ACT 2: NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE
Chapter 8: Finale
History of Despair
Part 6
Tainted revolution
Alone in her solitary cell, Rin Yamamoto reflected on what had happened for her to end up like this, before what was little left of her sanity disappeared completely - the poor condition of the prison itself and the lack of human interaction were driving her insane.
For years, the Ultimate Police Women had traveled the world to assist law enforcers in many countries in restoring order and bringing justice to those deserving it. She thought it was the right thing to do. Because Japan was one of the most crime-free nations on this planet, it was better to have her talent applied where it was needed most: in developing countries where the rule of law was poor and corruption rampant. Rin was dedicated to her duties wherever she went and earned a great number of decorations for her staunch efforts.
After two years of studying at Hope's Peak Academy while allowing her talent to be nurtured in a tamed and academic environment, Rin finally decided to get back to the streets by choosing a North African country which recently underwent a coup-de-tat as her next destination, following a personal invitation from its "newly elected" president. As this would be her graduation project, Hope's Peak Academy agreed on financing her trip in change for her keeping a complete and detailed journal of her activities as long as they didn't have to deal with state secrets.
Rin's decision was not particularly well-received. The government in the destination country was considered by many to be a military dictatorship and was vehemently opposed by Amelda Mason despite him also lending accounting and auditing services to Middle Eastern theocracies with equally abysmal records in human rights. His claim that "money was money" regardless of origin which was a far cry from the ideals he possessed when Rin first met him. In the end, Rin went on with her choice regardless.
Upon arrival, Rin found the situation more complicated than she thought. The criminals were particularly dangerous - more so than any country she had ever been to, but the response by the government was brutal and extreme. There were formal arrests but also many force disappearances. There were fair trials but also planted evidence and confessions under torture. There were insidious plots uncovered, weapons confiscated, and wanted villains brought to justice but also countless innocent lives irreparably ruined. Despite her initial misgivings, Rin fit in with her job nicely, fully convinced that the end justified the means.
Then came another coup, which led to the coming to power of a new regime that sympathized with those the previous government considered terrorists. The new regime was equally oppressive but ten times more insane, proven by the violent purge that followed seeing the president, his family, and many of their associates executed. Then, it turned its attention to the enablers of the old government: ministers, officials, envoys, business magnates, imams, and, of course, law enforcers. Rin was top of the hit list.
Despite Hope's Peak Academy's insistence that its student was to be returned, the new regime refused, stating Rin had committed crimes within its jurisdiction and that it had the right to overseer her punishment. The fact the country had descended into an all-out civil war also impeded the extradition process. Three months into solitary confinement and Rin's will and spirit were all but broken.
As she languished in her prison cell, Rin thought her time was over. Five days ago she had, along with hundreds of other inmates, started a hunger strike and the regime had not answered. She was determined: it was release or death, no other way around.
As the door to her cell opened, Rin lashed out with her dried and croaked voice, "Has my release been confirmed? If not, then go away. I don't need your fucking food."
"You are free now," said the person at the door. The voice was feminine and familiar.
Surprised, Rin looked up to see someone she recognized: a freckled girl with short black hair and carrying more guns, knives, and grenades than humanly possible. It was none other than Mukuro Ikusaba the Ultimate Solider from class 78 at Hope's Peak Academy. Her title was misleading - Mukuro was not a servicewoman of any nation but instead a mercenary famous for prowess and ruthlessness who had fought in hundreds of battlefields without getting injured once. Though Rin had never appreciated Mukuro's role as a fighter rather than an ender of wars, she ultimately conceded that conflicts required a different solution which conventional law enforcement was seriously inadequate in delivering.
As a matter of fact, Mukuro got along well with Rin's classmates, particularly Amelda who had been working with some of the patrons of her organization, Hokuto who was keen on setting up mining businesses in the Middle East once the wars were over, El Viento who loved a fair fight against an equal opponent, and Minako who looked up to her as a big sister figure.
Words couldn't describe how glad Rin felt seeing a fellow student from Hope's Peak Academy here.
"Thank you," Rin tried to speak. The hunger strike had deprived her of much of her strength. "I am in your debt."
"Don't mention it," Mukuro said emotionlessly.
As she was half-carried by Mukuro outside her cell, Rin saw the scene of utter chaos unfolding. All the doors to cells were opened and prisoners were rioting. Dead bodies were lying on the floor, both guards and inmates, some horrifically mutilated. The sight brought a fresh wave of horror to Rin who realized some of these prisoners were so dangerous and so radical that neither the old junta nor the new regime could ever allow existing outside their prisons. Some of them were captured, interrogated, and tortured by Rin herself. And now that they were all free, Rin wondered what would happen to the people of the country.
Then she realized they probably deserved it. She fought and sweated and bled to its protection. Yet, upon her imprisonment, local media outlets called her a devil while the people flocked to the streets in the thousands chanting for her death. This entire wretched, ungrateful nation could go to hell for all she cared about.
"How are we getting out of here?" Rin asked after taking a big swig from the water bottle Mukuro gave her. It was great to feel the wetness in her mouth again.
"The security personnel is either dead or too busy," Mukuro answered simply. "The prisoners will offer us no hindrance. We will walk out." Rin did not doubt that. While she was too weak to fight, Mukuro was a monster in all types of combat.
"I mean how are we getting out of this damn country?" Rin corrected.
"A private jet is awaiting us one hundred fifty kilometers from here," said Mukuro. "I will commandeer a vehicle and get us there."
"Are we going back to Japan?"
Mukuro shook her head. "No. We are returning to Fenrir's primary base two thousand kilometers north of here. From there, you will rest before we make out next move."
"What do you mean we?" asked Rin, taken back.
Mukuro flashed her a rare smile. "Rin Yamamoto, the Ultimate Policewoman, welcome to the resistance."
"Resistance?" Rin frowned. "Against what?" Surely Mukuro didn't mean overthrowing the current regime in this country - Fenrir tried to avoid politics as much as possible, only fighting for money and the thrill of controlling lives and deaths.
Mukuro replied, "Against hope."
Day 9
Tartarus Keep
9:30
Trial Ground
The air was heavy as thirteen students looked at one another in apprehension at the conclusion of the trial as the Overlord of Tartarus, Monokuma, cast a gleeful gaze at our frustration. This whole sham of a trial had come to an end without conviction due to the existence of two possible murderers - Inori the Ultimate Patient and Eliza the Ultimate Tinkerer - both also victims of their circumstances and neither had any ill-feeling towards the victim.
"Without knowing for sure how and where Ashley was killed, a concrete conclusion is beyond our grasp, based on the evidence we have collected so far." Even as Fitzgerald broke the silence by repeating what we had already learned, all of us were flabbergasted at the prospect of having to risk our lives on a toss of a coin.
"So it's 50-50 f-f-for us, then?" Tatsuya stuttered.
"There has got to be another way," Yume fruitlessly denied. "Something else to discuss. Something else to talk about."
"You got any idea?" Eliza asked. The Ultimate Baker was quiet.
"Monokuma, this can't be fair," Hokuto complained. "Give us some hints, will you?"
"Now you turn to beg to the true villain in this room." El Viento shook her head. "Pathetic."
Hokuto was agitated by the comment. "You got any better idea that will not get us all killed?"
"I would rather die than asking for a favor from the devil." El Viento was resolute.
"What you have given us here is an impossible scenario, Monokuma," I raised. Unlike the Ultimate Luchador, I had no intention of dying here, but I agreed that appearing condescending to Monokuma would only encourage further abuses from him in the future. "Is that how you and audience derive entertainment from, to watch us all die based on some dumb luck?"
"Wrong!" Monokuma refuted. "Forget entertainment, think about yourself. You are met with a herculean task that nine out of ten would not be able to overcome. Your performance in the trial so far has been nothing less than impressive, and for that, I am proud. But all stories need a finale. And that's up to you."
"Up to us?" Hijiri countered. "Doesn't it feel cheating that we made it so far only for you to drop a massive boulder out of nowhere and kill us all?"
"Boulder drops are as unexpected as they are dangerous," Minako chimed in with her irrelevance as usual. "I nearly died twice from that. Gotta be careful."
"What she means is shit happens," Fitzgerald interpreted. "And we just have to deal with it."
"Not this gigantic pile of Jurassic shit," Hokuto retorted.
"I agree," Kai joined in. "No way to the audience will be happy to see us fail because of some dumb luck situation. Monokuma, give us a fighting chance, will you?"
The bear's dismissal was to be expected. "Nope. You are on your own. I gave you that bit of info earlier and that's all you bastards are getting from me."
"So, what do we do now?" asked Inori.
"Should we just move on to the v-v-voting?" Tatsuya suggested.
"And let Lady Luck decides our fate?" Eliza barked. "No way in hell."
"I can live and die with that," said El Viento. "You should have more faith. The Lord will not abandon us so."
"And neither will Mother Earth," Minako added. "I too am willing to take the chance." Seeing El Viento and Minako's strong faith in their religions made me nervous, for it had been a long time since I put down the Torah never to pick up again, much to the disappointment of my mother.
"We have to do it sooner or later," said Hijiri. "Better that we have a fifty percent chance to live than facing certain death without any vote."
"But vote for who?" I asked. "The evidence so far suggests both Inori and Eliza could have been the culprit." Not that either of them intended to commit the murder in the first place.
"Eliza, of course." Hokuto was quick to go back to his original argument. "I am sticking to my gun here. We have been beating the bush the whole time. She's the culprit."
"Hey!" Eliza burst into a tantrum. I could very well understand how much pressure she was under right now; this was, after all, her fight for survival, after all. "What is it with you and your accusations against me? Do you know how much this world stands to lose if I die so prematurely?" I was skeptical about her claim. Up to this point, her talent had been rather unimpressive, as it was Hokuto and Ashley who were responsible for most of the contraptions and devices around here (not that any of them led to a positive outcome). Eliza wanted to focus on her projects in secret, which made her difficult to evaluate.
"Being found with the body does make you the most suspicious around here," said Hijiri. "I know. Amelda was found in my room and you caught him red-handed."
"Him red-handed?" said Inu. "Ahh, you mean you stabbed him in the hand." Ouch. At this point, I felt embarrassed whenever my injury - the source of my vulnerability - appeared in a discussion.
"You assholes are not dragging me down so easily!" Eliza growled.
"What about Inori?" asked El Viento.
"According to her autopsy, Ashley suffered a major blow to her head which might have caused her death," I explained. Though it pained me to accuse someone I knew and liked, this was for the sake of not only myself and eleven others. "And from matching the narratives, we know it was Inori who was responsible."
"It was only an accident," Minako added. "She wasn't even aiming for Ashley when she threw that helmet."
"Not that it makes any difference," said Fitzgerald. "The Despair Gas caused all of us to lose control."
"It's alright," said Inori. "Just vote for me."
There was a moment of silence. As I could recall, when we first met, she said she would keep fighting until the very end. Perhaps, in a way, this was how she would make good of her promise.
"Wh-what d-d-did you s-s-say?" Tatsuya's stammering was worse than usual. "You c-c-can't m-m-mean it."
Yume was crestfallen. "Why do you say something like that, Inori?"
"Don't you w-w-want to live?" asked Tatsuya.
"Everyone, getting to know and befriend you all has been a great joy to me," Inori replied. "But I am not long for this world. My disease will claim me one way or another. On the other hand, Eliza here has her whole life ahead of her. If anything, she would make more contributions in the future than I could."
"Inori-chan..." Minako stuttered.
"That's very selfless of you," Fitzgerald remarked. "Still, if you are innocent but Eliza is not, then we all will die for it."
"Still too big of a risk," I added. I didn't like this at all. 50-50 chance sounded horrible when all of us here were risk-averse - our lives were on the line here! I felt guilty for prolonging the trial by arguing to delay Eliza's condemnation only to end up at a roadblock with no way around.
"Damn it!" Hokuto growled. "Fucking shit! Damn you and all your children to hell, Monokuma."
"I think I get it now," said Rin. All our eyes turned towards the Ultimate Policewoman who, until now, had completely isolated herself from the hecticness that was the post-trial debate. "Now that I have reviewed all the evidence so far, plus recalling my own observation, it is clear to me who is the culprit."
"Are you sure?" asked Eliza incredulously. Out of all the persons here, she was the most nervous. After all, she was one of the two main suspects and was not as accepting of death as the other.
Kai was excited to hear. "Really? Who then?"
"Inori or Eliza or someone else?" asked Hijiri.
"Or is it Monokuma or one of his henchmen the one who killed Ashley?" inquired El Viento. I found her suggestion more wishful than rational.
"An interesting turn of even," Fitzgerald smirked. "Very well, if you have any wisdom to share then I am all ears."
"I don't think I want to hear it." Inu braced himself.
"Inori's autopsy of Ashley concluded that the cause of death is highly a blow to the head," Rin elaborated. "We suspect Ashley was hit on accident by Inori in the hallway and dragged herself into the library. My experience, however, tells me otherwise."
"That concussion wasn't the cause of death?" Hokuto chimed in. Eliza stared daggers at him.
"That Ashley was dead as soon as the helmet hits her," Rin continued.
For a moment, we stood there, dumbfounded by her claim. The Ultimate Policewoman was known for her being uptight - she would not crack a joke at a time like this.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Yume.
Non-stop debate.
"How is that even possible?" Hokuto cried. "Have you lost your mind already?"
"Are you sure you are not still under the effect of the Despair Gas, Rin-chan?" asked Minako worriedly.
"I am in my right mind," Rin replied sternly. "And I stand by what I just said."
"If she was already dead, how could she have walked all the way to the library?" El Viento pressed.
"Maybe she was dragged there?" Kai suggested.
"If that's the case, then by whom?" Yume countered.
"What if... the Despair Gas has something to do with it?" Inu voiced.
"What do you mean?" asked Hokuto. "You figured out something, buddy?"
"The effects of the Despair Gas, could it have explained why Ashley was killed in the hallway but still ended up in the library?" Fitzgerald mused.
"Maybe she was a zombie," said El Viento.
"Stop saying things like that," Minako implored. "Please."
"I'll give that argument an unqualified opinion."
Amelda used Truth Bullet #7: Despair Gas.
"Wait, it's real?" Hokuto was aghast. "Don't tell me it's real."
"What foul magic is that?" Yume exclaimed. "Is Monokuma a necromancer?"
"Not magic, Yume," I replied, though I wished I could stop talking and admitted I didn't want to condemn anyone to their death. "Dark science. On the canister, it clearly says the Despair Gas can cause reanimation." I couldn't stomach the idea that the best minds in psychology, chemistry (other than Inu here), and other fields came together to develop such an abomination.
"I see," said Fitzgerald. "I must admit, when I first looked at it, I thought it only meant resuscitation. I certainly didn't expect the term 'reanimation' to be used so literally."
"So that's it, heh?" Inori sighed. "I am guilty after all." The way she spoke was matter-of-fact as if she had fully expected this outcome since the very beginning, which didn't lessen the pain building in my chest.
"Is that what you have been trying to say the whole time, Rin," asked Yume.
The Ultimate Police Woman nodded. "Yes. That's it."
"And why is it that you decided to disclose this game-changing evidence after we concluded the trial?" I inquired her. "I would have thought only Fitzgerald could have done so to make us look like fools."
"Ouch," Fitzgerald snickered. "I would never."
"I was stressed out during the whole investigation," Rin admitted. "I already told you what I saw, and I am sorry for not being strong enough to overcome my hesitation earlier."
"How can we trust you?" asked Hijiri. This evidence brought forward by Rin had the power to condemn someone to death and was the key to either our salvation or ultimate doom - it should not be taken lightly. "How do you know Ashley died an instant death?"
"My career often puts me into situations that involve close quarter combat," Rin explained. This part was likely, as the country where she was based before enrolling in Hope's Peak Academy had many overcrowded slums where crimes were common, and I could imagine her battling her way through these dark and dirty alleys with only her fists. "Aside from personal experience, I also received substantial training in human biology in order to maximize the effectiveness of suppression. I know what kind of damage a certain blow could have, and how does it affect the body. And I can tell you with certainty the blow to Ashley's head was immediately lethal."
"Do you swear the information is correct?" I pressed. Though I was loath to doubt her, I had to make sure I could not have any regret after this. After all, it was standard auditing practice to demand a representation letter from the management at the client firm when a suspicious transaction or balance could not be objectively or independently verified. In that way, the auditor would shift all responsibility back to the management and be spared from the ensuing trouble if the accounts were indeed erroneous.
The Ultimate Policewoman hesitated for a moment, then said, "I swear it from the bottom of my heart."
"That settles it." El Viento nodded approvingly.
"Is this... the end?" asked Inu hopefully.
"With this revelation, we can now pinpoint the culprit of Ashley's murder," said Kai.
Identity parade.
Who killed Ashley?
Inori
Eliza
"Danse Macabre takes the stage."
"Sounds about right." Inori conceded. "I was on the fence about it as well, so thanks for clearing that up, Rin."
"Inori..." Yume muttered.
"And so this trial ends," Fitzgerald remarked. "Even more melodramatic than the first one."
"So it wasn't Eliza," said Hokuto. "Well, sorry for jumping to the conclusion there. But seriously, if you had stated that evidence in the first place, I wouldn't have made a fool out of myself."
"I'm sorry," Eliza uttered. "I wished it hadn't turned out this way." I didn't expect the Ultimate Tinkerer to express remorse considering Inori's indication meant her survival.
Minako's response was the fiercest, probably triggered by the ridiculousness of the claim that brought Inori to conviction. "No! I will not stand this! I WILL NOT!"
"Minako, calm down," I called out.
"NO! You can't make me! This whole trial is a scam! You cannot accuse Inori based on such sacrilegious claims. I will not let it pass!"
"You don't need to," Inori urged. " I accept."
"Truly a warrior, isn't she?" El Viento remarked. "I am honored now to have been bested by Minako."
"Don't encourage her," Hijiri admonished. "You're just making it worse."
"Come to your sense, will you?" Hokuto demanded Minako.
"THEN PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS!" Minako bellowed.
"Let's not make this harder than it already is," Inu urged frantically. The poor fellow was also losing it to Minako's outburst. "I...I can't handle it anymore. Please, just stop!"
"Oooooh," Monokuma giggled sadistically. "Who would have known that despair was so infectious? Except me, of course!"
"Fuck you, Monokuma!" I grunted. "Still, we need to talk Minako down. Otherwise, the trial won't end."
"She's clearly unstable," Fitzgerald agreed.
Monokuma laughed. "And here I thought this trial would be missing my favorite part."
"It ends here," said Rin determinedly. "It's painful, I know. But we have no choice but to accept it."
"I WILL NOT!" Minako shouted back with vehemence.
Final Showdown!
Panic talk action.
4 shields remaining
"How could you make such a claim, Rin-chan," Minako hollered.
"I am the Ultimate Policewoman," Rin countered. "I do whatever it takes to protect us all."
*Crack*
"You are sending Inori to her death," Minako cried.
"The other option is for us all to die," said Rin.
*Break*
3 shields remaining
"Inori would never kill anyone," Minako continued.
"The Despair Gas made her do it," Rin replied.
*Crack*
"It was an accident!" Minako persisted.
"It still counts," Rin double-downed.
*Break*
2 shields remaining
"What about El Viento? What about me?" Minako pleaded.
"Minimum chance of either of you committing the crime even if your accounts are incomplete," Rin explained.
*Crack*
"How so?" Minako pressed.
"Because the timing of Ashley's death and Inori's own account," Rin continued.
*Break*
Last shield
"This whole trial makes no sense," Minako whimpered.
"Nothing here makes sense," Rin replied.
*Crack*
"Maybe it's better that we all die," Minako mumbled.
"Not all of us can agree," Rin argued.
*Break*
=FINAL BLOW=
"There is no such thing as zombies!" Minako shouted at the top of her lung. "They are completely unnatural."
KAZUKI'S EXECUTION!
Rin proclaimed vigorously over her vanquished opponent. "I am the law!"
"Normally I would respond with a witty and shame-inducing remark over such outrageous claim," said Monokuma. "But since you put up quite a good show, I think I'll let you gloat. This time."
"That's right," breathed Inu. "How could we have forgotten... what happened to Kazuki." With the final argument delivered, I was rudely reminded of the Ultimate Flautist's fate in which he was dragged into a pond by a horde of zombie children to be devoured. As if Kazuhiko's death wasn't enough, the violent manner of Kazuki's execution was proof of the severity and barbarity of the Mutual Killing Game.
"Damn it," Hokuto cursed. "It is confirmed, then. So... those two in the dungeon..."
"Golly," Yume exclaimed. "So Monokuma can raise the dead after all. I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me. That's some really powerful dark magic - I mean science - he got there. I don't think even the combined power of me and my sister could handle that."
"I guess it makes sense now," said Inori with a sad smile. "In fact, I am glad Ashley didn't have to suffer. She died instantly."
"But her body was defiled," I said. The fate of being transformed into a shambling, mindless zombie was, in my opinion, worse than death. Luckily, Eliza was able to quickly bring her down, permanently. God, now I was supposed to feel grateful for the unholy mess Eliza created in the library, knowing the outcome could have been far more grim had a zombie been allowed to roam freely within the castle.
"Bodies don't last forever, you know?" It was Monokuma who answered. "Why do you care so much about the defilement of corpses anyway?"
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Hijiri seemed to agree.
"It's over, then," said Fitzgerald. "We have come to the final verdict."
"Let's get it over," said Hokuto. "I am stressed out enough as it is."
"So, Minako?" asked Rin. "Have you come to acceptance?"
Minako inhaled deeply, then said, "Yes. I have." She looked defeated.
"Monokuma, let's get on with the voting already," Kai urged.
"You asked for it, and I shall make it so," Monokuma chuckled. "Would you make the right choice and sacrifice the blackened for the sake of your survival, or will you fumble and meet your premature end here? Let's find out."
Nominate the killer.
Inori Hayashi – 12
No vote – 1
The was more unity in the votes compared to the first trial, which I guessed it was in part because Inori had overtly embraced her verdict and, in part, because that troublemaker Ashley Wiltarrow was no longer around to vote for herself. Damn, I never thought I would miss Ashley and her pranks so much. Our stay (aka entrapment) in Tartarus Keep would be much duller without her now.
"And now, the moment you've been waiting for," Monokuma said joyously. All of us were breathless as we braced for the revelation. "Your final answer is Inori Hayashi the Ultimate Patient. Aaaaaaand you are RIGHT! Congratulation on solving yet another challenging mystery! Pat yourselves on the shoulder because all except one of you will get to live another day."
Despite Monokuma's jubilance, none of us here was in the mood to celebrate. It seemed Rin was correct and we were now in her debt. Even if I still mistrusted her many methods, the fact she saved our lives and brought this trial to a mild conclusion was appreciated.
"I guess this is goodbye," muttered Yume. "Inori, I will miss you."
"I d-d-don't want you to go," murmured Tatsuya.
"You are a fighter, Inori," said El Viento. "You persevere to the very end."
"Thank you," said Inori. "Yes. I thought this disease would be the end of me. For so long, I was content with my fate that I would waste away all alone. Then I met you guys and it made me changed my perception. It's been a while since I had any friend who I can rely on, and for that, I am happy for all the time we had together, even if it was short and fraught with dangers. Though it is my time to go, I feel victorious. Why? Because I finally died for something other than my disease, because this is a death I accept knowing it would lead you guys one step towards your escape. So please, one last request, don't cry for me."
It was hard to. seeing another friend was about to die. She was too optimistic about our chance of survival, or that her death made any sense in this cruel and deadly game in which we were unwilling participants, but none of us here would refute her. For a while, we all stood there, speechless.
"Your sacrifice will not be in vain," Rin affirmed. "I will get us out of there. I swear it."
"Yeah," Hokuto added. "Monokuma won't keep us here forever."
"May God have mercy on your soul," I prayed for Inori just as I did for Kazuki.
"May He do," Fitzgerald repeated.
"And may Mother Earth accepts you as her loving daughter," Minako added, having finally given up trying to prove zombies weren't real.
"You were very nice to us," said Kai. "I hope you will find peace in the afterlife."
"I know it's either me or you," said Eliza. "But I'm still sad to see you go."
One by one, we fought back our tears and gave Inori the final farewell. Then, just like last time, a couple of guards in monochrome uniforms appeared and led Inori to where her execution would be held. The Ultimate Patient did not resist, not that she had any strength to.
"Let's give everything we've got," Monokuma announced with uncontrollable bliss. "It's PUNIIIIIIISHMENT TIME! For your information, this method has been tried before, and I thought it was booooring. So here is the new and improved version of it. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!"
GAME OVER
INORI HAYASHI HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY
TIME FOR PUNISHMENT
The execution, watched by the remaining 12 students from many cameras at different angles, appeared to take place outside of Tartarus Keep. It was nighttime, but the moonless sky took on an unnaturally reddish color that looked as if we were on another planet altogether. I had no idea if this was another of Monokuma's stage or something horrible had truly happened to the outside world that caused the night sky to change its color so dramatically.
A sad-looking Inori was strapped to a hospital bed with monitors attached to her. She struggled to escape but to no avail. Suddenly, Monokuma in a doctor's outfit appeared and checked up on the tablet at the end of her bed. Tossing it aside, he ran out before heading back carrying a series of syringes containing fluids of all colors with him.
BYE-BYE OUCHIES 2.0
Before Inori could protest, Monokuma injected the first needle into the lips and pumped the medicine into them. Inori's lips swelled and were unable to move, effectively muting her. With his patient/victim silenced, Monokuma was on full swing as he injected Inori with whatever syringe he could get his paws on. Inori suffered on effect after another, as her ten toes were inflated to the size of ping-pong balls, her eyes changed from green to red to black to blue, her skin was swollen where it was penetrated, and a hideous, deformed third arm sprouted from her right shoulder.
As Inori barely clang onto life despite the abuse, Monokuma delivered the final blow in the form of a massive syringe with greenish fluid inside. Monokuma wasted no time injecting the entire content into Inori, which caused her entire body to puff up at least three times in volume. At this point, the Ultimate Patient's fate was sealed. Unbinding the poor girl, Monokuma took out a tack and poked her as he would to a balloon.
Inori was instantly launched into the sky like a rocket, leaving a trail of blood mixed with chemicals in her wake, before finally released from her misery in a huge explosion. The red sky was lit up by a multi-color firework of bones, gore, innards, and the dozens of unhealthy medicines in her body at the time.
Inori Hayashi, the Ultimate Patient, has been executed
And so our numbers were thinned out by one. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting a clean death, given what happened to Kazuki earlier. But this! THIS was taking torture porn to a whole new level! How could I stand watching it? How could anyone mastermind such a thing?
"Golly, what did I just see?" Yume's face paled. "No-no way that's fine."
"W-w-why did it have to be l-l-like that?" Tatsuya froze in horror.
Hijiri's face was of pure disgust. "It's a shame that all the artistic talents went into making this abomination." The thought that so many intellectuals and experts had sided with Monokuma in tormenting and killing us was repelling to me.
"I agree," said Fitzgerald. "This has got to be the most sadistic form of entertainment I've seen in my life. And trust me, I've seen a lot."
"She deserves better than that," Eliza seethed.
"Goddammit, Monokuma!" I cried out. "Does it kill you to kill us with more dignity?"
"Nah," replied Monkuma. "What's the fun in that? Besides, given she had no family left, who will want to collect her body for burial?"
"You honey-licking bastard," Rin spat. "You will not get away with this."
"Not the first time I heard," Monokuma snickered.
"That was...," Inu whimpered, "horrible... Oh dear, I don't want it. Get me out of here, PLEASE!"
"Inu, pull yourself together," I shouted to calm him.
Inu wiped his tears with his sleeve. "Amelda..., but..."
"As you said yourself," I lowered my voice. The fellow had improved greatly since the first trial and I would be damned to allow him to slip back to his old self. "Don't make it any harder. So do it for us as well. You need to stop panicking. You are braver than that. I believe in you."
"Right," Inu sniffed. "I... I will try..."
"Mason handled the situation correctly," said Fitzgerald. "We already have enough problems on our hand without any of us losing their marbles."
"Easy for you to say," said Hokuto who was also comforting a frightened Tatsuya. The Ultimate Delivery Boy might not have been outspoken, but his gestures suggested he was scared shitless by the execution more most of us. While the first execution struck hard because it came out of nowhere, the second carried the weight of reaffirming our plight and the dreadful fate that awaited us all in the Mutual Killing Game.
"Guys," Yume advised. "The devil feeds on our fears and the more despaired we are the stronger it grows. We must not allow that."
Hijiri sighed deeply. "I... I don't know anymore. Why must I care if I am destined to die in such a manner?"
"Don't say things like that," begged Kai.
"We must remain calm and united," said El Viento. "If we don't, Monokuma will just pick us off one by one."
"I need some time alone," Hijiri stated before departing from the courtroom. She was right about this part. All of us needed some time to process what just happened and the future that awaited us, whether alone or with someone else.
"We should all head back," I suggested.
"I don't know if I can get any sleep after this," Eliza complained.
"Can I stay in your r-r-room, Hokuto?" asked Tatsuya.
Hokuto's eyes widened. "What? My room? Sure, but it's kinda messy, you know."
"I d-d-don't care," Tatsuya said. "I just don't w-w-want to be on m-m-my own. I'm s-s-sorry if I am being too p-p-pushy."
Hokuto gave an encouraging smile. "You are welcome in." He gave the rest of us a wink that said 'If Tatsuya was found dead, you know who to vote for'.
"You are a liar, Rin-chan," said Minako accusingly, tears dripping from her eyes. The Ultimate Herbalist was no longer the timid and awkward girl we knew as she stared at the Ultimate Policewoman, eyes red and burning with anger and hate. I couldn't blame her. She had been through much with both her closest friends dead and the lynchpin argument to the last trial being religiously offensive to her.
"Minako...," I began.
"Don't defend her!" Minako snapped. I was taken back by her ferocity. "Rin-chan, you promised you would protect us over and over again, and what has happened so far? Four of us are dead and we have come no closer to finding a way to escape from this hellhole. You made that promise to Inori-chan before she dies. How do you suppose you can uphold that?"
Rin was silent, unable to say a word.
"Perhaps we need a new strategy," said El Viento.
"Or perhaps it is better if we just all die," said Minako grimly. "Death is a relief when life is suffering." With that, she stormed out of the courtroom, leaving us stunned.
"She needs some time," I said. "Once she calms down, let's see if we can talk some sense to her."
"We're counting on you for that," said Fitzgerald. Out of all people left, I was probably the one Minako trusted most. Given I was the first to voice support for Rin's claim in the last trial, our relationship might have become more complicated.
"I... I don't want to die," Inu muttered.
"Nobody is dying," Rin voiced. There was uncertainty written all over her face. Perhaps Minako was right that Rin couldn't be trusted. "I... I'll find a way to end this."
"See that you do," said Hokuto. "Meanwhile, I will continue looking for an escape route. And Tatsuya here will help me, right buddy?"
"I-I-I'll try," Tatsuya replied.
"I hope Minako doesn't become a burden later on," El Viento commented. "She is very fierce, I will give her that."
"But to turn aggression on her allies instead of her enemies, that can't be good," said Yume. "Amelda, let me help you with this one. I know a recipe that can cheer up depressed people."
"That's great," I thanked.
As we began leaving the courtroom, I felt a hand seizing at the sleeve of my jacket. It was Fitzgerald.
"Hold up," he said. "There's something I need to tell."
"More secrets?" I returned rudely, resisting the urge to punch him in the face for the breach of trust earlier.
"Sort of," said Fitzgerald. "I'll talk when it's just the two of us."
We waited for everyone else to exit the chamber before I continued, "I don't want it. Why not share it with the rest?"
"Didn't we agree earlier that we must work to prevent the spreading of panic among our ranks?" Fitzgerald replied insouciantly. His attitude was driving me up the wall.
"How do I know you aren't planning to backstab me at some point?" I asked bluntly. Fitzgerald paused for a moment, signifying my success in hitting him at a sore spot.
The Ultimate Detective chuckled. " Still salty, aren't you?"
I sighed. I knew I shouldn't let my emotions get the better of me, especially when the stakes were high. Yet, it was difficult to ignore the fact Dirty Fitzgerald here was able to rearm with the help of Inu, Hokuto, and Ashley despite earlier handling me all the bullets as a sign of good faith. Putting that out of the way, there was one more secret I wasn't keen on keeping anymore. "Maybe it's better that we let them learn about it, the prophecy of Hagakure thing. Four of us are dead unknowing of it. I think we stand a better chance of getting out of here in one piece if we work together on deciphering it, all twelve of us."
"I will disclose that in the next meeting," Fitzgerald agreed. "As for what I am about to tell you, you must not tell anyone else. They are not ready yet."
"What is it that made you, out of all people, so fussed up?" I inquired. Just as I had not seen Minako so aggressive, I never thought Fitzgerald could ever be insecure.
"Rin lied to us," Fitzgerlad replied, his voice more serious now. "I know a liar when I saw one, and she definitely fitted the category when she brought up the final piece of evidence that damned Inori."
ACT II ENDS
Survivors: 12/16
Author's Note: Yippee. We are now at the end of the second trial. We are half-way through the story and I am very happy to see quite a few people are sticking around, as well as a number of new readers. I hope you all have a great time with this story. If there is anything, please tell me. I love a good chit-chat.
Alright, here is the issue. You may already see the change in format. In-universe, this was because the cast believed the trial was over when they concluded that no more evidence could be discussed in the previous chapter. Out-universe, I didn't want the trial to be too long (this one is already one and half times longer than the first). Now, since scripts are prohibited by FFN rule, I will have to go back and rewrite the previous trials. This is me experimenting with a new style, and I hope you guys will find it easy to follow. If there is anything, please advise. The next chapter will probably be delayed due to the massive rewriting. I hope you guys, including the people at Critics United, will support me on this.
This chapter focuses more on Rin. My aim is to make her a controversial character and I know a lot of you guys are hoping to see more of her. And thank you Mayurie and Wiltarow for sending Inori and Ashley, respectively. All of your characters are such a joy to me to write, but all good things come to an end in the Mutual Killing Game. I hope you guys will still follow even if your submitted characters no longer.
The rating has been upped to M due to explicit violence and references to real-world politics, mainly police states.