(A/N: My apologies for the delay ladies and gentlemen. It's been almost a month since the last update. I just needed a break from this story to try and mix my other ongoing story into the fold. It's tough adjusting to a new job. But, I've got good news. My shift is now 12-8 at work (that's 12pm to 8pm) BUT my schedule has me getting up at 7am anyway. Oh, don't start getting worried, I wasn't getting home and settling down till around that time anyway due to various reasons. But at least now I can actually get stuff done and just decompress and sleep when I get home. Expect more rapid updates in the coming months. But enough rambling, let's just jump headfirst into it).
The night of the monster attack was strangely solved by a mysterious light that dove down from the sky. No one knew that the source was one Yugi Mutoh and his newly acquired Duel Monsters card the Eye of Timaeus. With this setback, Dartz had to rethink his strategy, buying Yugi and his friends precious time to try and find him. Unfortunately, their only lead was the Atlantean museum in America and, well, world saving or not, plane tickets were expensive. Also, school was a thing.
In fact, despite the giant monster attack, very little property damage had occurred besides some crashed cars and a few potholes, at least in Domino. Other cities and countries were not so lucky. And others were even more fortunate.
But, luck or not, in the city of Domino only one school was reacting ultra cautiously to the events that unfolded: Hope's Peak Academy. With Mahiru Koizumi and Kuroko Sato comatose, reportedly done in by Hiyoko Saionji and Natsumi Kuzuryu respectively, the school was taking extra precautionary measures to ensure none of their other students got hurt. They dismissed the reserve course students to vacation until the situation blew over and all Main Course students were to stay on campus unless supervised by an adult, be that a member of security, or a teacher.
Since the school's budget couldn't allow all students to remain on campus, this was the next best option. Even with that said, the new chairwoman was willing to pay out of pocket per month that the situation delayed education to the reserve course students. After all, there was a difference between vacation and ridiculousness.
The idea was that it would be possible to keep a closer eye on a smaller number of students while preventing another Natsumi from targeting a main course student with a power the new Steering Committee couldn't comprehend—not that the old one would've been able to either. By keeping an eye on the main course students, it would keep them from targeting each other. Unfortunately, keeping an eye on all of the students at once was not possible, especially in their dorm rooms when privacy was of the utmost importance. It didn't help that the Steering Committee's office was located on a completely different part of campus than the Main Course and not all 9 members were ever required to be on-site at once.
And that would, unfortunately cause more mayhem, discord, and despair than the current Steering Committee found "within acceptable parameters".
On the night that Yugi saved the world with Timaeus, Nagito Komaeda had seen the bright light from out of his window. He had remembered how bright and hopeful the light was. And yet, now confined to the school, he dreaded he would never get to see that hope flourish. He heard about Mahiru and about her friend from the reserve course. Something big was going down, Marik-level big, and he wanted part of it, if only to be a stepping stone towards someone else's hope.
Worse, Dartz knew of Nagito's yearnings all too well. But, rather than just appear as a disembodied voice as he had appeared to Hiyoko and Natsumi, Dartz decided that Nagito required, a personal touch. As Nagito sat in bed, wondering when his bad luck would soon spin into good luck, the Seal of Orichalcos appeared on his bedroom floor and widened to let Dartz rise out of it.
"I hear your dilemma, Nagito Komaeda, and I am here to feed your desire to be useful, to see reality and hope unfold with your own eyes."
Nagito stood up, gasping. It appeared destiny had come knocking and he was all to ready to answer. Dartz now stood over him by a few inches, smiling suavely, dressed in his finest purple business suit. After the initial shock of seeing a man rise up out of his floor through a magic circle though, Nagito just stuck his hands in his pockets and smiled rather contently. After all, to him, this man was not to be feared, not at all.
"I remember you," Nagito said. "You're Dartz."
"Ah, so you remember when we met those several years ago," Dartz smiled. "That saves me the trouble."
"How could I forget?" Nagito said with a genuinely kind smile. "When the plane crashed and I was the only survivor, you were the one pulling me out of the wreckage and leading the rescue." Nagito held up his index finger, looking intrigued as he smiled. "Though I never would've guessed you had magical powers quite like the Millennium Items."
"My power is far greater than the power of Ancient Egypt. I control the great power of Atlantis." He smiled at Nagito. "Do you still have that ring I gave you when you were discharged from the hospital?"
"Oh. That thing. Yeah, of course I do!" Nagito dug through his night table and pulled out a dust covered, platinum ring with a glowing green stone embedded in the center.
"I told you that you would need that ring one day, young Komaeda. And that day…" he chuckled, smiling, "is tonight."
"Well, I'm more than happy to help, but what exactly will I be—" Nagito stopped talking as he slipped the ring on. The moment he had, the contract was set. Sweat dripped down as Nagito dropped to his knees. "Hghk! Nhik!" Nagito clutched at his head as his brain burned.
"Do not struggle or resist, young Komaeda. It will be so much easier if you let it go. All will be made clear by the power of the Orichalcos."
"Tuhee...guhah…"
Wait…those are not the sounds of pain. What is he…?
"Hee hee…" Nagito giggled and then started laughing. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…" Nagito gasped for breath and then continued laughing. "WHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The expression on Dartz's face for a mere moment as sweat dripped down his cheek silently said, "Dear Poseidon, what have I created?" However, as Dartz quickly gained his composure, he asked Nagito. "So, young Komaeda, do you understand what you must do? Do you understand your role?"
"Yes, Master Dartz," Nagito said, lifting his head up as his eyes flashed red within their greenish gray gaze. "Of course I understand." His tone of voice was low in pitch, and unnervingly calm by Nagito's standards. "I understand eeeeeeeveryting."
No one was made privy to what went on in Nagito's dorm room the night before. Maybe if the dorm rooms hadn't been properly sound proofed, one of the students, especially the likes of Kazuichi or Hajime, would've reported Nagito laughing like a lunatic. Nagito of course, was thankful for this, not that he had any intention of causing trouble by his standards. After all, though he was fighting for Dartz, his true intention was to draw out the hope of his classmates. He was aware of the 5 legendary dragons in Dartz's way and Nagito had every intention of drawing them out. After all, what was hope if not a clash between two hopes: Dartz's hope and the hopes of his classmates. And Nagito knew exactly who probably was going to awaken to one of the dragons.
That morning, Chiaki, a rarity since she and Hajime had started dating, was by herself in the courtyard. Hajime had asked for privacy to modify his deck and promised Chiaki five whole games before they went and did something else together. So, here she was, walking in circles with her Gamegirl advance playing Kitty Bat in Lala Land.
"Good morning, Chiaki," Nagito suddenly called out to her, jarring the gamer from her focus.
Chiaki paused the game and smiled at her classmate. "Oh, Nagito. Good morning. Is today a hopeful day?" she asked, chuckling.
"You bet it is. Say, you don't think I could trouble you for a duel, do you?"
Chiaki's cheeks flushed and she looked ecstatic. "It's no trouble at all. Hajime and I were going to duel later, but I can duel you for a little while. Want me to grab my duel disk, or do you want to use the coffee table in the game room."
"Oh by all means, please get your duel disk. I would appreciate it," Nagito said with a smile.
Nagito wasn't waiting long for Chiaki to come back, duel disk ready, heart pounding with excitement. "Ready when you are."
"Oh, Chiaki," Nagito said as he got out his new duel disk granted to him by Dartz. "I've been ready for a while."
"That's a neat duel disk," Chiaki said. "Is that a new model?"
"Actually it was custom built for me by an old acquaintance and I wanted to test it out. You don't mind, do you?"
Chiaki shook her head. "Of course not."
"Well then," Nagito said with a smile.
"Let's Duel!" Both of them declared together.
"Why don't you take the first move?" Nagito offered Chiaki.
"Sure," Chiaki smiled. She was so happy. Nagito never wanted to initiate a duel with anyone typically. She thought maybe he was turning over a new leaf and she was more than happy to help any of her classmates.
"I play one monster card face-down," Chiaki said, setting a monster. "And next, I'm activating this magic card: Gravekeeper's Servant. Every time you attack, you now have to send the top card of your deck to the graveyard. And lastly, I'm setting one card face-down. Your move, Nagito."
"Well all right then," Nagito said as he drew the top card of his deck. "I think I'll start things off by summoning my Sonic Bird to the field in attack mode!" Nagito exclaimed as his monster appeared and looked ecstatic and happy as it took off its goggles. "This lets me pull any ritual magic card of my choosing from my deck to my hand." Nagito gleamed through his deck and added a ritual spell to his hand. "Next, I'm activating this ritual spell card, Primal Cry. Then, using a level 8 ritual monster in my hand, I can summon this monster: Vennu, Bright Bird of Divinity!"
With a loud, powerful cry that sounded less like a bird and more like a lion, a shining avian being descended onto the battlefield, flapping its wings so majestically.
"And now, Vennu, attack!" Nagito declared.
"Don't forget you have to remove the top card of your deck in order to attack me," Chiaki reminded him.
"I haven't forgotten," Nagito said, putting the card into his graveyard.
Nagito's monster pounced upon Chiaki's face-down monster, her staple Man-Eater Bug. The creature, though struggling under Vennu's foot, managed to hook its claws into the being and topple it over. After a single rend to the bird's chest from the bug's claws, both disappeared to the graveyard.
"And now," Nagito said, taking the top card off of his deck, "I'll attack you directly with Sonic Bird!" Nagito shouted. He then put the top card of his deck into his graveyard.
Sonic Bird slammed into Chiaki headfirst into her chest and returned to Nagito. Chiaki fell on her butt and shook her head as her life points dropped down to 2,600.
"I guess now might not be the best time to point out that I'm able to banish my Primal Cry ritual from my graveyard and return my Vennu to the field since it was sent there this turn," Nagito chuckled as, like a phoenix, his monster was reborn anew and just as powerful as before."
Chiaki smiled. "You've really improved, Nagito," Chiaki said with a smile.
"Well, I had a little inspiration I guess you could say," Nagito responded in kind with a smile of his own.
"Well, my turn then. I draw." Chiaki drew the top card of her deck. "First, I activate this spell card, Lightning Vortex! By discarding one card from my hand, I can destroy every monster you have on your side of the field!"
As the spell card was activated, lightning sparked from Chiaki's spell card and destroyed both of Nagito's monsters, sending them to the graveyard.
"Now you're wide open and I can summon this, my Fencing Fire Ferret!" Chiaki declared. "Go! Attack Nagito's life points directly!" Chiaki declared as her monster extended its sharp tail and sliced Nagito with its fiery blade. His life points were almost equal to hers now at 2,300.
"I should've expected such a move from the Ultimate Gamer," Nagito said with a smile.
"Your move, Nagito," Chiaki said.
"Don't mind if I do," Nagito said and drew the top card of his deck. "And I think I'll activate this ritual spell: Ritual of Destruction!"
He's going to summon Garlandolf? Why now? She knew its own effect would cause it to get blown up by her Fencing Fire Ferret.
"By banishing my Djinn Demolisher of Rituals and my Djinn Presider of Rituals from my graveyard, I can summon Garlandolf without needing to select any monster on my field or hand to summon it. Thanks for helping me send stuff to my graveyard, Chiaki."
"There's that luck of yours," Chiaki sighed with a smile.
"And there's more, thanks to my Djinn Demolisher of Rituals, Garlandolf now can't be targeted by card effects. So, so much for your Fencing Fire Ferret protecting you."
Garlandolf hit the field, busting out of its chain confined prison. And then, with its intimidating presence, it unleashed a destructive wave that demolished Fencing Fire Ferret. Since it was now immune to being targeted by card effects, it remained on the field and gained 100 attack points, which was just enough to defeat Chiaki with one mighty punch.
"Garlandolf! Attack and end this duel!" Nagito declared.
"Don't forget, you have to put the top card of your deck into the graveyard," Chiaki said.
"You should worry more about yourself," Nagito said, doing precisely that.
"I'm going to be just fine!" Chiaki exclaimed. "For I activate my Negate Attack trap card!"
A swirling vortex appeared and stopped Garlandolf dead in its tracks. Chiaki's life points were safe.
"As expected of the Ultimate Gamer. You really are quite impressive. I guess that ends my turn."
"No. You're impressive, Nagito," Chiaki said with a smile. "You just don't give yourself enough credit. But, my turn. I draw." Chiaki drew the top card of her deck. Here it was. Now was the time to turn the tide. Chiaki stomped the ground and held up the magic card she'd drawn, ready to slide it into the card reader with dramatic flair.
Ah, I think I know what's coming, Nagito smiled. But, it won't matter. He looked at a magic card in his hand that had a hand writing on parchment as the card image. My next turn will invalidate hers.
"I activate Monster Reborn!" Chiaki declared and raised her arm to the sky. "Come to me, Thunderclap Skywolf!"
With a loud howl and a proud roar, her favorite monster returned from the graveyard, lightning sparking everywhere.
"And, as you may expect, I'll activate my monster's special ability, which destroys yours! Thunderclap Skywolf, strike!" Chiaki exclaimed.
Her monster howled as Garlandolf was completely obliterated.
"Now, I'm setting one monster and ending my turn," Chiaki said. "It's your turn, Nagito."
"It is," Nagito said and smiled as a flash of green light emanated from the card he drew. "The time has come to take this duel to the next level."
"Next level?" Chiaki asked.
"I activate the Seal of Orichalcos!"
"Seal of what now?"
From overhead, storm clouds rolled in as a green seal descended from the sky and onto the battlefield.
"This…this is…"
"There was this mysterious green seal. And…when it activated…Mahiru lost her soul."
Chiaki remembered Mikan's sobs. She instantly felt a pit form in her stomach. This joyful, mirthful duel had suddenly become something much more sinister. No, chances are, it was set to be that way from the very start.
Looking disappointed, betrayed and frustrated all in one expression, Chiaki said, "Nagito, what have you done?"
"What have I done? Hee hee hee hee. What an interesting question. It's not what I've done. It's what you're going to do." Green flames surrounded the Seal of Orichalcos as Nagito's eyes glowed red, the symbol embedding on his forehead. "Five dragons lay asleep in slumber that only the chosen may wield. Yugi Mutoh has already revealed one." Nagito held up his index finger as he gave Chiaki a creepy smile. "There's no way you're not one of the remaining four. This duel is to draw out your special power Chiaki." A crazy dark look appeared in Nagito's eyes as Chiaki saw him smile wider and crazier than she'd ever seen him. "I want to see it! I want to see the depths of your hope! I want to see the Ultimate Gamer save the world! You were prematurely ejected from the stage to face Marik at Battle City, clearly this is your chance. This is your stage! And I will be the stepping stone to make it happen!"
"You…have you completely lost it?" Chiaki asked.
With a smile that made Chiaki's skin crawl, Nagito said, "I've never been more sure of myself now than I ever have in my entire life. The loser of this duel will lose their soul, but I know you will not give into this despair. Show me your resolve, Chiaki. Show me your hope. Oh, but first, it's my turn I suppose." Nagito held up a magic card in his hand. "I activate this: Fulfillment of the Contract. Now, at the cost of 800 life points, I can bring back any ritual monster in my graveyard back to the battlefield of my choosing, and I choose Garlandolf, the King of Destruction!" Nagito's life points trailed down to just 1,500. "Return o' mighty king and prepare to smite my enemies!" Nagito exclaimed.
Garlandolf returned to the field as the same emblem on Nagito's forehead appeared in its eyes. Its eyes also glowed a more pinkish shade of bright red as its attack power jacked up to 3,000.
"Oh, and that's another thing, all of my monsters get an additional 500 attack points while they're on the field. So now, Garlandolf is now more powerful than ever. Garlandolf! Attack! Destroy Thunderclap Skywolf!" Nagito declared with a cruel, teeth exposed smile as he sent the top card of his deck to the graveyard.
Garlandolf grabbed Chiaki's favorite monster by the neck and slammed it into the ground, shattering it to pieces as the shockwave kicked dust towards Chiaki. She used her arm to cover her body and closed her eyes. She turned towards Nagito and winced as her life points ticked down to 2,100.
"Show me your hope, Chiaki. I know this isn't the end of the road for you. Let me see what you can do."
"Nagito, please stop!" Chiaki pleaded. "I don't want this! Games aren't meant for hurting people! They're meant to be fun! I don't want to hurt you! You're my friend!"
"Stop whining and duel me!" Nagito shouted angrily. "I want to see your hope!" he demanded. "And you're going to show it to me! Once this game starts, there is no stopping until there's a victor."
"Nagito, why?" Chiaki cried. "I thought you were better than this."
"Better than what? I'm just doing what I've always wanted, to draw out the hope within those superior to me. This, to me, is just a logical conclusion of that."
Chiaki balled her fists, staring at the ground. "Nagito…even when all of the others tried not to associate with you…I still trusted you. I thought, even if he's weird, he still has to be a good person deep down." She then shouted at him, "But what kind of person takes people's souls?"
"Chiaki, you don't get it? You're going to win this duel, you just have to, as Yugi puts it, believe in the Heart of the Cards. But if there's no danger, I won't be able to draw out your hope. That's why I have to fight you with my full potential, why I need to push you into a corner, just to see what exactly it is you're made of." Nagito laughed. "Don't worry, I'll come back. Once Dartz is defeated, everything will go back to normal, just like with Marik."
"You think this is some kind of joke? Both Gundham and Sonia may not show it, but they've been affected by their time in the shadow realm! This isn't oh ha ha Nagito's in the hospital again, or oh, Nagito got on the wrong bus and is now on the other side of the country, this is your soul we're talking about here! How do you not care about your own soul?"
"Of course I care, that's why I'm doing this," Nagito said, a disturbed smile still upon his face. "It's my soul, so I want to use it for your benefit."
"But I never asked for this! I'm no hero! I'm not a chosen one! I never asked for any of this!" Chiaki exclaimed, dropping to her knees and shouting loudly.
"You are. Destiny has chosen you. I'm sure of it. Come on, it's just like any other duel, but with your life on the line. Come on, it's still fun, isn't it?"
"No it's not," Chiaki cried.
"Chiaki, get up! If you don't, we're both just going to be stuck in this prison. I already played the seal! Please, at least finish the duel."
Chiaki's hands ground into the dirt. She dug into her soul and pulled out her resolve. She put on her toughest look. Nagito wanted to parade around as a cheap comic book villain. Fine. That was now reality. And Chiaki Nanami was going to beat this reality at its own game. That, after all, was what she felt she did best.
Standing tall, Chiaki put her fingers atop her deck, glaring. "Very well then, I draw!"
Chiaki looked at the card she'd drawn. As her hand was previously empty, this was the only card in her hand. It was far from helpful, but it was better than nothing. "I activate Goblin Thief! This magic card takes 500 of your life points," Chiaki said as Nagito's life points became 1,000. "And gives them back to me." Chiaki's life points restored to 2,600.
"A valiant effort, but ultimately pointless. I draw," Nagito said and drew the top card of his deck. "And I play this monster. My Bright Star Dragon!" A fearsome looking yellow, white-winged dragon appeared on the battlefield. It had 1900 attack and 1000 defense points. Then, the Seal of Orichalcos appeared on its forehead and its attack power increased to 2,400. "And now, Garlandolf! Attack!" Nagito shouted, discarding the top card of his deck as per Chiaki's magic card.
However, Chiaki had been just crafty enough that Nagito was about to shoot himself in the foot. As Garlandolf punched forward, Chiaki's monster sprang to life: a red sphere with claws attached to it. It attached itself to Garlandolf's chest.
Nagito gasped. "What?"
"Blast Sphere," Chiaki said. "On your next turn, your monster will explode and you'll be hit with 3,000 points of damage, meaning I'll win."
No! It can't end like this! She needs to summon one of the dragons! I have…I have to be the one to draw it out! Me! Nagito searched his brain frantically for an option as he landed upon the card in his hand that he'd been holding onto. Yes! Of course! "I activate Eternal Rest! This spell card destroys all monsters on the field currently equipped with equip-type spell cards. It may cost me Garlandolf, but my life points will be safe!"
Garlandolf suddenly choked on its life and died, laying on the ground and shattering into particles.
"And now, Bright Star Dragon!" Nagito shouted as he grabbed the top card of his deck, "Attack! Bring Chiaki's life points down to their breaking point!"
Bright Star Dragon hit Chiaki directly with a cosmic beam, throwing her against the wall of the Seal of Orichalcos' barrier. Chiaki crumpled to the ground on her stomach. Her life points fell all the way to just 200.
Quickly, she pushed herself up off the ground and rose to a standing position. She fought her way through Bakura and his shadow game. This, to her, was nothing. She'd been in ARGs that were tougher than that attack.
"It's your turn," Nagito told her.
Chiaki drew the top card of her deck. "I set one monster face-down," she said. "That ends my turn."
Nagito drew the top card of his deck. "Bright Star Dragon, attack! Destroy her face-down monster!"
Chiaki's face-down monster turned out to be Night Assailaint. The shadowy garbed, ninja-like figure had the same capabilities as Man-Eater Bug, allowing it to take Nagito's monster down with it.
"I have plenty of options left for both offense and defense," Chiaki told Nagito. "This duel is far from over!"
Nagito smiled. "Indeed it is. Not until you awaken to your chosen abilities and draw the power of one of the four remaining legendary dragons: Critias, Hermos, Pythagoras, and Iona. I know you'll make us proud and free one of those dragons. I just know it!"
Chiaki drew the top card of her deck. Nodding to herself, she played the trap card she drew face-down.
"Just a trap card, huh? All right then. My turn. I'll unveil it! And I'll make you reveal your dragon to me!" Nagito exclaimed, his eyes and face contorting like a madman. For a brief moment, Chiaki didn't see her fun-loving, if but crazy and insane schoolmate. She saw a monster. Nagito drew the top card of his deck. "I summon Sangan to the field in attack mode!" The three-eyed furball demon appeared as its eyes glowed red from the power of the Orichalcos. Its attack power then rose to 1500. "Sangan! Attack!" Nagito watched with glee. Will it be Mirror Force? Widespread Ruin maybe? Chiaki has so many options, there's no way this attack will—
SLASH!
Connect?
Nagito watched in horror as Sangan's claws ripped across Chiaki's chest. She let out a scream of pain as her life points began to descend down. Down and down they went. Nagito watched, hoping that her life points would go back up or at the very least stop, but they didn't.
Chiaki's life points…fell to 0.
"Chiaki!"
Hajime's voice echoed in the distance.
No. No! Nononononononono! This isn't… "This isn't how it was supposed to go…" Nagito spoke aloud, heart pounding. He looked terrified. "This isn't what I wanted."
"Chiaki!" Hajime ran over to her, lifting her up as the Orichalcos closed in on her.
"Hajime?" Chiaki looked at her boyfriend like a patient about to die of cancer. "Is that you? Sorry," she said, wiping her face down his hand, "I'm having trouble seeing." She coughed hard.
Hajime's gaze lifted, meeting Nagito's. "You…what did you do to Chiaki?!"
"I…I was just trying to…"
Chiaki's hand gripped at Hajime's shirt as the light in her eyes started to die. Hajime barely heard her weak cry. "Hajime?"
"Y-yeah?" Hajime asked nervously, heart pounding for all the wrong reasons.
Chiaki opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the light completely faded from her eyes and she went slack.
"Chiaki? Chiaki?!" Hajime exclaimed the second time, bouncing her in his arms. "Hey! Knock it off! Come on! Open your eyes! Open your eyes, dammit! CHIAKI!"
Something primal snapped in Hajime. Nagito sensed it. Hajime felt it. Hell, even Dartz and Yugi could sense that there was a disturbance in the force.
Rising to his feet, Hajime let out a tearful scream of agony as a golden aura surrounded him. As tears dripped down his face, Hajime's hair lit up like gold as he stared Nagito down.
It was only then that Nagito understood. No…it was…I see… he looked at his hand with a painful smile on his face. I've made a terrible mistake. Or would this count as a miscalculation? Either way, I guess the result is the same.
"Nagito…Chiaki how could you? Chiaki…Chiaki never wanted to hurt anyone. How could you do this to her, Huh? Answer me! What do you have to say for yourself?"
Nagito was staring at the ground.
"Hey! I'm talking to you, Nagito Komaeda!"
"And who are you to take that tone with me?"
Hajime watched as Nagito picked his head up, looking at him with a condescending stare, index finger poking his temple. "You're just a transfer piece of trash, a charity case barely able to stand in the same battleground that we Giants of Olympus stand in."
"Excuse me?!" Hajime exclaimed.
"I was only trying to make Chiaki's hope shine brighter, but it seems destiny chose you. Why the hell destiny thinks a joke like you is worth anything is beyond me."
"What the hell?" Hajime growled.
"I guess that makes us archenemies, huh, Hajime? You're never going to stop chasing me in order to get Chiaki's soul back, right? I'll stand in your way ever step of the way and push you and push you until you show me your worth."
Putting Chiaki down gently, Hajime swiftly made his way to Nagito and punched him in the face, knuckles cracking cheek bones. He then lifted him up by his shirt. "Listen here you bastard, if you think you're going anywhere right now, you must have more screws loose than the abandoned construction lot on the other side of the city."
"Oh, Hajime, I would love to stay and battle with you," Nagito said as his body started to fade into the ether. "But Dartz and I have other plans."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry, we will meet again," Nagito said. "And I promise you'll have plenty of chances and opportunities to win back Chiaki's soul. But for now, this is where you feel despair and stand up to it, so that your hope can shine brightly when next we meet."
Hajime went to punch Nagito in the face, but his fist passed right through as Nagito completely faded from view. "COWARD!" Hajime shouted, "Come back here and fight me like a man! Come back here! Come…back…" Hajime sunk to his knees, his golden hair returning to brown, eyes becoming their normal color, "…Chiaki."
In the sky, thunderclouds formed and boomed overhead. And it did not seem like the sun would be shining down upon Domino City any time soon.
(A/N: Dark. And hoo boy, for those of you that I hadn't told that Chiaki was going to lose this duel that must've really been a shocker. And before anyone asks, yes, her face-down card was a bluff.
Next time on Dueling Trigger Finger, more bad stuff! Hooray!
And yes, Nagito becoming one of Dartz's lackeys should've been about as predictable as the sun rising in the morning. What probably wasn't as predictable was my tying together the plane crash that killed Nagito's parents to Nagito meeting Dartz. Didn't expect that, did you? Also, I don't know if having Chiaki inadvertently reference the Infinity Wars meme makes the scene too narmy or just adds to the bone chilling nature of the scene. You make the call!
I won't comment too much on why it seems like Nagito's character is suddenly regressing after his huge "revelation" when he lost to Hajime in Battle City, but those of you that can read between the lines probably already know. I just won't spoil it for the people that are confused because subterfuge and subtext are Danganronpa staples.
And speaking of Hajime, for those of you upset that Chiaki is now Put on a Bus or "Stuffed into the Fridge" for Hajime's sake, I just want to point out that given Hajime has fallen victim to a shadow game and been missing for a whole entire arc for Chiaki to save him. (See Bakura and Noah's arc) Now it's time for Hajime to return the favor. Yes, he did save her from those Rare Hunters, but the score for rescuing each other from peril is 2-1 in Chiaki's favor. I want this relationship to be even so now it's Hajime's turn to save her. After that, I have no intention of either of these two needing any kind of overarching rescue unless someone falls off a cliff or something, or is about to, when we eventually get to the Falsebound Kingdom arc.
Anyway, there won't be a chapter likely until next weekend. But be prepared as we will be wrapping up Dartz's little entourage with one more member of Class 77-B. And after that, the real fun starts. Until then, as always, from all of me, to all of you, let your hearts stay human and your wrath draconic. Ja ne!)