soldier had gone way beyond her own expectations, but she'd fulfill her ambitions until she was wholly satisfied.
"She never existed, Makoto. This is for the best."
Unity was no more among the remaining students. They each kept their distances, and suspicious looks were now the norm among the group. Every time someone moved, they were closely eyed by their classmates to ensure they didn't have any bad intentions.
It was tense, and Mukuro knew another murder was bound to happen, and probably sooner than later. They were only seven remaining, Junko notwithstanding, and for the soldier, this was the endgame. Whoever made a move now had the highest chance of getting out of the game unscathed - at least physically.
Because they were all mentally exhausted. Mukuro noticed just how much this constant defiance tired out her former classmates, especially the poor Makoto. As she had expected, he had tried to bring harmony to the group, but his pleas had fallen on deaf ears. The soldier had been the only one to listen to him, with the advantage of knowing where the Luckster's hope could lead them.
So far, four murders had happened. On the second day, a horrified Hiro tried to kill Taka, but the Ultimate Moral Compass ended up dealing an accidental killing blow to the Ultimate Clairvoyant. Monokuma didn't care for self-defense, and the former Class Representative was executed.
Not even a week after, a fight broke out between Aoi and Toko after the Ultimate Writing Prodigy had the misfortune of mocking the Ultimate Swimming Pro one time too many. The swimmer died from a scissors wound a few minutes afterward. The novelist and her murderous split personality received a sentence everyone considered fair.
Mondo snapped next when Monokuma revealed everyone's secrets. In a desperate attempt to save his own skin, the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader went after Hifumi, whose physical inaptitude didn't allow him to put up much of a fight. However, multiple pieces of evidence were found to incriminate the biker, leading him to a torturous death at the hands of Monokuma.
Finally, the last murder had happened the day prior. An enormous sum of money had been offered by the bear to whoever would fool their classmates and opponents. Celeste tried to jump onto the occasion, and Sayaka would have been the unfortunate victim of her schemes if her plans had not been foiled by an argument between Leon and Byakuya interrupting her. In the end, the Ultimate Baseball Star found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and paid the price. The Class Trial didn't last more than five minutes.
And for those who were still alive, to say they might not have been wouldn't be an understatement. Sakura had not been the same since Aoi's death. Sayaka felt guilty for what had happened to Leon. Chihiro felt targeted due to her weak physique. Byakuya's waltz with death had led him to distrust everyone even more than before.
As for Kyoko, she looked sane on the outside, but Mukuro knew it was a façade. No one could be as calm as she claimed to be in this situation. Makoto was the opposite: he looked terrified, struggling. The Ultimate Soldier knew how tough it must have been for him. He was being forced to distrust everyone when his nature made him open up to others naturally.
On her hand, Mukuro bid her time, waiting for the right moment to accomplish her goal. She knew Kyoko wouldn't murder anyone, especially since Junko couldn't come up with a good motive against her - the Ultimate Detective's memories being even more suppressed than her classmates'. So she'd need to do the deed herself and not get caught in the Class Trial. It seemed doable, considering the detective had pretty much solved the cases herself in the past - so with her out of the equation, it wasn't impossible to fool everyone. Byakuya was smart, but he was too self-centered, and Mukuro knew exploiting this would be easy as pie.
But this left a flaw in her plans, and it had a name: Makoto Naegi. The soldier's sole purpose in the game was simple: taking revenge on Kyoko Kirigiri and be the one to protect Makoto always. This way, she would show him how much he meant to her, and hopefully, this time, it would be mutual.
Of course, winning the Class Trial meant Makoto would get executed. The mere thought made Mukuro want to vomit, even if she knew Junko would love it. So she tried to find a way around this issue.
Someone walked up to her. Reflexes made her reach out for a knife. However, disguised as her sister, it wasn't there. Luckily, Mukuro soon realized she wouldn't need it.
"Hi, Junko." Makoto greeted her without much spirit. "Can we talk for a second?"
"O-Oh, Makoto! S-Sure!" she replied, trying to hide her surprise while remaining in-character. "Whacha wanted to talk about?" It's surprising he even went to talk to me… Everyone's so suspicious of everyone else these last few days…
The lucky student sat down at the table Mukuro was sitting at, trying to appear relaxed even if it was clear he was anxious. The soldier couldn't blame him.
"Y-You see…" he began, fidgeting with his hoodie in nervousness. "I think you're the only one who truly believes that we could all stick together if we really wanted to get past our suspicion of each other, though… I… I know just how tense everyone is right now. And…" the boy sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I think I'm next, Junko."
Mukuro's expression turned more serious, closer to her genuine way of showing emotions than what her impersonation required. This was the most evident tell that she wasn't who she claimed to be, but no one had ever caught her. If someone did, they might be able to trace her back to the real Junko being the Mastermind, and this wasn't something Mukuro would allow.
"And what makes you say that?" she asked, looking at her secret crush in the eyes and trying to judge the panic in them. "Aren't you just a little paranoid? Maybe shaken up by what happened yesterday?"
"N-No… I… I feel like someone is gonna go for me…" Makoto repeated, glancing around. "I-I'm not strong physically, so I'm an easy target… B-But I don't wanna die, Junko! I can't die before we get out of here!"
"I see…" He's panicking… Before, he used to have Kyoko by his side, but now that she forgot about their time together, she doesn't care for him… I need to be there now that he needs it! That's my chance! "And what can I do to help?"
She tried to sound as reassuring as she could, and the small smile on the Ultimate Lucky Student's face told her this was working. It wasn't a broad smile like those she used to see before he lost his memory, but she'd take what she could get.
At least, it seemed genuine.
"W-Well… S-Since you seem pretty strong…" he paused, hesitating for a second. "I-I was wondering if you would p-protect me, at least until things get better…"
The Ultimate Soldier's eyes widened for a short moment before Mukuro recomposed. Makoto had almost whispered his last words, but there was a sense of urgency in them that broke the girl's heart. He looked so weak, so frail… He was nothing like the energetic Makoto Naegi she had grown to love.
But that didn't mean she wouldn't protect him.
"Okay." she quickly agreed, nodding clearly. "I'll do it."
The hazel-eyed short boy didn't seem to believe it at first. "R-Really? Y-You'd do that for me, Junko?!"
He got a little too overexcited, so Mukuro had to shush him. "N-Not so loud!" she ordered, knowing this would sound suspicious. "G-Geez, don't do that! Yeah, I'll protect you, but stop panicking like this!"
Mukuro didn't like bossing Makoto around like this, but he was getting careless. If he really wanted to never wake up, this was the way to go. Luckily, no one seemed to really notice. Chihiro was still typing on the old computer they had found in the library, Kyoko was still standing near the entrance, Byakuya was still drinking his coffee, and the others were still not in the Dining Hall.
"T-Thank you, Junko! Y-You're a lifesaver!" he gratefully said, making Mukuro smile more than the situation called for. "P-Please don't betray me, though… You're the only one who seems to really believe we can make it out of this, so…"
"Don't worry." the fake fashionista assured him, knowing that Makoto was someone who relied heavily on trust. "I swear I won't betray you, Makoto. And as long as you don't do anything reckless like shouting like you almost did just now, I promise you'll be fine."
The boy's eyes shined with a glimmer of hope Mukuro had not seen in a while. And even if it seemed distant, the feeling of joy upon seeing it was still the same.
"Okay, thank you again, Junko!"
"You're welcome. Now, you come and knock on my door if you ever need it, alright?" Mukuro asked him, not forcefully, but with conviction. "And don't open your door unless you know for sure it's me or someone you can trust, okay?"
He nodded.
"Good. Well," the girl stood up, tucking a strand of her fake blonde hair behind her ear. "I'll go back to my room. You should follow me, Makoto." Even if this might look suspicious, Makoto's safety comes first…
Makoto nodded again and followed Mukuro out of the Dining Hall. Chihiro and Byakuya both observed them as they did, but neither seemed to worry more than before. Maybe they couldn't, Mukuro wondered.
However, when the soldier opened the door and was about to step out, her eyes met Kyoko's. It only lasted for a short moment, not even a second, but Mukuro had a weird feeling. The Ultimate Detective had smirked at her, looking way more confident than she should have.
Shaking off the strange sensation, the soldier stepped out with her crush in tow before closing the door behind her and heading for the dorms. Once they reached Makoto's door and the lucky student was safely inside, Mukuro went back to her own room, unable to think of anything else than that confident, almost arrogant look in Kyoko's eyes…
I'm not overthinking it… That bitch is up to something…
Mukuro swiped off the sweat off of her forehead as she wrapped up her final push-up. She continued training when she had some free time, knowing a fight could happen at any moment now. Besides, it was a moment she could use for relaxation, not wearing that disguise she wasn't entirely comfortable with.
In a fight, Byakuya, Chihiro, and Sayaka would be no big deal, and in her depressed state, Sakura seemed beatable, so the girl wasn't too worried about them.
In truth, there was one sole reason the soldier needed to keep on training. There was only one person who could be a threat to her, and it obviously was Kyoko. Her memories were gone, but she was still the Ultimate Detective at heart, and Mukuro knew she needed to be taken care of as soon as possible.
And with what had happened when she and Makoto left the Dining Hall earlier, it made it even more urgent.
W-Wait, Makoto… F-Fuck, I forgot to check up on him! Running towards her e-handbook to see the map, Mukuro panicked when she found Makoto's icon in his room… next to Kyoko's. What the fuck are they doing together?! I told him not to open to anyone besides me or… someone he'd… trust… FUCK!
Swiftly taking a knife from her closet and not bothering putting on her disguise, Mukuro dashed out of the room towards Makoto's, even leaving her door slightly ajar. Junko would be furious - and rightfully so - but she didn't have time to think about it. Had it been a month before, the only thing Mukuro would have trusted Kyoko for was ensuring Makoto's safety. Now, nothing could be more uncertain.
Fortunately for Mukuro, the boy's room was really close, so she was there in a second. No one was in sight in the hallways either, most likely already asleep, even if the nighttime announcement had not played yet. There was a lot of stress for everyone - Mukuro included - and it could really tire one out. The soldier was not surprised they needed rest. Besides, being locked in your room meant that you'd live another day.
Holding onto her knife extra tightly, the girl pushed open the door to the Luckster's room, knowing it would ruin her disguise but not really caring about it. Now that she had made it this far, someone would need to die tonight.
It would either be her. Or it would be Kyoko.
"She isn't who you think she is, Makoto!"
Mukuro wouldn't let it be Makoto.
"Leave Makoto alone, you bitch!" Mukuro shouted, plunging at the detective with her knife.
Startled, Kyoko took a step back, barely avoiding the attack. The soldier went after her again.
"What the hell's happening?!" Makoto exclaimed, unable to move with how crazy things had gotten. Mukuro got a sense that something similar had already happened in another life but didn't question it. "W-Who are you?!"
These words made Mukuro stop on her tracks, giving the Ultimate Detective a moment to get into a better stance. And that's when it hit her.
Fuck! Makoto doesn't have a clue who I am like this! The girl looked at the Ultimate Lucky Student, who shivered in fear, while Kyoko seemed unimpressed, though shaken up.
"I see… I think I can actually answer that." Kyoko interrupted, glaring with hatred at Mukuro. "Or perhaps you'd like to introduce yourself to us… Ultimate Soldier…?"
Mukuro's body tensed. These were not words she ever expected to hear again. She clenched her fists, clueless as to how anyone had been able to figure out her identity.
"W-What…? U-Ultimate… Soldier…?" the boy weakly uttered, taking a step back for his own safety. "B-But…"
"Mukuro Ikusaba. The sixteenth student, lying hidden somewhere in this school," the lavender-haired girl continued, keeping a watchful eye on her new opponent who stood there, baffled. "I was about to suggest you watch out for her, but I didn't get the chance."
"M-Mukuro… I-Ikusaba…? A s-sixteenth student…?"
"H-How… How do you know who I am, you fucking bitch?!" the soldier shouted angrily, jumping at the detective. "Why don't you fucking die, goddamnit?!" Just die and give me some peace, for God's sake!
Kyoko's focus returned as she dodged Mukuro's attack by not more than an inch. A kick from her caught Mukuro by surprise and forced her to drop her knife.
"F-Fuck…" she cursed, now weaponless. I guess I'm taking her in hand-on-hand combat now…
"The second-floor bathroom," Kyoko replied as they traded punches. "To be more precise… A file with your name in it. You're not Junko Enoshima, are you?"
"What?! J-Junko…?" Makoto exclaimed in surprise as the two girls continued to fight. "T-That person's… JUNKO?!"
The black-haired girl leaped back, avoiding the very end of Kyoko's high heeled kick. Taking deep breaths, she was about to plunge at her arch-enemy once more when something caught her eye.
"S-STOP!" the Ultimate Lucky Student ordered, placing himself in-between the two fighters… with the knife in hand! "D-Don't move! I-If…" his voice wavered as he handled the weapon with shaky hands. "I-If one of you makes a move, I'll stab myself!"
He held the tip of the knife against his throat. At this moment, Mukuro realized the Makoto she used to know had been buried so deep, he wasn't the same boy. There used to be so much hope in his eyes, now there was doubt, and deep down, the soldier saw that he didn't mind death.
It was the easy way out. It seemed to be the only one he had found to fight the despair, trying to break whatever remained of his hope. Avoiding it seemed like a good enough plan, but Mukuro wouldn't let him go down that path. Not after everything he'd done for her, even if he couldn't remember it.
"D-Don't do that, Makoto!" she urged, her voice coming out as filled with panic as ever. "I-I won't move, o-okay… B-But… don't do that…"
"Do not do anything reckless with that knife, Makoto," Kyoko advised, trying to take a step forward, her hands in the air as a sign she didn't want to hurt him. "Give it to me, and everything will be fine."
"N-No! Someone will die if I give it to you!" the boy refused, his hands getting a firmer grip on the weapon. "N-Now, take a step back, Kyoko!"
Hesitant to comply, the detective remained frozen in place for a moment. It seemed to fill the Luckster with anxiety.
"Do what he fucking told you, Kirigiri!" Mukuro ordered, pointing her finger. "I swear… if you take Makoto away from me again… I'll destroy you, Kirigiri!"
Kyoko's eyes narrowed on the soldier as she did as Makoto had asked and retreated. "Again? What do you mean, again?"
F-Fucking slip-up! Feeling her own nervousness as she tried to speak, Mukuro's anger didn't recede. "It doesn't matter! The only thing I want now is for you to get the hell outta here! I'm the only one who can protect Makoto!"
"You're the last person who can say this!" the detective retorted, herself pointing her finger accusingly at the soldier and hidden student. "What was your plan, being hidden like this? You are working with Monokuma, aren't you? You only came here to hurt Makoto, didn't you?"
"N-No! Never! I… I would never hurt Makoto!" Mukuro argued, barely restraining the urge to go or Kyoko's throat and strangle her. It would probably feel really satisfying, but with Makoto threatening to kill himself, she couldn't do it. "I've been the only one to protect him! The only one who believed in what he said! Meanwhile, you've been ignoring him, you fucking piece of trash!"
"S-So you're really… Y-You're Junko…?" Makoto asked weakly, looking at the soldier with disbelief written all over his face. "B-But why…? W-Why did you hide your- a-aaah!"
"MAKOTO!" she shouted as Kyoko rushed towards the boy and began struggling for the knife. Mukuro was unable to move.
"K-Kyoko! S-Stop!" he exclaimed, trying to keep the weapon. Quickly, he managed, with a bit of luck, to get away from her. "Y-You wanted to kill me, d-didn't you Kyoko! YOU WANTED ME DEAD! TRAITOR!"
As he said that, Mukuro felt a pleasant feeling in her chest. These were words she had wanted her secret crush to tell the Ultimate Detective for months now, and they came as a liberation.
"N-No! I just wanted to make sure you didn't harm yourself!" the purple-eyed girl defended herself, stuttering for the first time since the beginning of the game. "I d-don't want to hurt you Makoto, I s-swear!"
"NO! YOU LIE!" he exclaimed, holding the blade threateningly in the air in Kyoko's direction. "Junko's been the only one to care about what I do in this horrible game! You just want to kill me, Kyoko!"
Suddenly, a lightbulb appeared over Mukuro's head. That's it! "Yes, Makoto! She wants you dead, and the reason I didn't reveal who I really am was so that she wouldn't hurt you! She wants to kill you and use her deductive skills to escape this place! You can't let her!"
"WHAT?! W-What the hell?!" Kyoko swore, her eyes showing the tiniest bit of fear. "Y-You're not going to trust her, Makoto?! She's a shady girl who h-hid her talent! Surely you wouldn't fall for that!"
"SHUT UP! Y-YOU… Y-YOU WANTED TO KILL ME!"
At this moment, Mukuro saw something familiar in Makoto's eyes. It had been in the eyes of the students of Class 77-B when their beloved Class Representative had been executed… It had been in the eyes of the Student Council when they were forced into their own killing game…
It was in Junko's eyes whenever she got that weird form of pleasure Mukuro never really understood. A force that could drive you to an extreme you would never reach on your own. The opposite of hope, which guided you when there weren't any escape routes.
Despair.
Mukuro stood there as the last bit of Makoto's self-control disappeared as he lunged at his former love and caught her by surprise. Kyoko didn't get a chance to react, and upon the knife's entry into her body, her energy quickly left her.
The Ultimate Soldier was unable to determine whether or not this was really happening. And she made no move to stop what was happening.
After all, why would she? What sweeter revenge than to see her most hated enemy die at the hands of her former and forgotten love? This was probably messed-up, but they were in a Killing Game, right? What wasn't messed-up in a Killing Game?
"M-Makoto… D-Don't forget… who you really are…"
*THUMP*
With an unceremonial sound, the Ultimate Detective dropped dead to the floor of the lucky student's room, leaving only mysterious words to the one Mukuro knew the detective had loved as much as she did.
T-This… This is better this way, Mukuro…
Makoto struggled to get up. Mukuro sat next to him, hoping he would soon get out of his mute state. Ever since he had woken up, he had not said a word, even when the soldier tried to reach out to him.
He had slept in her room for obvious reasons, but he seemed as tired as he was the night before. Mukuro couldn't blame him and didn't.
"Makoto…? Please talk to me," she asked for the umpteenth time. "I know this must be tough, but you need to talk to me."
"You're not Junko, are you?"
"H-Huh?" D-Did he… "W-What did you say, Makoto?"
"You aren't really Junko… right?" the boy muttered, barely audibly. "Kyoko said that yesterday. Something about you being an Ultimate Soldier. I-I think she said that… b-before I murdered her…"
A tear rolled down his cheek in guilt as they were both forced to think back to that bloody incident. Mukuro could see just how down he was at the thought of it, and she understood why. The Ultimate Lucky Student was a pacifist at heart, and despair had driven him to do something he would never have done had he been sane.
That's not your fault, Makoto… The girl thought, taking pity on her crush. "This is a long story, Makoto…" And one I can't tell you… "It's true that I'm not Junko, but I'm the girl you've known as her since the beginning of the game. And every moment we spent together was genuine, Makoto, believe me. B-But… I had my reasons for being disguised. Whatever happens now, I'll continue to protect you, even if it costs me my life."
There seemed to be the faintest trace of hope in Makoto's eyes as she promised him that. She placed her hand on his as she spoke her next words.
"But you need to get rid of that guilt, and we must plan your future, Makoto. In a few hours, you will be the blackened in Kyoko's trial, and under no circumstances will I allow you to be executed. None."
Her last word was spoken with such conviction, it seemed to shake the boy at his very core. He looked at the soldier with a fond expression that made Mukuro's heart melt with love.
"T-Thank you… It means the world to me, Jun-, Mukuro." he corrected himself, and the girl wanted nothing less than hug him as tight as she could right now. "B-But you'll be executed if I win the Class Trial, right? And all the others, too… I don't wanna be responsible for the death of my friends… I… I've seen enough deaths to last an entire life, honestly…"
"I know this, Makoto, believe me," she smiled at him, showing the boy a side of hers he had never seen before. Or at least, one he couldn't remember ever seeing. "But you matter more than I do. Your hope means more than anything, Makoto. Whatever is outside this place… it'll need your hope, even if you think it is wavering. I believe in you, Makoto, so you have to make it through this Class Trial, even if it is painful. You'll only be stronger as a result."
"M-Mukuro…" speechless, the Ultimate Lucky Student stared into Mukuro's eyes with admiration. Under the layer of foundation on her cheeks still, the soldier blushed. "Thank you. I'll do my best, and whatever happens, I'll always be glad to have met you, Mukuro. Even if you weren't Junko, I know you're still the person who believed in me when no one did. You're a good person, Mukuro, and I trust you."
The short-haired girl blushed much more visibly, making the boy giggle sweetly. Ah, how she had missed the sweet sound of Makoto's giggles… It always motivated the soldier, and now was no exception.
"I've already cleaned your room and moved Kyoko's body back in hers using her keys. They won't suspect anything if they decide to investigate your room." Mukuro explained, regaining her seriousness in an instant. They had an important battle to fight, after all. "Besides, the others won't be in any mood to investigate, so we can use that as our advantage to win you the Class Trial. And with Kyoko out of the picture… it'll be child's play for you to come out on top and fool the others. And as for a perfect scapegoat…"
The two friends continued preparing for the upcoming investigation and trial for still some time, and the Ultimate Soldier was relieved to see that her secret crush was slowly but surely rebuilding himself. It would take time for him to heal completely, and he would probably never be the innocent Makoto she'd once known, but Mukuro would take what the situation gave her.
And if Junko was the Ultimate Despair that had built the girl's life, then Makoto's Ultimate Hope would be the ray of sunlight that would illuminate not only her… but the whole world.
And I'll be there every step of the way, Makoto… Unlike she was.
"I didn't do it, you bunch of idiotic commoners! A Togami has better things to do than staining his hands with a commoner's blood!" Byakuya exclaimed, enraged. "How would I even access her room?!"
"You could have killed her in your room, then used her key to bring her to her own room." Sakura offered, though her voice showed some uncertainty. "I am not saying this is what happened, but it is a possibility."
"Yeah, that seems something this prick would do!" Sayaka argued, pointing her finger at the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, who grunted in response. "He hated Kyoko because she was more intelligent than he is!"
"Agreed." Mukuro, once again disguised as Junko, concurred with a nod. "You're the most likely suspect, Byakuya. Now, either you defend yourself, or I say we call it a day!" This is "do or die" now… Well, for me, it's "do AND die," but that's not what matters…
She cast a glance towards Makoto, who had gone mute over the last several minutes of argument. The soldier wished he would talk as to not seem suspicious, even if their plan was going smoothly.
Accusing the Togami heir had proven to be an excellent idea, as he was the perfect scapegoat for Kyoko's murder. He wanted to get out to return to his luxurious life (unaware that his family was already long gone), and as the Ultimate Pop Sensation had pointed it out, his ego could have led him to kill the detective.
Of course, it wasn't what had happened, but any explanation that was credible enough to pass as the truth would need to do. The luxury of choice wasn't something Mukuro had, after all.
"Grr… In what language do I need to tell you simpletons that I didn't do it?!" the blonde boy inquired, slamming his hands on his podium. "You wouldn't have caught me if I had really killed someone, you fools!"
"No, that's wrong!"
The whole class turned towards Makoto as he exclaimed his catchphrase, looking confident.
Makoto… That self-confidence… The soldier thought, smiling fondly. It means that you're about to create your own destiny… The one you deserve…
"You could have killed Kyoko, Byakuya!" the lucky student exclaimed before explaining, "As Sayaka said, you had ample motive to do so, and you're the only one whose presence back at the dorms before nighttime wasn't confirmed! Of course, you could have been in the library as you claim, but you're the only one who could also have moved in-between the two rooms to murder Kyoko and move her body! Since there were no accomplices because of the blackened rule Monokuma set, it could only have been you!"
The Ultimate Affluent Progeny's anger intensified, but before he could object, Makoto carried on.
"Besides, Kyoko insisted she was able to defend herself just fine, so the only other person who could have hoped to take her in a fight was Sakura!" he paused, glancing at the Ultimate Martial Artist. "However, if Kyoko's body was dragged from the murderer's room to her own, this would have left too much blood to clean up! Hence, you must be the culprit!"
"N-No, you moron! Fine, let's say it couldn't have been weaklings like you, Sayaka, or Chihiro… But what about that fashionista over there?!"
"No, this couldn't have been Junko's doing, either." Makoto calmly objected. "Junko always wears her fashionista outfit, which wouldn't have allowed her to fight Kyoko. And as a fashionista, it seems really unlikely she would have had the confidence to fight against Kyoko! If she really wanted to kill someone, she would have gone after Chihiro, who, no offense, was an easier prey!"
"Yeah, Makoto's right." Mukuro agreed, impressed with Makoto's ability to lie. Good going, Makoto!
"That settles it, then!" Sayaka added, pointing at Byakuya. "You did it for sure! Hey Monokuma, we're ready to vote!"
"Oh, really?" the bear asked, his interest visibly piqued. "Well, if you're all ready, then I say we can let the vote begin! Make your selection with the lever in front of you. Who will be chosen as the blackened? Will you make the right choice, or the dreadfully wrong one? What's it gonna be, what's it gonna be?!"
"W-Wait a minute! I said it wasn't me, you effing commoners! Do you really want to die this way?!" Byakuya asked as the others all nodded to each other and began to vote. "You might not be worth a Togami, but maybe you're smart enough to realize we don't get a second chance!"
"No, but I'm sure it was you!" the blue-haired idol rebutted. "And it's high time you finally get punished for your crimes! Serves you right!"
Mukuro saw Chihiro, Sakura, Sayaka, and Makoto cast their respective votes. The profile of her five classmates appeared on the screen. She took a deep breath.
This is it… The moment I die… A small smile appeared on the girl's lips as her finger pressed on Byakuya's profile. It will not be my first, but this will be the happiest mistake of my life… Makoto, I give my life to you. Maybe I won't get a chance to see the outside world with you again as I had dreamed, but…
… seeing you happy again, bringing hope to the world… this will satisfy me just as much. You don't need it, but good luck, Makoto…
As the votes were all accounted for, a slot machine appeared in the courtroom. Mukuro knew whose face it would stop on, and she didn't precisely await her classmates' reaction. Most likely, they wouldn't be able to believe it. But it was the truth, and the soldier had decided to give her life to hide it.
When it stopped, the Monocoins didn't rain out of the machine as they usually did. Chihiro, Sayaka, and Sakura waited for a second, probably thinking there was a bug of some kind. After ten seconds, nothing had yet happened. Mukuro saw something in their expression change as they realized whose face had appeared on the machine and what it meant.
"N-No… No way…" the pop idol muttered, her eyes widening in shock. "I-It can't be…"
"Oh, that's beary wrong! Beary, beary wrong!" the bear boasted, his words making everyone realize that the truth was just as it appeared on the machine slot. "The blackened and Kyoko Kirigiri's killer wasn't Byakuya Togami, but Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Lucky Student! And should I add that he was greatly assisted by everyone's favorite Ultimate Fashionista, too!"
"M-Makoto… Makoto did it…?" Chihiro weakly wondered, sobbing. "N-No…"
"M-Makoto… Tell me this isn't true, please!" Sayaka begged, running towards the boy who remained silent, his eyes closed. Mukuro knew he was crying. "PLEASE!"
"Hey, no running towards the blackened!" Monokuma warned, and an invisible wall popped up from under the floor, blocking Sayaka on her path. "But yeah. Makoto fooled all of you! And now… maybe our victorious blackened would like to say a few words before we get onto the interesting part, huh?"
The soldier walked to her friend - something Monokuma allowed - as he sobbed. Mukuro knew the consequences of his actions were finally dawning on him, but she knew it was too late to change things.
"It's okay, Makoto. You did what was right," she assured him, placing her hand on his cheek and rubbing the tears under his eyes with her thumb. "I know you're sad, but you'll get to live, Makoto! You're the one who deserves it most. Now, make it count, okay?"
Her words were spoken with incredible sweetness coming from her. The boy opened his eyes and wrapped his arms around the soldier's body, not wanting to let go.
"T-Thank you, M-Mukuro…" she could feel the sound of his heartbeat, the music she found the most soothing of all. It made the call of death a little less intimidating. "A-And… I-I promise I'll never forget you…!"
Mukuro smiled and stroked the boy's back in comfort. It would probably be wise of you to forget me, given everything I've done to you… But if you want to remember me… then please remember me as who I am now, and not who I used to be…
"Well, it looks like the blackened doesn't have any words for us right now!" the half-white, half-black bear said, getting everyone's attention. "It seems the guilt of Makoto's actions has rendered him mute! Well, it doesn't matter! Because you know what time it is, right?"
The soldier pulled back as the other students shouted for mercy, one Mukuro knew they wouldn't get.
Not with Junko Enoshima as the Mastermind. Never with her. The world of despair was merciless.
This is it. I wonder what Junko has planned for my execution… Well, it doesn't matter.
Mukuro smiled one last time at Makoto as Monokuma took out a hammer. The Luckster's sobs seemed to return, but for a different reason.
"M-Mukuro!"
Goodbye, Makoto… My life wouldn't have been the same without you…
"It's PUNISHMENT TIME!"
The bear pressed a big red button with his hammer, triggering an animation on the screen that showed the innocent students being dragged away by Monokuma. Makoto had officially earned his freedom, and the Ultimate Soldier had never been happier.
She felt a chain around her neck. It was cold, but just thinking of Makoto made that coldness disappear. In the background, the others were being pulled away towards their doom. It would be painful for them, but Mukuro knew it wouldn't be for her. This was the end she had wanted, and she'd finally been lucky enough to be granted her wishes.
Soon, she'd join her arch-enemy in the Afterlife, even if the soldier knew she was most likely headed for hell rather than the heavens. But she'd take it. She would endure it for him, even for eternity.
Mukuro began dreaming of what Makoto's life would be now, restoring hope to her sister's world of despair. She wouldn't be here to witness it, but she knew the outcome would be phenomenal.
Makoto Naegi's hope and Junko Enoshima's despair… The clash couldn't have made for a better spectacle. The Ultimate Soldier thought things were better this way.
The others had since long disappeared, and Makoto was still standing there, looking at her helplessly. Monokuma stood on his throne, grinning in despair. Mukuro wondered why she had not been dragged away yet.
Maybe Junko has something special in store for me… The girl thought as thirty seconds had passed. She could hear her former classmates' cries of agony. The despair she'll feel… she must be awaiting it…
A minute passed. Then five. Before long, it had been ten minutes, and Mukuro was still chained, unable to move, but still alive. The soldier began to wonder if everything was functioning normally.
Suddenly, she felt something getting off of her. Mukuro felt freer, and she quickly realized she could move around again. Turning around, she gaped as she realized something: the chain was gone.
"W-What…?" she muttered aloud, wondering where the trick to her execution was. "W-Why…?"
"Oh, shoo, looks like your execution failed, Muku! Well, that means you get a pass! Congratulations!"
"W-What…?" Mukuro repeated, not daring to trust her ears. "W-What was that…?"
"Geez, you deaf or what?!" Monokuma repeated, red in anger. "Your execution failed, and now you get to leave the Academy with the blackened! Now, hurry it up before I change my mind and find you another execution!"
"N-No… NO FUCKING WAY?!" Mukuro shouted at the top of her lungs, subconsciously jumping in joy. "I GET TO LIVE?!" WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?! THAT'S GOT TO BE A JOKE!
Checking her surroundings to make sure she wasn't just hallucinating, Mukuro felt a strange feeling of relief when she realized she wasn't. Hesitantly, she took a step forward. Then another, faster.
A third, then a fourth, still speeding up. Soon enough, the soldier was running, and in a matter of seconds, she was back in the Ultimate Lucky Student's arms, this time being the one to cry all the tears in her eyes.
"M-MAKOTO!" the boy looked as surprised as she was as they shared a close and somewhat awkward embrace, and Mukuro wanted it to last forever. "Y-You're really here, r-right?"
"Y-Yeah… I-I'm here…" Makoto replied, a tad unsure of what to say. "W-What just happened…?"
It was clear he was still grandly disturbed by what had happened to his former friends, but Mukuro could see how repressed his fears were. He was trying to look as hopeful as the Ultimate Soldier had once known him to be, and it made her cry harder.
Suddenly, something hit her.
N-No… T-That's… That's not possible… I refuse to believe it! D-Did… Did Junko… let me live on purpose…? Could t-this… be real…?
Not sure of what she was supposed to be feeling, Mukuro chose to let it all out, showing all her joy, happiness, relief, and cheeriness to the boy she loved more than anyone.
"Y-Your luck… rubbed off on me… Makoto…"
The two friends stood in front of the door to the world. Their ticket to freedom was resting in the boy's hands, and as they shared a knowing smile, Makoto spoke up.
"Ready to see the world, Mukuro?" he asked, and his radiant expression made the soldier's heart melt.
She'd done it! Everything she could have hoped for had happened, and now, Mukuro was looking forward to seeing what the future had in store for her. She knew what was beyond those doors, the truth of what the world really was: filled with despair and blinded by its own mistakes. It probably wouldn't be a pleasant world to live in every day, but Mukuro knew they could face it.
He had hope, and in the case he needed it, she was there to defend him. And whatever it now looked like, there would always be, deep down, the balance between hope and despair. It was the same that had ruled Mukuro's heart in her hopelessly hopeful days as Makoto Naegi's friend.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she replied. Makoto pressed the button, causing the security systems to turn off and the door to open.
She looked forward as a powerful light blinded them, illuminating the former Academy of Hope for the first time in an eternity. When the world could be seen and the darkened skies receded in favor of a bright ray of sunlight, Mukuro realized this was it.
Makoto smiled in awe at the forming rainbow up above before he turned to the soldier.
Beyond hope and despair… A perfect balance that can't be disturbed… This is my world, the one I built… with its share of regret and mistakes… but I'm okay with it.
"Hey, Mukuro? Can I tell you something?"
"Yeah, sure."
"I…" he blushed a cute color of pink, making Mukuro's heart skip a beat in realization. "Y-You know… We're about to discover a brand new world, and uh… I was wondering if, um… Maybe…"
N-No way…
"Well, if you wanted us to explore it together…?" the Luckster finished, blushing even redder as he did so.
"M-Makoto… A-Are you…" hands shaking, voice wavering, eyesight fading, Mukuro stopped, looking baffled into her crush's eyes. "A-Are you asking me…?"
"Y-Yeah… Would you like to be my girlfriend, Mukuro?"
Mukuro closed her eyes, letting the single tear of joy roll on her cheek. The smile she showed the boy was as genuine as it had ever been.
"I-I'd love that, Makoto…" her next words came out without hesitation, the most natural words she could come up with. "I love you, Makoto."
"I love you too, Mukuro."
Freely, Mukuro placed a hand on the boy's back, pulling him closer until they stood mere centimeters apart. Feeling emboldened, the soldier closed her eyes and leaned even closer, pressing her lips on Makoto's with great care. They were sweet and were the real treasure she'd found at the end of the road. All these sacrifices, all these hardships… they led there. And they made it all worth it.
Makoto kissed her back, and after a time, Mukuro felt his tongue press against her lips. She slowly parted them, allowing him inside as her second hand caressed the boy's light-brown hair. In all that mix of powerful emotions, the soldier felt the boy tugging at the bundle of fake blonde hair resting on her head until he delicately grabbed it and tossed it aside. The gesture was simple, but it amplified Mukuro's passion tenfold.
The one Makoto Naegi loved wasn't anyone other than her. He didn't love the Ultimate Detective Kyoko Kirigiri, forgotten hope of a life that had been left behind. He didn't love the Ultimate Fashionista "Junko Enoshima," who had been his voice of reason during his times of unbearable pain.
No, the one Makoto Naegi, the one true Ultimate Hope, loved, was Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Soldier. She came with her flaws, maybe too many to count them, but she had learned how to change. The girl liked to believe he remembered her and how different his influence had made her. Another chance was all she had been asking for, and it had been granted to her. She had made the best of it.
That's right… in the battle between hope and despair, I choose to be the soldier of *both* hope and despair, guided by what my heart tells me to do… My life might be a contradiction, but I'll live it anyway, for all it's worth.
That is the path I chose, and it is the path of my feelings… the one of my love.
When the light disappeared, Mukuro shot up in shock and surprise. Panting, she looked around, realizing she was somewhere familiar and not with Makoto in this, bright lovely world. Next to her, Junko was lying down, and all around her, the soldier noticed that this was her room.
Her weapons, her twin's many changes of clothes, the Monokuma prototypes Junko had worked on… It was all here - and Mukuro felt like they had always been there. The blonde was snoring, and Mukuro realized it was dark. Most likely, it was nighttime, and the Ultimate Soldier failed to realize what this meant at first.
The truth suddenly hurt her hard.
"T-This is… N-No, please no…" a tear rolled down her cheek as the familiarity of the scene began haunting her, surrounding her until she felt suffocated. "I-It can't be… I-I was… I-I was happy!"
Careful not to disturb her dear sister's slumber, the soldier stood up and discreetly slipped out of the room, trying to escape that damned truth. In the hallway, there was no sound and barely enough light to see anything. Mukuro's walking was shaky, but she got where she wanted to go.
She stood in front of a door and thought of knocking for a second. Ultimately, she fought against the urge to, knowing this was pointless. Her eyes drifted off to the doorplate, and Mukuro could only difficultly decipher the name written on it in bold, black letters.
"Makoto."
The soldier turned away from the door, deciding standing there wouldn't change a thing. This wasn't meant to be her destiny, and she knew better than to fight against fate.
There were no second chances when your name was Mukuro Ikusaba. Sadness and regrets were her only driving forces, unable to feel the smallest form of relief ever. And soon enough, she would have her part to play in a most nefarious play in which she'd realize that nothing was ever worth it. Mortals weren't meant to carve a path different than the one they'd been set on.
Life wasn't worth it. Despair wasn't worth it. Even hope wasn't worth it in the end.
She walked back to her room, her back turned to a small ray of light. This was the truth of Mukuro's life: never on the right side of light. Always hidden in the shadows, and now, this would lead her to a perilous future. Mukuro was not looking forward to it, getting a sense of dread every time she thought about it.
I suppose this is what I deserve. The balance between hope and despair was disturbed, and I am the embodiment of why. My name is Mukuro Ikusaba, the fallen Ultimate Soldier who will go down in history as the traitor among Class 78th of Hope's Peak Academy, the incarnation of everything wrong with this world that's been torn between hope and despair for far too long. My place is not among the fighters of hope. Neither it is among the fighters of despair.
I had the power to seek a better life, and I let it slip away. That is my life, and one I'll never get a chance to do all over again.
As she reentered her room, Mukuro left a tear behind, the symbol of her crushed thoughts of hope and despair.
After all, nothing was ever worth a dream, for the nightmare had already begun.
The End.
A.N: I hope you liked it. This final chapter wasn't easy to write, both in terms of actually finding the right words, and also because as a Naegiri shipper, there were difficult moments in this chapter. Anyway, this side story was super interesting for me to write, and I really hope you liked reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Writing a story about Mukuro in my timeline seemed evident, and now that it's finally done, I feel it was even more necessary than I thought at first. And having this final chapter take place in one of Mukuro's hopeful dreams seemed like an exciting idea. Dreams are definitely practical when you wanna write something that doesn't fit with canon while remaining canon compliant.
There'll be more from this timeline really soon! And who knows? Perhaps Mukuro will reappear sooner than you think! Anyway, I hope you liked this final chapter and this side story as a whole. Please leave a review, and until next time, please have a nice day!
Love, Moiloru.