Chapter 5: Dawning of the Dead Part 3 (Daily Life)

Remaining Citizens: 9

Ai Mizuno (Zombie Land Saga): Ultimate (Zombie) Idol

Aoba Kuronuma (Durarara!): Ultimate Manipulator

Ryuji Sakamoto (Persona 5): Ultimate Track Star

Emma (The Promised Neverland): Ultimate Moral Compass

Bernadetta von Varley (Fire Emblem: Three Houses): Ultimate Recluse

Gold (Pokémon Adventures/Pokémon Special): Ultimate Hatcher

Espio The Chameleon (Sonic The Hedgehog): Ultimate Ninja

Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse): Ultimate Successor

Yu Ishigami (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War): Ultimate Pessimist

Ai's POV

The "S.S. Koizumi" was a shoddily made yacht with a red roof, a pale body with small dots on it, and windows that looked like camera lenses. Ah yes… real "pristine".

"I was actually starting to get impressed with all the designs you had of the city up 'till now. Don't tell me we have to actually go on that thing…" Aoba shook his head with disgust.

"Spidey-Sense ain't goin' off, but I can tell that there's gonna be trouble if we take this out on the water." Miles walked over to the boat and knocked on it lightly.

That caused it to crack and Monokuma immediately ran over and put duct tape over it. Either Miles is too strong, or this boat is just that badly made, or maybe it's both.

"Don't do that again! It's okay baby… the bug kid won't hurt you anymore…" The bear just started to stroke the yacht like it was his lover… ew.

"I-I don't want to go on that thing, we'll be at the bottom of the ocean before we get to the next area!" Bernadetta shook with fear.

"I feel like I should mention that I am not water-proof." Ishigami raised his finger up while making his point.

"Like it or not, you are all getting on this baby and sailing over to that island over there! Now let's get on that water, Monocitizens!"

Well at the very least, we don't have to swim all the way there.

"Yikes!" Ryuji jumped back after his side of the handrail broke off after he grips it.

Although I would rather swim than sink in this floating deathtrap. We left the pier as the foghorn of the yacht bellowed out loudly to the dismay of all of our ears. It wasn't even a normal sounding horn either, it was like someone was loudly shouting "JEEZ" in a deep voice.

I looked around at the current amount of people we had left, only nine. After eight losses… our group looked so miniscule in comparison to how it was before. Misato, Kaiba(?), Marty, Shantae, Sucy, Alice, Killua, Trunks…. Ugh, I never want to see another dead body in my life once this is all over, and by that I mean one that is permanently dead and not reanimated like I am.

Thinking back to Kaiba, or whoever that person we were with was, I think they're the key to the mastermind. It was then when I realized that I could explain how I think Fake Kaiba ties into this with Espio, since I've never told him about it. Espio deduced one of the former killing game participants could possibly be them, but I still think there is more than that. This person built an entire city based around all of them, honoring them as icons and celebrities, for what reason I have no idea.

We just have to try.

"Hey."

I halted my inner thoughts while staring out to sea when Ishigami approached me, along with Emma.

"Hi…" I responded to him.

"So um… the way I acted yesterday with your whole zombie thing… it wasn't… very nice."

"Okay… and?"

Emma patted his back, a reassuring smile on her face. Did she talk him into this?

"I guess it was because I'm so used to seeing zombies portrayed in a certain way, so seeing you like that triggered a fight or flight response. Like… now that I have thought about it more, you are definitely not like that."

"..."

"What I'm trying to say here is… I'm sorry, Ai." Ishigami finished as he let out a sigh. Emma gave him a thumbs up for his effort.

My eyes widened, I was honestly not expecting to hear this today.

"Well now um… apology accepted." I held out my hand and he shook it slowly.

"Also, can I ask a quick favor?" He began again.

I sighed, "What is it?".

He then took out something very familiar… Franchouchou's The Best CD and a marker, "Can you sign this, and also get me No. 5's autograph when we get out of here?"

"Huh?"

Emma then giggled as she walked up to me next, "Can I get one too?! Your group's music really is spectacular, Ai!"

"Ehhhh?"

"Oh hey, if it isn't No. 3! Can you set me up with No. 2 & 4, flower gal?" Gold then popped up from behind.

"Yo, I dig Franchouchou's music, gonna love sharing it with everyone in Brooklyn." Miles showed up next.

"Wha-WHAT?!" I was very much confused about what was happening right now.

Did these four just become Franchouchou fans overnight?! What even happened when I wasn't there?! They just handed me cd covers for me to sign, as well as a poster. This was very strange to say the least but… it got me to laugh a little. I missed interacting with fans like this, and even though it's kind of weird because they're friends of mine. I should have been used to this with Sakura around, but I wasn't. Despite that they accepted me, even while knowing what I'm like under the makeup. I guess I should play the role they assigned to me then...

"Thank you, everyone!" I told them in a joyful idol-like tone, like I'm on stage addressing a crowd.

The four of them all clapped, with Gold letting out a few "Woo"s in there. And then a certain someone decided to come and ruin the fun.

"What the hell are you all doing? We've already arrived at our destination, and don't you remember what she is?" Aoba scowled.

I look and see that we're already at the docks, the large Monokuma statue looming over our heads.

"Yeah, she's Franchouchou's Number 3." Ishigami answered.

"That is not what I meant. You people really are that stupid, aren't you? This is a killing game where you're not supposed to socialize or anything. It's kill or be killed here, additionally she is undead and is much harder to take care of! She could shrug off almost every assassination attempt against her, and for all we know she could just turn us into one of her kind!" Aoba is getting more annoyed.

"Dude, do you know who you're talking to?" Gold posed an armor-piercing question to him.

Emma walked forward, "I've seen way worse things than a zombie idol in my life, she's our friend. Just because you showed us her true self doesn't mean you've made us lose faith in her."

Aw… I really needed to hear that after these past few days. I think I feel a tear or two in my eyes right now.

"Tch… I can't wait to finally leave this hellhole and get away from idiots like you lot. Damn you all." Aoba stepped onto the land and walked away from us.

I then was trapped within a large group hug, can't believe the four of them somehow managed to get me out of my slump. I mean it wasn't everyone, Ryuji, Espio, and Bernadetta were still distant, but it was a start. I should have known that with everyone being from different worlds and experiencing many different things, that zombies wouldn't be too much of a surprise factor.

"Dang it, I'm surrounded by a bunch of crazy optimists." I laughed when I said that.

"Eh, it's more like I'd rather side with a kinda cute idol girl than a jerk who got people killed. No contest." Ishigami, the pessimist, replied.

"Either way, we're happy to have you as our friend. Good to have you back, Ai." Miles pat me on the back.

"Yeah, wouldn't want to escape without you with us!" Emma grinned.

"I'm getting that hookup with 2 and 4, right?" Gold ruined the sentimentality of it, so I flicked him on the forehead.

We all shared a little laugh after that before finally venturing off into the last area.

Huh, I feel like this place would look better at night. Unlit neon signs, a large shopping mall, and casinos everywhere. It's like Las Vegas in America, I've only seen pictures of it but the resemblance is uncanny.

"Lucksters & Lolitas…" I read the neon sign, which has a guy with white wavy hair and a woman in a gothic lolita outfit. I recognized them from the killing game book I had.

For some reason, the white haired young man irked me. Getting a little uncomfortable just looking at him, so I should move on. The mall was large for sure, although it included a lot of the same stores seen in the shopping district. The neighborhood wasn't very noteworthy as well, it was like a series of apartment complexes and long alleyways. The alleys themselves looked to be of the mugger or shady salesman variety. Nothing too out of place, but the main attraction of this island looked to be…

The Statue of Zetsubou, aka Despair. The giant pale green Monokuma statue, of him dressed like the Statue of Liberty. I feel like the large weight of the thing would cause this island to sink, so perhaps it's hollow on the inside…

"Heh, you think Monokuma's compensating for something?" Gold joked.

Why would he be…? He's a robot and… never mind.

Monokuma wasn't lying about this last area having a lot to explore. It took the entire day, although most of it was just spent either investigating every last shop in the mall, or trying to drag Gold and Ryuji away from the slot machines. It was a long trip back to the Hope-tel, but at least the subway made it easier for us.

I took a quick nap in my room, but then I decided to leave for two things.

1. Speak with Bernadetta, see if she's been okay since she saw me as a zombie.

2. Share what information I've gathered with Espio, and figure out something about the mastermind.

I grabbed a notebook I've been using to keep track of my findings, the information on Kaiba and what I saw of the "Ultimates" in the book I read. Brought the book as well, in case I missed anything. I walked across the hall carefully, to not alert anyone in their rooms, and knocked on Bernie's door like I had been doing before.

"Bernadetta, it's me, Ai. Can we talk?"

"..."

There's no response.

"I know that I wasn't being honest on what I truly was, but regardless I still want to help you. Please answer."

"..."

Nothing. The door was still locked as well, she's either ignoring me or she's asleep. Or maybe she's not in her room, as crazy as that may sound for a recluse like her. I'm just trying to think of ways to avoid thinking that she's dead.

After waiting for another minute, I just left a note there.

"I apologize for being so secretive, it's okay if you need space away from me. Let me know if you ever want to talk again soon." - Ai

Maybe I should go get her a slice of cake as well, on the way back perhaps?

The city was still just as silent and unnerving as the night before, I should have decided to do this in the evening. I stroll through the streets until I spot something moving atop a lamp post in shadow.

"Camouflage, like a chameleon should have. I can imagine that, combined with your skills as a ninja, make you nearly undetectable."

Espio became visible as he sat down on the bench next to me, "Keyword 'nearly'. Your senses must be quite more significant than normal individuals to detect me, is that thanks to your zombification or is it natural?"

"My vision has always been much sharper than others, even when I was alive. Anyways, how have things been?" I answered his question before posing my own.

"... I'm getting by. Let us not focus on that right now, I see you have brought some information we could use." He isn't being open as expected, I should make some time to talk to him again to make him talk.

I showed him the notes I have and the book, watching him look over every sentence I wrote down. He's also a detective, so his deduction skills should be competent at least.

I decided to speak up once more as he continued, "You said that one of the people from previous killing games could be the mastermind, correct?"

"Yes, that was my assumption, you have one of your own?" Espio replied.

"Indeed, although yours is still possible, it can even work hand-in-hand with mine. You see the notes I have written down there?"

"A list of Ultimates that have not been represented in the city itself yet, as well as information on the blackned of our first trial…"

I nodded, "Allow me to give you my theory, feel free to disagree if you do not find it believable.

"The Seto Kaiba we knew was a fake. Unlike the other blackened, we did not see any body, or blood in Shantae's case, after the execution. They could still be alive, and they could be this killing game's mastermind."

What an E3 week, peeps. How about that Danganronpa on Switch, eh? And uh… sorry for the wait. It really took a while for me to come up with what to do with this part. Actually lost a bit of motivation, which led me into writing the prologue of Fictional Guardians ha ha… also yeah that's out if anyone wants to read it. There's no spoilers in it for future chapters, but it's just pure fighting and character interactions. Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this part and—

Ishigami: Ahem…

Emma: The Q&A is still going on, so send in any questions, thoughts, or opinions, or predictions if you so please!

Gold: And uh… sorry if this chapter isn't too good folks, Renegade's getting a little sloppy. (gets bonked on the head) Ow!

Thank you, Emma.

Emma: You're welcome.

See you all next time! And don't be surprised if this entire chapter ends up being shorter than expected, gotta watch that new Zombie Land Saga Revenge episode!