So this is my next story. For those who are unaware, Danganronpa is a videogame series created and developed by Spike Chunsoft. It's a series that revolves around the themes of Hope versus Despair and it's a very over the top one as well.
This story is a unofficial sequel to an official light novel called "Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc IF," which is an unlockable light novel found in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, which you receive once you complete the main game. Danganronpa IF is basically the events of the first Danganronpa 1 game, playing out differently, and this story is going to be both an adaptation of Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls and a sequel to Danganronpa IF. It will both be similar and different to the story of the original Danganronpa Another Episode, and this will also incorporate aspects from Danganronpa 3 (which was the anime that concluded the original story from Danganronpa 1 as a whole), and the franchise in general with the exception being the upcoming Danganronpa V3 game in the future.
Just as a forewarning, this story will have spoilers from Danganronpa 1, Danganronpa IF, Danganronpa 2, Danganronpa Another Episode, and Danganronpa 3. Basically if you don't want to get spoiled on any of these works, then do not proceed unless you're willing.
Also this story will be rated M also as a forewarning. I am not going to hold back, on "mature," content if needed for certain situations so please be aware, for both a warning and disclaimer possibly. This is my only warning and disclaimer as I want to make it very clear that this story is not going to be for the faint of heart, prudish, and so on if needed.
I hope you all enjoy this first chapter and this story in general in the future.
All licensed content is owned by Spike Chunsoft and their associates.
The world is full of IFs.
Everyone in humanity always ponders with either curiosity or regret at some point, wondering how the result for something be different had that thing been handled differently. Different choices lead to different outcomes, different paths, and ultimately different results.
This is a tale of an IF, that continues off a previous IF, and has its own take on the next main events that are set to occur. This is the tale of that next IF in that saga of events.
Let's begin that IF now.
It looked like Hell outside of Hope's Peak Academy as the fifteen students of Class 78, who has just escaped it saw. What exactly is Hope's Peak Academy? It was originally a school that had students with exceptional talents enrolled in it. It would take any student in who excelled in anything they were exceptionally good at, and essentially guaranteed that student a great future if they continued to excel at their talent, and earn them a nearly guaranteed high position within their field after graduation. All the students who were part of Class 78 (and anyone in the previous classes) were all considered "Ultimates" or "Super High School Level," in something, which were terms that Hope's Peak Academy interchangeably used to deem their talented individuals. Each of them were basically a master of whatever skill, craft, ability, or talent they had in general. One of the ideals of the academy, was that these talented students would help bring more hope into the world in general.
However currently, Hope's Peak Academy was more of a living hellhole itself due to recent developments. The school building of Hope's Peak Academy was converted into a place that was going to bring great despair to the world due to a certain person who had taken it over in its entirety. That person actually being one of the sixteenth students, of Class 78 who was extremely influential with her prowess, charisma, and power. That person being Junko Enoshima. She was an individual obsessed with despair and would stop at nothing to feel despair and bring despair to others if possible. For her, despair embodied her completely. Her plan involving the rest of her class and trapping them in Hope's Peak Academy and forcing them into the "Killing School Life." A plan that would have them all murder each other for a chance to escape, all while she would broadcast this to the rest of the world, making the world feel despair seeing the students who would supposedly bring hope fall into despair themselves. She had all but one student's memory erased, so they wouldn't know the outside world was in a state of hell at the moment.
The fifteen teenager students escaped the taken over Hope's Peak Academy, through a combination of both skill and mostly extremely lucky circumstances, while Junko herself went missing and into hiding. One of the fifteen students who apparently was working with Junko, who had just trapped them in the school earlier had just decided to betray her, and help her fellow students escape due to a change of heart. That student being Mukuro Ikusaba, who was actually Junko's sister (despite the different last names, they were blood related). During these sets of circumstances, they had regained lost memories that Junko had erased from all of them, somewhat, with both Mukuro and one other student (who had managed to regain his memories after something lucky happened to him) recalling as much as they could. These memories being the past two years of their time in Hope's Peak Academy.
The fifteen students at the moment who escaped with the exception of Mukuro, looked either extremely nervous, surprised, and/or frustrated by what they saw, depending on the individual. The ground was lifeless with the lack of green grass, the trees were devoid of any foliage whatsoever, and the sky was painted red with dark clouds, as if they were really in the apocalypse. This was The Tragedy. An event where the world was engulfed in despair, and one where people were either followers of Junko Enoshima's despair ideals or tried to fight back against it. The world was currently in a state of complete chaos due to all of Junko's followers. The elite followers of her group were known as Ultimate Despairs, (while she herself was considered the true Ultimate Despair.)
"What the hell!?" shouted Mondo Owada, the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader, whose eyes were bugging out by what he was seeing. He was a tall and muscular student that wore a black biker jacket with dragon symbol designs and Japanese characters. He also wore a white muscle shirt, and white loafers for shoes, and his hair was styled as a pompadour, though it kind of looked like orange corn on the cob. He was a tough guy that was in charge of the toughest biker gang in Japan at the moment, though even his tough personality was not handling this well. "What is all of this bullshit!?"
"Stay calm… stay calm!" Kiyotaka Ishimaru the Ultimate Moral Compass said with sweat dripping down his face, as he felt like this must have been delusions his head produced after not getting enough sleep and after what they had just endured, as he tried to remain calm. He wore a white military styled uniform, black boots, and had black hair and red eyes. He was a very hard working and moral abiding individual. Though at the moment, he was just trying to not freak out. "The world being like this is as Mukuro said… maybe it can get better soon, since we just escaped… to it?"
"How the hell can I stay calm in this kind of situation!? If I ever do get calm, it's not any time soon, that's for damn sure Taka!" Mondo shouted back to Ishimaru by his nickname the other students had for him, while Taka's face was starting to lose more of its composure, from what Mondo said back to him.
"This… this can't be real," Aoi Asahina said as the Ultimate Swimming Pro said in disbelief, with a fearful expression on her face. She wore a red sports jacket over a white T-shirt and wore blue shorts and red sneakers. She had blue eyes, tanned skin, and brown hair wrapped in a ponytail. She normally had an energetic tomboy personality, but that energy was drained from her being from what she was currently seeing.
"I would like to believe that too Hina, but as it currently stands… I don't think that's the case," Sakura Oogami the Ultimate Martial Artist said to Asahina while using her nickname, with extreme hesitance on her face, not sure how to react at her current surroundings. She wore a normal school uniform that had a white shirt that had the sleeves torn off for her muscular arms as, she was extremely muscular and ripped in general, had red tanned skin, wore a blue skirt and red tie, and gray shoes. She had whitish hair, and a scar on her face as well.
"Sherlock Holmes or Arthur Conan Doyle depending on how you look at it once said, when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable… must be the truth," Toko Fukawa the Ultimate Writing Prodigy said reluctantly, as she was biting one of her thumbs from frustration and fear from what she saw of the world before her. She wore a purple school uniform dress and skirt, a red tie, circular glasses, and brown shoes. She had dark purple hair, and brown eyes.
"After everything we just went through… well I shouldn't say I'm surprised," Leon Kuwata the Ultimate Baseball Star said nervously. He wore a white blazer jacket with popped collars, a white T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and white platform shoes. He had red spiky hair and a red goatee, and wore a chain necklace. Despite being a sportsman, his personality leaned more towards a rock star normally. However this wasn't a normal situation at the moment, as he felt uneasy.
"That's true. Everything we all just experienced wasn't fake unfortunately," Sayaka Maizono, the Ultimate Pop Sensation said with pure terror on her face. She wore a traditional white school uniform that had long white sleeves that covere her arms, with a blue sailor collar, a pink bow, a blue skirt, black thigh high socks, and brown buckled shoes. She had long blue hair, blue eyes, and had a friendly demeanor normally.
"We just escaped what was basically a nightmare… so for the outside world to be like this too is…" Chihiro Fujisaki the Ultimate Programmer said very sadly as tears threatened to leak out of the very soft spoken and kindhearted individual as this was hard for him to accept. He was dressed with a dark green girl's school uniform with a brown skirt, black leggings and brown shoes. By this point, he had let them know that he was really a guy, as earlier he tried to his what his true gender to them while they were in Hope's Peak Academy. He had a very kindhearted personality, and was very distraught by what was happening as of late.
"It looks like we were transported to a game of Fallout or something!" screamed out Hifumi Yamada, the Ultimate Fanfic Creator. He was an obese guy who wore thick black glasses, a white button down shirt with a grey cardigan, an orange tie with a blue arrow going down it, an orange backpack on his back. He also wore dark gray trousers and gray shoes, and had black hair. He continued to talk as if to try to calm himself from what he saw. "Then again this isn't a nuclear apocalypse, so it could be worse,"
"I predict that this is all a bad nightmare, and we'll wake up from it soon!" Yasuhiro Hagakure the Ultimate Clairvoyant comically yelled out, as he didn't like this at all as well. He had large and brown dreadlocks, wore dark green pants, sandals, and his dark green Hope's Peak Academy uniform jacket over a shite shirt and a small yellow sleeve shirt below that. He tended to be the kind of guy who got into a lot of weird situations and was very bad when it came to handling money. He was freaking out from what he was seeing, as the outside of Hope's Peak Academy was proving just as bad, arguably even worse than the inside to him.
"Be quiet Hiro. None of us are in the mood to hear your stupid predictions," Celestia Ludenberg (or Celeste as she personally preferred) the Ultimate Gambler commented, using Hagakure's nickname, sounding a bit irritated at what she saw. She had her black hair done with two large drill like hair pigtails, had red eyes, and she wore Gothic Lolita styled clothing with a black jacket, red tie, black skirt that had white laces on them, and black leggings with white laces and red heelless shoes. She was said to be very two faced, though at the moment, she was showing anger at what she was seeing (though perhaps that was to mask any fear she might have actually felt as well).
"For now, we should try to find and seek shelter. Remaining here is a waste of time," Byakuya Togami the Ultimate Affluent Progeny said with a frustrated tone, as he did not like this current situation at all. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, wore thin eyeglasses, a black jacket over a white shirt with a green tie, black pants and black shoes. He was known to be very arrogant and elitist, but the current situation proved to be quite humbling to him, he had to admit.
"I agree. There's no point staying here at the moment," Kyoko Kirigiri, the Ultimate Detective said with acknowledgement, as she surveyed the area with her eyes. Kyoko had long lavender hair that was braided at the end, purple eyes, and wore a dark purple jacket over a white blouse with a brown tie, black gloves, dark purple skirt, and dark purple heeled knee-high boots. She was very perceptive as which was befitting her talents, and right now she was perceiving they should all not be in this current area anymore.
Before anyone could say or do anything else, suddenly they all heard a peculiar sound, that grew louder and louder as they stood outside the entrance of the escaped Hope's Peak Academy.
"What's that sound?" Makoto Naegi the Ultimate Lucky Student weakly said, as he was injured while he was trapped in the school. He had brown hair that was slightly spiky and had a prominent ahoge (a noticeable strand of hair which sticks in a different direction out of the rest), hazel colored eyes, and a slim and petite body. He wore a dark green dulled out hoodie, a black jacket over the hoodie, black jeans and red shoes. Out of all the students there, he was the first to remember how the outside world was, due to an extremely lucky event that happened to him at Hope's Peak Academy. Those memories were full of death, destruction, and most of all… despair. While he was in the academy, he was attacked by Junko by a dangerous trick intended for Mukuro that he took for her. This selfless act ended up saving her, and then all of them in the long run, due to what it caused Mukuro to do afterwards in response to Junko, leading them all to escape. Before they escaped the academy, Mukuro and the others had managed to nurse him back to better health compared to before, though he still needed more proper rest.
"Two transport helicopters," Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Soldier calmly stated as she removed the strawberry blonde wig (that resembled either pinkish blonde or blondish pink hair depending on how you look at it) that made her resemble her sister and threw it to the ground aside from her, and let her short black hair out, as they soon all saw two large black transport helicopters branded with the two words "Future Foundation," on it, as they saw it approaching them. She also had blue eyes which her sister also had, which made them look similar, though she had very light freckles below both of her eyes, which her sister didn't have, which helped made the two distinct from each others.
Mukuro was currently wearing clothes her sister Junko would wear, since she was disguised as her earlier. Mukuro was wearing a black cardigan over a white dress shirt, a red miniskirt, a white and black tie, medium sized black boots with with platform heels and red laces, and finally she was wearing fake red nails on her hands. She did not normally wear this tire, as she was never one for fashion. She normally wore a normal white school uniform shirt with short sleeves, a black skirt, and a red ribbon like tie around her neck, black leggings and black shoes, which she normally wore when she was still just a normal student at Hope's Peak Academy. She also had a tattoo on her right hand that depicted the wolf beast Fenrir, which was the name of the group she used to serve in the past. Right now she was covering up the tattoo with foundation. Mukuro was disguised as Junko as that was originally her role in a plan where she originally was planning to help her sister in all of this. However the events of Makoto saving her life, and finding out her own sister was willing to betray and murder her, had led her to a change of plans. This now led to the current scene at the moment.
Both helicopters soon landed. One was filled with Future Foundation solders that came out wearing black helmets, armor, and sunglasses, while also carrying firearms as well. Their soldier uniforms were also all branded with the words Future Foundation, as they headed for Hope's Peak Academy to begin searching for the notes of Yatsuke Matsuda, who was the Ultimate Neurologist and anything else in Hope's Peak Academy of value and/or use. Those notes were key to Junko's original plans for the killing life that failed, as it involved erasing all their memories. If they could find those notes, the memories of the escaping students could be fully restored. Though for now, the other students were satisfied with what was recounted to them by both Makoto and Mukuro. The Future Foundation was an organization formed to combat Ultimate Despair in response, mostly made up of former Hope's Peak Academy alumni and staff.
The other transport helicopter landed nearby the surviving students, as two Future Foundation soldiers stepped out of it. Mukuro knew the Future Foundation would not take kindly to her, so she had to be ready for any possibility, especially now that was it made public that she and Junko were the Despair Sisters. The original Ultimate Despairs.
"We are here to rescue you all! All of you please board this helicopter now, and we will bring you all to a safe location!" one of the two Future Foundation soldiers yelled out. All the students but Mukuro looked towards the soldiers with different levels of unease or skepticism, not sure whether to trust them or not. Mukuro however was aware of what the Future Foundation was, due to working with Junko, and she knew that from past experience, these soldiers were legitimate.
"We can trust them. The Future Foundation was the organization made to counter Ultimate Despair in response. Let's board their helicopter now before anything else happens to us," Mukuro explained. Hearing this, they all looked back towards Hope Peak Academy for what was possibly the last time and then towards the helicopter and they all slowly, but surely began to board the transport helicopter. The only two left who hadn't boarded was Mukuro and Makoto, as Mukuro was helping Makoto walk towards the transporting helicopter. However, when both were near the entrance, the two soldiers stopped them from boarding, as they both noticed who Mukuro was.
"Wait! You… you're one of the Ultimate Despairs, aren't you!" one of the soldiers angrily shouted out, as he pulled a handgun out on Mukuro. Mukuro had a stoic expression, understanding why they felt the way they did towards her, while Makoto had a frustrated and fearful expression form on his face. "I should just kill her right now!"
"Don't shoot! She saved my life! She saved all of our lives!" Makoto shouted out, while the soldiers looked at Makoto with a confused look. Apparently these two soldiers were not watching the broadcastings of the failed Killing School Life that revealed that she did do as Makoto said. "She deserves to be saved like the rest of us!"
"What?" the other Future Foundation soldier said confused and surprised by what he heard. The soldier who didn't have their handgun trained on Mukuro, looked toward all the students within the helicopter. "Is he telling the truth?"
"Yes. She helped saved all of us," Kyoko calmly stated, as the other students nodded in agreement with what Kyoko said. The soldier then looked unsure of what to do or say, till he pulled out a cellphone he had on him.
"I'm going to call command. Ask them what's the best course of action for this," the Future Foundation soldier said to the other soldier, who still had their handgun trained on Mukuro, as they both made sure she and Makoto would not board the transport helicopter yet, till they decided what the best way to handle this was.
We now see what appeared to be a large communications room within the Future Foundation's headquarters, as many people were in it, seated in front of various monitors. They were all looking at the largest monitor in the room, that depicted the scene of Hope's Peak Academy with a camera drone flying nearby the area, seeing how Mukuro and Makoto were barred entry on the helicopter, and how one of the soldiers would soon be calling them. They also all saw the failed Killing School Life that Junko broadcasted as well recently. We focus on four particular individuals in this room
"What do you want to do Munakata?" asked Kazuo Tengan, an old man who had gray hair for his age and had a mustache and a slight beard. He wore a light brown jacket over a dark brown vest over a white shirt and red tie, brown pants, and glasses. He was the founder and chairmen of the Future Foundation and was essentially in charge of its 1st Division which revolved around leadership, though as of late he became more of a figurehead and passed it to the one in charge of the 2nd Division. He wanted to fight against the despair in the world, but wanted to avoid violence if possible.
"We should just kill that despair bitch!" Juzo Sakakura commented with anger as he did not like the person he saw at all, due to her association with the one responsible for the world basically being a despair filled hell at the moment. He wore a dark green jacket that had black thick fur trimming, a white muscle shirt, black pants, and long black boots. He was in charge of the Future Foundation's 6th division (which was in charge of policing) and was also the Ultimate Boxer. He was someone who was quick to anger, and currently he hated how everything in the world was and everyone involved with the world leading to its status.
"But what about what that boy Makoto said?" Chisa Yukizome said in a concerned sounding manner. She had orange hair tied into a ponytail, green eyes, and was wearing a white coat over a black vest that over a pink dress. She also wore a black skirt, black tights, and black mid heel shoes as well. She was in charge of the Future Foundation's 5th Division (which specialized in intelligence, inquiry, and counter espionage) and was also the Ultimate Housekeeper. She had a motherly and warm personality in general.
We now focus on the last of the Division Heads in the room. Kyosuke Munakata, who was the head of the Future Foundation's 2nd Division (which was involved with managing nearly all of its main operations, military, and anything involving contractions and operations) and was the person really in charge as of late. He was also the Ultimate Student Council President, and proved to be a very charismatic individual, which helped him attain his current position. He wore a pale silver suit that complimented his silver bowl cut styled hair on his head, with a blue dress shirt, a faded pink tie, and gray dress shoes. Finally he had what appeared to be a black, sword sheathe, attached to a gray belt he wore for his pants, and had a sword within it, as he was also a skilled swordsman.
Munakata currently had a cold expression on his face as he went deep into thought, while the three other Division Head Future Foundation members were with him at the moment, waiting for a response from him. All the other current Division Heads that weren't in the room with them, were elsewhere, handling other matters. He then opened his eyes finally and decided to answer them.
"I want to interrogate all of them by myself. That includes Ikusaba as well. That's all," Munakata the person who was basically really in charge of the Future Foundation stated calmly but with a hint of anger in it. Chisa and Tengan nodded, while Juzo rolled his eyes but reluctantly agreed with what Munakata said. Soon Munakata felt his smartphone in his pants vibrating, as he took it out and answered immediately. "Bring them all back to our headquarters. Have them all come to the meeting room,"
"Yes sir," the soldier on the other line responded, thought with a bit of hesitance, as this meant they would have to have who was considered one of the Ultimate Despairs on board the transport helicopter with them. Munakata then closed his own phone, and headed towards the conference room in the building while Tengan decided to follow, wanting to be a part of that meeting once it inevitably happened, while everyone else stayed where they were. The soldier then placed his cellphone away, as he then decided to take out a pair of handcuffs he had on his being and showed it to the two teenagers.
"She can go on the transport helicopter, but only if she keeps these handcuffs on," the soldier stated.
"That's ridiculous! She shouldn't have to do that at all!" Makoto said surprised and annoyed. Before he could say anything more, Mukuro decided to speak up herself.
"No Makoto… it's okay. Its fine," Mukuro said as Makoto looked at her, after hearing her say that. "I don't mind wearing the handcuffs. If that's what's needed of me to get on with everyone else, then so be it,"
"Mukuro…" Makoto said quietly, unsure of how to feel about what he just heard from her, feeling bad for her. Soon they slowly and carefully cuffed her hands with the handcuffs, binding them together, as the two were brought on board. The transport helicopter soon took off, while the two soldiers inside it, had their guns trained on Mukuro. The other students in the transport helicopter felt at unease, as it felt as if they were trigger happy and ready to shoot her at a moment's notice. Makoto in particular had mixed emotions appear on his face, angry and saddened by the way they were treating her.
Eventually the helicopter arrived at a landing pad, at the headquarters for the Future Foundation. The students were led out of it by the two soldiers, and into the building and all of them soon found themselves in a dark meeting room. They all saw two individuals at the end of an elongated round table in the middle of the large room. One being a young man in his twenties and the other was a bearded and mustached old man wearing glasses.
"For the escaped students in this room, I'm Kyosuke Munakata, head of the 2nd Division of the Future Foundation and he's Kazuo Tengan, chairmen and founder of the Future Foundation overall," Munakata explained to the survivors.
"I'm glad to see all of you made it to the Future Foundation Headquarters safely," Tengan said calmly, as by now, the group as a whole were aware that they were saved by a group called the Future Foundation.
"Sirs! All fifteen survivors from Hope's Peak Academy are here and present," one of the two soldiers announced.
"Good. Also hand me the key that belongs to the handcuffs wrapped around that despair," Munakata asked. After he received the key from the soldier who carried it, he then continued talking. "Both of you are dismissed."
"Hey! Why didn't any of you Future Foundation people, remove her handcuffs?" Makoto shouted at the two soldiers who ignored him, as they were soon gone, annoyed that they didn't bother removing her handcuffs.
"That doesn't matter." Munakata said with distaste in his voice, disgusted that he was even defending her at all. "She's despair, just like her sister. You're lucky I haven't had her killed yet."
Makoto was about to retort, but Mukuro soon softly shook her head towards him, to signal not to speak. Makoto stayed silent as he stared at Munakata. Hiro awkwardly coughed and spoke, trying to break the tension in the room.
"Ummm… so we all can go rest in a room and eat and sleep, right?" Hiro said, gulping with nervousness.
"Yeah. What he said," Hifumi added with his own nervousness. "We're all pretty tired after what we just been through,"
"Of course," Tengan said nicely, as both Hiro and Hifumi sighed in relief from what they heard. "We've prepared for each of you a room with your own beds, bathrooms, clothes, and any other amenities to help you rest and recover in, while you are here with us,"
"But not till I question you all. Especially… her," Munakata said with complete seriousness, as everyone turned to look at Mukuro who had a stoic expression, shown towards Munakata. "Mukuro Ikusaba. The Ultimate Soldier. Sister to the true Ultimate Despair. Let me start off by asking you this,"
He then drew his blade out of his sword's sheathe on his belt, and pointed his sword towards Mukuro. All the students except Mukuro, felt pressure within them rise, even the ones that tended to be more calmer and composed normally, as the atmosphere was so thick with tension.
"Why should I keep you alive?" Munakata asked calmly but with hints of pure hate, with his sword still drawn and pointed towards her. Mukuro closed her eyes, as everyone waited for her to say something in response. She then opened them and answered him back.
"I want… redemption," Mukuro calmly said, though that wasn't fully true. She had two more of her own reasons why she wanted to do this as well. Redemption was her third reason to some degree, but not as significant as the two main ones that she kept only to herself. Everyone stayed silent from what they heard. Makoto in particular felt at unease, as the silence in the room continued to grow. Munakata glared harshly at her back from what he heard, surprised she even had the nerve to say such a thing and then he slowly began to laugh at what he heard. Everyone but Tengan and Mukuro shuddered at Munakata's laughter as it sounded so surreal.
"Redemption? You want to redeem yourself after all that you helped caused to happen to this world?" Munakata asked with pure malice in his voice towards her. "You're nothing more than a monster like the legendary beast of Fenrir itself. Fenrir was a beast that devoured everything in its way. Fitting for a soldier who used to be part of a group named after it,"
"She helped saved all of us!" Makoto yelled out, taking Munakata's attention towards him. "If she truly was some monster, she would have made sure we stayed trapped at Hope's Peak Academy and be forced to take part of Junko's killing game!"
"It sounds to me, you have Stockholm syndrome towards her, or something along those lines." Munakata mused while Makoto focused his attention on Munakata. "Don't act like we haven't seen the footage, considering Enoshima was broadcasting the events of what was happening in the academy all over the world. We're well aware of what Ikusaba did in there,"
"Then why… why do you feel this way towards her?" Makoto asked, confused and frustrated.
"She is one of the reasons why you all were trapped in Hope's Peak Academy in the first place. Also, one of the reasons why this world has become a despair wasteland. I don't see anything she can do to ever make up for what she did," Munakata answered. Before Makoto could respond back, Mukuro decided to speak up.
"Maybe you're right," Mukuro calmly stated, as the attention in the room shifted to her. "Maybe nothing I ever do will ever be enough to make up for my involvement for what I did. Maybe I will forever be branded as someone in history to be despised, for the rest of my life and for the rest of my reputation. I can accept that. But I want to atone for what I did for my own reasons. And I know a way for me to start doing that,"
"And what way is that exactly?" Munakata asked skeptically. Mukuro paused to take a breath, as she then sighed to collect her thoughts. She then calmly responded to Munakata, with something that caught both his and Tengan's attention.
"Towa City," Mukuro stated, confusing the other students in the room while both Munakata and Tengan's eyes lit up from hearing that city mentioned. "Towa City is where one person considered most important to each student here, is being held. I want to go to Towa City in the future to help find and save them all,"
Now everyone else's attention was caught by Mukuro as well. Munakata and Tengan were intrigued by hearing about Towa City being involved, while the others due to the connection they all just made with what she just said. What Mukuro just brought up, was related to the first motive they were given by Junko, while they were all trapped in Hope's Peak Academy, before anyone could be tempted to murdering each other. How people connected to them all were held hostage, and unless they killed, there was a chance they be harmed.
"Oh shit!" Mondo yelled out as he remembered something regarding someone he considered very close from the motive video he saw. "Then that must mean… Yukimura is being held in this Towa City place!"
"Yuta's in Towa City!?" Asahina shouted out, as she remembered being told that her young brother was held hostage from that motive video she saw.
"Dad!" both Taka and Chihiro's voices cried out, realizing that was where their fathers were most likely being held there.
"Mama!" Hiro yelled out, and while normally some of the other students would mock him for crying out for his mother, they understood that this was a serious situation where they all could emphasize with him.
"Fujiko!" Hifumi cried out, remembering his older sister was being held hostage, worried for her. The other remaining students had mixed expressions on their faces, as they didn't yell out the names of their loved ones being held captive, but they cared just as much at the moment as well. Makoto taking this all in, finally decided to say something.
"One of my family members… is being held in a place called Towa City?" Makoto asked quietly towards Mukuro. She looked towards him and nodded.
"I'm sure it's your sister, from what I know and remember," Mukuro said, as Makoto felt relieved that one of his family members was at the very least safe and her location was known. His younger sister Komaru. "I want to go to Towa City alone in the future and save all of my classmate's closest ones,"
Munakata and Tengan looked at each other, as it seemed like a huge opportunity opened themselves to them, concerning Towa City, and nodded to each other. Munakata placed his sword back into it's sheathe as well now.
"Excuse us both for a moment, as we both step outside to discuss what you have just told us missy," Tengan said calmly, as both him and Munakata stepped out to leave the room, leaving the surviving students in the room behind. As soon as they were both out, Kyoko decided to make a comment.
"Something about those two concern me, despite them rescuing us," Kyoko stated.
"What do you mean by that?" Hifumi asked, as he didn't understand what she meant by saying that.
"Yeah. I mean they do intend to give us all proper shelter here and all," Hiro added.
"Clearly, they have something to gain out of Towa City, besides more survivors," Byakuya said to respond to them, feeling they had some other motive as well. "Still… regardless of that… if Mukuro manages to rescue those she mentioned from Towa City…"
"Then it's an opportunity she should take," Celeste stated with absolute certainty, as she wanted the one she considered closest to her saved as well.
"Yes. I agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment," Sakura added in agreement.
"Please you got to do it!" Leon shouted with ferocity. "My cousin is there and I'm worried about her!"
"My friend should be in Towa City," Sayaka stated, feeling as if her own life depended on her friend's survival. "I hope she's safe,"
"These two Future Foundation guys, better let her go to Towa City then," Toko said irritably.
"I'll do my best. I just hope those two give me the opportunity to do so," Mukuro stated quietly. Silence filled the room as they waited for Munakata and Tengan to return. Eventually both did as Tengan returned to where he sat originally while Munakata slowly walked towards Mukuro and stopped before her. Munakata had an intense glare focused on Mukuro while her face remained stoic and serious, unfazed by the glare she received. Then he began to draw out his sword from his sheathe, causing everyone else but Tengan and Mukuro to grow concerned.
"What are you doing!?" Makoto yelled, surprised by the sight he saw. Mukuro however merely held her hands out and before anyone could say or do anything else, with one powerful swift slash, Munakata sliced the chains holding her cuffs together. Everyone stayed dead silent, as the pieces of the chain fell to the floor as both Munakata and Mukuro looked at each other with very serious expressions.
"Consider this rescue mission of the people connected to all of you survivors your first step to redemption… on your road to atonement, when you embark on it in the future. Depending on how it goes, perhaps myself and others in the Future Foundation may be willing to give you more chances to you to redeem yourself more," Munakata explained, as Mukuro merely nodded. "But… if we ever have reason and official confirmation that you are still part of the despair that is destroying this world in the future…"
Munakata then brought his sword near Mukuro's neck, while she stood her ground and didn't flinch, while everyone else looked either fearful, sad, or frustrated by what they saw.
"I will not hesitate to remove you from this world. Do you understand?" Munakata said, while Mukuro nodded to him with a serious expression, still not intimidated by what he was doing. Seeing that she understood, he took out the key to her handcuffs that she had on her hands and decided to unlock the actual cuffs on her wrists, letting them be free now. "Good. Now I along with Tengan need to talk with the rest of you about various matters…"
Time passed as Munakata and Tengan spoke with each surviving student and asked multiple and various questions. After everyone was finished being interviewed, Munakata led them to a living quarter's area in the headquarters. There was a room for each of them already prepared that had the basic amenities for each of them. They all split up, tired and exhausted from everything that had occurred to them earlier.
We focus on Mukuro as she changed into what appeared to be a normal white school uniform, one that she wore when she was just a normal student at Hope's Peak Academy. She had showered in the bathroom in the room, and changed into this new set of attire that consisted of what she would normally wear, instead of her Junko disguise. Attire like a normal white school uniform shirt with short sleeves, a black skirt, a red ribbon like tie around her neck, black leggings and black shoes. She also had had her tattoo of Fenrir on her right hand exposed now, washing off the foundation she had on it, from the shower she had earlier. This change of attire was much more preferable for her, as it was more flexible and comfortable in comparison. She was sitting on the white bed in the room, and looked around, as the blue walls had wallpaper full of Future Foundation propaganda, and a white wooden door lead into the room.
"What am I going to do?" Mukuro said, uncertain in her situation. She cared about Makoto. She cared about Junko as well. Makoto was the love of her life (for more then one reason), whereas Junko was her sister and family. She wanted to give hope back to Makoto because she cared about him, yet she wanted to give despair to Junko. She decided the best way to do both was to basically cause Junko's plans to fall apart. It would give both hope back to Makoto and cause Junko to fall into despair. To start with this, she would start with heading over to Towa City in the future, and doing what she can there with what she said earlier. She couldn't help but feel tense though despite her plan, which sounded so simple to her earlier. She knew that actually pulling off the plan, was a different thing altogether, along with a host of other factors. Was it because of the Future Foundation? Was it because of Towa City? Was it because of Junko, still out there in the world somewhere? Was it because of her classmates? Was it because of Makoto? Was it because of just a combination of everything in general?
Mukuro's thoughts were interrupted as she heard someone knocking onto the door to her room. She got up from her bed and walked over to the door and opened it and saw that it was Kyosuke Munakata. Her face turned stoic upon seeing him.
"I am here to inform you… that you have one additional task in Towa City." Munakata said calmly. "I want you to look into the Towa Group while you are in Towa City and bring evidence of… I shouldn't need to say, considering you're involvement with Junko Enoshima and her personal handling of her involvements. Perhaps the rumors of Towa Group are true, perhaps they're not but nonetheless I want you to look into it. I like to look into every matter, rumors or not. Towa Group are wary of the Future Foundation for some reason. Perhaps you might be able to find the answers to that,"
Mukuro remained silent to him, as her face remained stoic, while Munakata simply sighed and glared back at her.
"Hmph. That road to atonement is a long one Mukuro Ikusaba. The more you do, the more you can atone for your past. I'll let you decide if this is something you want to do along with what you suggested. Just consider this extra task an extra incentive to help pave that road of atonement… when you finally venture into Towa City in the future," Munakata calmly explained. He then walked out of the room and closed the door to it. Mukuro went back to her bed, feeling even more distraught.
"What he just said, didn't help at all," Mukuro whispered in frustration as there were many things that would have to be cleared up in general in the future. So many things had happened just when they were escaping out of Hope's Peak Academy, the events that had just unfolded, the events of the past, the events of the future possibly, and finally all of those who were connected to her. Her mind felt like it was ready to explode, as she closed her eyes, and placed her hands over her head, as everything felt so overwhelming at the moment.
"Mukuro? Are you okay?" a familiar kind voice called out to her. Her eyes awoke as she looked towards the door to her room. She walked over towards it and opened the door and saw Makoto.
"Makoto? You shouldn't be up at the moment," Mukuro said, feeling out of all of the students who escaped Hope's Peak Academy, he needed the most rest considering what happened. "You should be in your room resting, after everything that's happened."
"It's okay. Besides, I think I rather be with you, at least for this moment," Makoto said quietly. Mukuro gently helped him into the room, as they both sat on the bed in her room, and looked at each oher. "I left my room and headed over here to see you. I saw Munakata walking away from your room when I left my own room to go here. I kind of grew even more concerned,"
"Don't worry. Everything's fine," Mukuro said. Makoto however looked even more concerned as he wasn't convinced.
"Are you sure? After everything that's happened recently, I wouldn't blame anyone for not feeling… as good as they can be," Makoto said.
Makoto breathed for a bit, as he was still feeling weak, while Mukuro gently patted his back, trying to comfort him. Makoto then smiled and continued.
"But at the same time I just wanted to say some stuff to you before I went to bed. First thing is that we managed to convince the others and make them remember what happened the past two years since our memories were originally stolen by Junko. Secondly we then escaped the killing game that Junko planned for us in Hope's Peak Academy. Third is we were all rescued by the Future Foundation and now we're safe here," Makoto explained. "And finally... we found out that our loved ones are being held at Towa City,"
Mukuro saw Makoto then looked towards her with another friendly smile. She would never get tired of those, as she felt her face become slightly flushed as she looked back at him happily.
"Mukuro… all those things I just mentioned, you helped us all out on. So if you feel bad or anything, just know that I and the others trust you," Makoto said gently.
"I don't know about that. Maybe more compared to before, but I'm sure some of them still would feel hesitance towards me," Mukuro said. "I don't blame them though after everything so it's alright,"
"Well we'll see. I think you definitely convinced some of the others for sure, like Kyoko and Sakura to fully trust you," Makoto answered. Mukuro had managed to gain both their respect, as Mukuro respected Kyoko's decision to find out the truth from her, and Sakura and her were fellow warriors who could be calm when needed, and a tag team that could get the device that let them escape Hope's Peak Academy.
"Thanks… that means a lot, hearing these words from you Makoto," Mukuro said with a smile of her own back. Makoto kept smiling for her. He then hugged her, causing Mukuro to blush, and she was thankful, he couldn't see her blush as he did this and hugged him back in return.
"Anytime Mukuro. Well, I should probably head back to my room and go to sleep soon. I'm starting to feel really tired," Makoto said with a cute yawn, as they both stopped hugging each other.
"Here let me walk you back," Mukuro offered, feeling better compared to before
"Thanks Mukuro. I really appreciate that," Makoto answered warmly back.
"No problem," Mukuro answered back calmly, as they both smiled. She carefully helped him out of her room, and back to his own room. She then returned to her own room, and decided to sleep, deciding it was time she get some proper rest as well, especially after everything that happened.
We now focus on an unknown location that depicted what looked like a bedroom. What made the room stand out, was that there was tons of photos that were attached to the walls of the room that depicted a certain individual. Who was in those photos couldn't be seen, as the whole room was dark at the moment, while the only source of light was a laptop laying on top of a marble desk in the middle of the room. Someone was in this room, as they were having a video chat with someone on the other line.
"So why are you contacting me?" asked the person in the room with childlike curiosity, and with what sounded like a female childlike voice.
"The Killing School Life plan I had, ended up being a bust. While that was very despair inducing in its own way, that wasn't exactly how I planned things to go," said the person on the other line, though it was very obvious who their identity was. "I'm contacting you, to let you know that sometime in the future I expect, Towa City to get… more involved. And when that happens… just know that I can count on you. With that said, I have to go and handle some other stuff. I'll contact you in the future again if I need to. Later,"
The video chat ended. The person in the room who we couldn't see at the moment began to giggle in a way that would send chills down most people's spines. It seemed Towa City, sometime in the future was about to become the next setting for a clash between hope, despair, and everything in between.
To Be Continued…
So how was it? One thing I'll be doing after the end of every chapter is putting down some notes. Some pertaining to the chapter, and sometimes pertaining to the future of the story in general.
1. This story will still incorporate aspects from the main and canon timeline, like how the survivors of Class 78 was rescued by Future Foundation (though in this case, all of the class made it out in the IF Timeline, ignoring Junko who's currently off elsewhere).
2. The Future Foundation Division Head members are all characters who made their debut in the Danganronpa 3 Anime. As you can see, they're a varied bunch. There are more members besides the ones who have shown so far in this story, though I don't want to say if they will be involved. Probably not.
3. The quote that Toko references is indeed the real thing, as it was a line that Sherlock Holmes once said, as written by his author.
4. The characters brought up by Class 78, when referencing their loved ones held hostage, are all characters that are apart or mentioned in Another Episode.
5. The beginning with the whole IFs intro, kind of references Danganronpa If's intro.
6. So as this chapter shows, it's already off to a different start to the original Another Episode, though I do want to make it very clear, that this story will be taking things directly from the original, and at the same time will be doing things differently. At times, the same, at times completely different, and at times a bit of both.
So that should be it for now. If anyone has anything they wish to say, point out, review, etc, don't be afraid to do so. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and till the next one!