Never Say Never
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT IN AUTHOR'S NOTE
Chapter 3
Act 20
Hidden in the bowels of the second-floor bathroom, Hifumi waited for his chance to ascend to the third floor, just as Miss Ludenberg had requested. He'd taken to one of the stalls and patiently waited…a little too patiently actually.
Hifumi's regrets had only intensified since departing the Nurse's Office, feeling increasingly ashamed for what he had already done…and still planned to do.
"I know that Miss Ludenberg is acting out of fear and self-preservation, but even so…this entire situation is getting out of hand. Not to mention that we'll be executed if we fail…perhaps it's time we cut our losses and—".
Suddenly, he heard loud voices echoing just outside the bathroom door…
"Dammit! Where the hell have they gone?!" a gruff voice that Hifumi recognized as Mondo shouted from hallway.
"I understand your concern but don't lose heart. We haven't finished searching this floor yet, after all," a dignified but deep feminine voice that could only be Sakura answered him. "We must search everywhere, even the bathrooms need thorough inspection."
Rather than fear for being discovered, a large part of Hifumi felt relieved when he heard them pass. If they happened to investigate the restroom and found him, he'd be 'forced' to admit defeat. Miss Ludenberg would certainly be displeased but at least since no one had been killed or assaulted, there would be no need for a class trial of any kind! And this way, he could pass it off as simple being unlucky, and hopefully avoid Miss Ludenberg's wrath later.
As he heard the door to the restroom creaking open, all his hopes were dashed when a loud voice shouted, "Hey! Mondo! Sakura! Come quick!"
With his exceptional voice recognition skills, honed through years of identifying anime voice actors by voice alone, the fanfic creator realized that Leon was shouting to them. And judging by the sounds of his footsteps, he was in quite the hurry.
"What has happened?!" he heard Sakura press as the echoing footsteps ceased.
"It's…It's…" the voice of Leon sputtered, more than likely panting from being out of breath.
Then, before he could catch his breath, an authoritative voice that previously made Hifumi's blood boil echoed throughout the hallway.
"Mr. Kuwata! What is the meaning of this?! Not only have I witnessed you running frantically, but I also heard your excessive shouting echoing up on the third floor!" the stern voice of that virgin Taka rang throughout the area.
"Leon? Did you run all the way up here?" the ever-concerned voice of Makoto suddenly appeared, more than likely because he was accompanying Taka. With a light gasp, the lucky student continued, "Does that mean you found them?! Is that why you came up here?!"
"Mr. Naegi! Don't encourage his negative behavior by asking so many—", the moral compass tried to reprimand before Hifumi overhead him being cut off.
"Would you all just shut up for a second?!" the infuriated voice of Leon shouted, undoubtedly earning him another pink slip from Taka. Regardless, the baseball star continued, "It's Chihiro…She's awake!"
Hifumi barely held back a gasp as that message penetrated his ears, and to his shock, relief flooded him. A part of him had feared that Celeste might have snuffed out Chihiro to secure her own position as a blackened, but it seemed that she truly did plan to manipulate Hina after he…killed…Taka…
Almost immediately he noticed his hands becoming clammy, nervous sweat rolling down his back as his part in Celeste's plot came back to haunt him. He suddenly felt nauseous, his legs shaking, barely managing to keep himself upright as he heard collective gasps from his classmates.
With little discussion, he heard them dash toward the descending staircase, but one voice he heard clearer than all the rest…
"I said NO RUNNING! What if you were to fall and break your necks on the stairs?! All of you will serve detention for this! Are you all even listening?!" the voice of Taka fervently berated them, his boots slowly clacking on the floor as he slowly walked down the stairs.
He didn't know what it was, but something about the way Taka was acting surprised Hifumi. It was the first time he'd really listened to what Taka had been saying, instead of just assuming he had a filthy, virgin-like agenda. Had he always been so concerned for his classmates' wellbeing? Was this something new? And if it wasn't…who was the real virgin between the two of them?
Left utterly alone in the bathroom, on what he assumed was an evacuated second floor, Hifumi couldn't help but ponder…
"What…what have I been doing all this time?" he kept his voice low, barely above a whisper. "Miss Ludenberg…her plan…it…it kills everyone…everyone aside from ourselves…why…why did I…want that?"
Love…he'd told himself it was for true love. His genuine affection for Alter Ego, and his desire to see her safe return, that is what nearly drove him to murder. However, having been graced with time to really think on the matter, removed from Miss Ludenberg's tsundere tendencies and fearful actions…he began to see just how twisted his love had become—
*CLATTER*
Just then, the sound of wood smacking against linoleum invaded Hifumi's ears, startling him. A high pitched 'eep' escaped his throat and he jumped away from the noise…which came from the supply closet at the end of the far end of the restroom. For a moment, he stared toward the closed closet door, his heart racing and his imagination running wild.
What if someone was there with him? What if it was the masked individual the others had warned him about? Should he run? Should he stay and check it out? Was there even anyone there at all?
"I-Is someone…there?" he almost shouted, trying and failing to suppress the fear in his voice. "Sh-Show yourself, fiend! I won't be intimidated by thugs!"
He waited a moment but there was no answer, increasing his paranoia tenfold. With careful, heavy steps, the fanfic creator inched his way toward the supply closet, gulping down the lump in his throat. As he reached the door, he felt his courage fading…but knew there was no turning back now. Whatever awaited him on the other side of the door…it was time to face it!
With a sharp tug, Hifumi threw open the door and shouted, "Have at thee, cur!"
Not a moment after his taunt was bellowed out something nimble swiftly flew toward his face…
"…Um…why is everyone staring at me?"
Chihiro Fujisaki, the Ultimate Programmer, sat upright in bed, face flushed as everyone gathered around to make sure she was alright. She was obviously disoriented from having just awoken and having numerous people staring at her only amplified her confusion. At the same time, she could feel a sort of…dread coming from her classmates, making her more nervous as well.
Well, most of her classmates anyway, as Byakuya Togami glared at her as if he'd just lost half his fortune…which Chihiro was pretty sure, even if he did lose that much, he would still be classified as "too rich to be seen with you commoners". Nevertheless, his angry gaze bore into her, making her feel more than a little uncomfortable.
"You called us all back for such a trivial matter?" Byakuya abruptly complained, directing his distain toward Celeste. "When you said it was an emergency, I had assumed that someone had found a corpse, but all I see is a disappointment."
"It is a shame that Chihiro's miraculous recovery does not interest you, considering you were partially involved with the incident in question..." Celeste countered, as if pleased with the Togami Heir's frustration.
Byakuya scoffed but said nothing, choosing to remain silent. An instant later, the last of the students arrived, with Mondo pushing his way through
"Is this…really happening?" Mondo stammered, falling to his knees in front of Chihiro's bed. "It's…a dream. It's gotta be…"
"No, it's not a dream…it's really happening," Makoto told him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
The class had gathered in the Nurse's Office once more, after Hina and Leon ran off to fetch everyone. And even though no one had found Hiro, Kyoko, or Junko yet, the other students felt it was prudent to head to the Nurse's Office and at least check in on their newly awakened classmate.
As if in response to Chihiro's confusion, Sakura stepped forward and gently answered, "Apologies for being so rude. Allow me to explain. You have been unconscious for several days. We are relieved to see you have awoken after being…attacked."
Chihiro's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open as she registered those words. At the same time, Mondo clenched his teeth and hung his head in shame, unable to even look at her. An awkward silence engulfed the room until…
"Wait, I…I was attacked?" Chihiro abruptly questioned, as if in disbelief. She lowered her gaze, as if trying to recall the memory, but eventually shook her head. "I don't…I don't remember being attacked…"
Murmurs of surprise spread through the students, though most of them weren't too shocked considering Chihiro had suffered a blow to the head. Memory loss was typical in this sort of situation.
"So…you don't remember anything about what happened?" Sayaka inquired in an oddly envious tone, obviously wishing she could forget her own tragedy.
Chihiro shook her head and groaned, "No…but…I think I was going to meet with someone…but…who was it?"
"It was me…you were planning to meet up with me…" Mondo slowly answered, still unable to meet the programmer's gaze.
Like a ray of sunshine, Chihiro's expression blossomed into a bright smile as she recalled that fact. "T-That's right! I wanted to hang out and exercise! But…I must have been attacked along the way—".
"No…that's not…what happened, Chihiro…"
"Oh…" the programmer answered, confused and pondering. "So then…I'm guess that we must have been working out, but then I was attacked on the way back to my—".
"It…It was me…I'm the one…who attacked you…"
Only Chihiro was stunned when Mondo suddenly confessed to his crime, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks and dripping off his chin. Without warning, he slammed his fist into the linoleum floor, cracking a few tiles and bruising his knuckles.
"You…You told me your secret…because you trusted me! But I…I…I…I was so weak! I couldn't stand that you were being stronger than me! So I…so…I…"
As words began to fail him, a cheerful voice cut through the room.
"What? No way," Chihiro answered with a warm smile, complete disbelief in her voice. Slowly, she reached out and patted his head, making the biker flinch. "You'd never attack anyone Mondo—".
"But I did!" the biker interjected, smashing his knuckles in the floor again. "I hit you over the head with a dumbbell! I…I almost…killed you! You didn't…deserve to…go through that! There…there's no way I could ask for forgiveness after what I've done!"
Bowing his head deeply, tears erupted from his eyes, spilling down his cheeks, and splattering to the floor. He didn't care that he was making a fool of himself in front of everyone, he needed Chihiro to know the absolute truth…no matter how painful it was. All he could offer was an apology…even though he knew it would never be enough.
In the midst of his agony, the biker felt a soft hand pat his pompadour, a startled gasp ripping from his throat.
"You didn't do it on purpose, right?" Chihiro slowly asked, a warm smile on her face. "It was just an accident. Accidents happen. And besides, I'm doing alright now, so everything's okay!"
As those words echoed in Mondo's ears, he fervently shook his head, tears flying every which way. "No! It's not okay! I almost killed you! I don't…deserve…!"
"It's okay, Mondo!" Chihiro abruptly exclaimed, making the biker's gaze shoot up to meet hers. Then, with a bright smile on her face, Chihiro said the one thing Mondo desperately needed to hear. "I know you must be feeling horrible right now, but I know you didn't do it on purpose. And even if you can't forgive yourself…I forgive you."
Mondo couldn't believe what he was hearing, and yet, even now those words kept echoing in his mind.
…I forgive you…
The words he'd longed to hear, and from the person he wanted to hear them from…he never imagined it would happen. He'd been prepared to live the rest of his life atoning for his crime, prepared to suffer the punishment for harming such an innocent life. But now, as Chihiro smiled at him, forgave him for being weak, he felt something inside him break as fresh tears flowed from his eyes.
"ERRRRRAAAAAHHHHH!"
He wailed as he buried his face in the sheets of Chihiro's bed, letting out all of the pent-up emotions he'd kept buried for so long. All the self-loathing he felt for his brother's death, the frustration of having to pretend to be strong, the agony of having to lie to his gang for so many years. After years of suffering for his own weakness…he finally found the strength to let it all out. And as he did, Chihiro patted his head gently, letting him know everything truly was alright.
As Mondo's muffled cries echoed in the nurse's office, one onlooker found himself at an utter loss…
"How…How can Chihiro…forgive him so easily?"
Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru stared in awe at the scene before him, his mind wrapped in confusion. This was certainly not the outcome he'd expected when Mondo confessed his crimes to the programmer! And while he'd expected Chihiro to be lenient, he certainly hadn't expected her to outright forgive such a horrific act!
It was…It was…It was…completely understandable…
Why, even for a moment, did he think that Chihiro wouldn't forgive him? Chihiro was a pure and innocent person who always sought to do the right thing. And obviously, in this case, the right thing was to forgiv—
"No! The rules must be upheld! Mondo committed treason against us and must be punished for it! I'm…I'm not…wrong about that…I can't be…I can't be…"
As those thoughts plagued him, the white of his hair flicked black and the fire in his eyes began to dwindle. Gritting his teeth, the Disciplinary Committee Chairman reminded himself of his duty.
"I am…Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru! My duty…is to protect the students and the school from chaos! It is the path I chose! And I cannot abandon it now! If I did…then it would mean that everything I've done…all the pink slips, the verbal warnings…relegating Junko to confinement in her room…all of that would be pointless!"
All at once, the fire was rekindled in his eyes and his hair regained its white sheen. As he stared down at the floor, fighting to keep peace within his own mind, a single thought consumed him.
"I'm not wrong…I'm not wrong…I'm not wrong…I'm not wrong…I'm not wrong…"
It took several minutes, but eventually Mondo had settled down. Slowly picking himself up, the biker took a seat on the bed next to Chihiro, unable to keep himself from reciprocating her smile.
Around them, a few others were teary eyed…namely Sayaka, Hina, and surprisingly Leon, with the baseball star making the traditional excuse that there was something in his eye. Makoto smiled brightly at the scene, feeling renewed hope nestling into his heart. Sakura nodded approvingly but with a hint of sadness, as if she envied Mondo a bit. As usual, Byakuya scowled at this display of affection, but said nothing. Genocide Jill flicked her tongue and chose to be quiet, not fully understanding the situation. Taka was eerily silent as well, averting his gaze down toward the floor. And finally, Celeste stood near the back of the room closest to the door, a neutral expression obscuring her features.
"So…I guess everyone knows my secret, huh?" Chihiro nervously asked, not entirely sure how to resolve the awkward silence that permeated the room. She glanced around to everyone and saw no confusion in their eyes. "I'm guessing Monokuma was the one who revealed it, right?"
"S-Something like that, yeah…" Hina nervously answered, deciding it was best not to overload Chihiro's brain with Taka's abrupt transformation into a Rule-Nazi—err, Disciplinary Committee Chairman.
At the same time, said Disciplinary Committee Chairman grew increasingly quiet…much to the surprise of everyone around him.
Everyone expected Chihiro to be horrified by this revelation, some of them bracing themselves for an emotional outburst…but it never came. Instead, the weary programmer hung her head and asked, "…I'm guessing, you all have some questions for me…?"
Her tone was timid but strangely enough, she seemed almost ready for the onslaught of inquiries she'd undoubtedly face. Perhaps is was the fact that her secret was out in the open, or maybe the fact that she had head trauma…but whatever the case, it seemed as though she wanted to be done with the subject as quickly as possible.
"Oh! Oh! I have one!" Genocide Jill abruptly shouted, reminding everyone of her presence. "Are you into guys or chicks or do you go both ways? I've wanted to ask that for ages!"
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped as the serial killer asked that very personal question. Having not expected such an embarrassing question, Chihiro's face flushed and her mouth hung open as she struggled to find any semblance of words to answer that question. All the while Genocide Jill glared at her expectantly, almost desperate for her inquiry to be addressed.
Unfortunately for Jill, that wish was swiftly dashed as Byakuya cleared his throat and scoffed.
"As much as I'd like to debate Chihiro's…personal tastes, we have more pressing matters to deal attend to…such as the whereabouts of our missing classmates."
Chihiro's complexion paled and her eyes widened as fear once more returned to her expression.
"M-M-Missing?! Wh-Who's missing?!" the programmer stammered, only now realizing that not everyone was present.
With a sunken expression, Makoto slowly replied, "…Kyoko, Junko, and Hiro. We haven't been able to find any of them for quite a while now—".
"And thanks to your excellent timing," Byakuya sarcastically quipped, glaring down at Chihiro, "Their trail has gone completely cold. Much like their corpses' will be once they're discov—".
"Shut up."
Firm conviction resonated through those words, startling everyone into silence. As one, the group turned to see Sayaka, standing on her own without Leon's assistance, glaring furiously at the Togami Heir. Then, without a hint of hesitation, she slowly walked up to him, her shimmering blue eyes glaring up at him with ferocious determination. And even though he towered over her, Byakuya almost seemed to shrink as his own merciless gaze did nothing to stifle her advance.
Getting almost uncomfortably close to him, the pop idol furrowed her brows and said, "No one forced you to come here. If you find this to be such a waste of time, then get out. No one here will object."
Without missing a beat, Byakuya scoffed and countered, "You plebeians can't be trusted to handle such delicate matters on your own. If anything, I'm doing you a favor by—".
"Like the 'favor' you pulled when you crucified Chihiro while she was unconscious?" Sayaka snapped, making Byakuya unconsciously flinch.
"C-Crucified?" Everyone turned to see a shocked Chihiro staring at the two of them, her complexion paling more than usual. "W-What do you mean…crucified?"
Keeping her furious gaze locked onto Byakuya, the pop idol practically sneered as she answered, "When we found you, someone had strung you up with an extension cord, putting your already injured body through more unnecessary trauma. And that 'someone' turned out to be the esteemed Byakuya Togami."
The dripping sarcasm fused with the passionate fury in Sayaka's voice was enough to make even Genocide Jill shiver. And while most of the class were shocked by her brutal comments, Leon, who was leaning against a nearby wall, grinned with satisfaction as she tore the rich bastard a new one!
At the same time, Byakuya's scowl deepened as the pop idol exposed his dirty deed. Clenching his jaw, he was about to protest when a soft voice interrupted.
"Did…Did he…" Chihiro struggled to form words, looking to Mondo for support as this revelation was made clear to her. "Did he…really do that…to me?"
Mondo's face twisted in anger but before he could properly answer the question, a sudden shriek erupted from out in the hallway…
"Ha-Aaaaah!"
"This is it…no turning back."
Celeste knew the instant she screamed, everything would be set in motion. She'd snuck away into the hall, luckily without being seen, and was currently the only one present. No one could refute what she was about to tell them she'd seen. And since no one had noticed Hifumi was gone, since she'd drawn the curtain around his bed, once they fell for her ploy, it would be too late to stop what she'd planned.
…Unless Hifumi double-crossed her. No…there was no way that would happen! Hifumi's emphatic love for that computer would keep him on her side! All she'd need to do is remind him of that, and he'd be putty in her hands…just like always. And as long as he played his role accordingly, she'd be out of here before the end of the day!
All she needed to do was kill Hifumi…and then she'd be free! The trial would play out just as she planned, with everyone unable to find the killer…Hiro would be her scapegoat and she'd finally be free of this place! Everyone would be…executed…but she'd be free…and rich enough to buy her castle! Where she'd live the rest of her days in peace…alone…without any guests…or anyone…forever.
"Just like…I'd always dreamed…" she told herself, using her talent to deceive herself one last time before she took a large breath and screamed her unusual signal cry.
"Ha-Aaaaah!"
With a sharp tug, Hifumi threw open the door and shouted, "Have at thee, cur!"
Not a moment after his taunt was bellowed out, something nimble swiftly flew toward his face…and bonked him square in the nose. A bit startled, the fanfic creator stepped back as a broom handle clattered to the floor next to him. Raising an eyebrow, Hifumi pulled his head up and gazed into the bathroom closet to find…nothing.
A collection of cleaning supplies; a bucket, a mop, and a broom that was currently lying on the floor, were the only things there. There was no hidden assassin, or secret passage, or even a tied-up damsel waiting for him to rescue her! It was just an ordinary supply closet! Glaring down at the broom, he pieced the puzzle together.
"So, you are the culprit," he said incredulously, as if the broom had committed a grave offense. "You slipped and tapped the door, making me believe someone was there, only for me to be attacked by you upon thrusting said door open! But! Unable to withstand my powerful physique, you now lay defeated on the floor! And that's the truth of this case!"
Putting his hands on his hips, Hifumi briefly wondered if this was what Mr. Naegi felt like after solving a puzzle in their class trials…
"Class trials…right…!"
And just like that, his mind wandered back to his current predicament. Only this time, he wasn't merely concerned for himself. He thought of everyone that would be sacrificed at the end of the trial…
Imagining their faces twisted in agony as Monokuma executed each one…it sent chills down his spine. They were innocent…far more innocent than himself, who had only a few hours ago been eager to bloody his hands rather than try to find a peaceful solution.
"Mmmph…what would Mr. Naegi do?" he pondered before immediately feeling foolish. "Of course he'd find a way to resolve this peacefully! It's…what he's always done…"
Mr. Naegi had always done his best to keep everyone together, almost single handedly solving the first trial. Someone like that…a person who thought only of helping everyone survive…would die, just so he could escape with Miss Ludenberg and Alter Ego. It wasn't fair…to him or anyone else that would have to die!
"If only there was a way to speak with Miss Ludenberg before—".
Suddenly, a familiar shout rang through the halls of the school, one that Hifumi instantly recognized…
"Ha-Aaaaah!"
Hifumi stiffened, sweat trickling down his neck. "Crap! The signal!"
The fanfic creator recognized Miss Ludenberg's distinctive screech instantly, remembering that this was the signal meant to give clearance to his ascent to the third floor and hide in the art supply room. However, despite knowing how little time he had…Hifumi hesitated. He couldn't help but believe that following along with Miss Ludenberg's plans was wrong…and yet, if he didn't, there was still a good chance she'd commit murder on her own…he couldn't allow that.
Even though Miss Ludenberg was crass and foul-mouthed at times, like a true tsundere it was all to cover up the crippling anxiety and self-doubt she obviously hid behind her façade. In a way, Miss Ludenberg needed saving just as much as Alter Ego did…the question was…how?
"What would Mr. Naegi do…?" Hifumi whispered to himself, desperately trying to come up with something. Then, out of nowhere, it suddenly came to him, just like Mr. Naegi during all of the trials! "Of course! Why didn't I see it before?! I'll approach this just like Mr. Naegi would!"
Knowing that haste would be needed to finalize his new plan, Hifumi sped out of the boys second floor restroom, running at top speed toward the third-floor staircase.
"Ha-Aaaaah!"
For a single instance, no one in the nurse's office moved. The shock of hearing someone scream just outside the door brought everyone back to the reality of their situation. Anxiety began to set in as the students all felt themselves harden a bit in response. And then, chaos erupted…
"That was Celeste!" Hina shouted, speeding toward the door even faster than Byakuya, who was only a few steps behind.
They were immediately followed by Sakura and Taka, with Makoto, Sayaka, and Leon trailing just behind them. Just behind them, Genocide Jill skipped pleasantly, giggling to herself as her excitement began to rise.
As everyone sped into the hall, Mondo briefly glanced at Chihiro, who took up a determined expression and nodded to him. Seeing that acknowledgement, the biker leapt up from his seat on her bed and ran after his classmates, leaving a worried but understanding Chihiro behind.
Once everyone was outside, they all crowded around Celeste, whose usual complexion seemed even more pale than usual.
"Celeste! What happened?!" Hina inquired, gently placing a supportive hand on her friend's shoulder.
With a shaky hand, Celeste pointed toward the first-floor stairway and said, "I…I saw a figure at the top of the stairs!"
"What?!" Sakura shouted and spun to face the stairway. Then, glancing over her shoulder, she asked, "What did they look like? Was it your attacker from before?"
Shaking her head, Celeste answered, "It was not the man in the robot suit. They wore a strange mask, so I could not see their face—".
"Was the mask really creepy? With, like, a huge disturbing grin on it?!" Hina jumped in, piecing together whom the attacker was.
"I…believe it was," Celeste confirmed with a nod. "However, I did not get a good look at it, the perpetrator fled as soon as they saw me—".
"Then we have no time to waste!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru interrupted, as if taking command of the situation. With a flourished hand wave, he turned all attention toward himself as he addressed everyone. "Two of us will remain here while the rest pursue the masked man! Who would like to volunteer—?"
"I don't have time for this frivolity."
None of the students were surprised when Byakuya spoke up, and they were even less surprised when he suddenly ran ahead on his own…with Genocide Jill keeping pace just behind him.
"Kyaahahahahaha! I'm really feeling it now! Never figured I'd be the one chasing down a criminal!" they heard Genocide Jill gleefully shout as she followed Byakuya up the first-floor staircase.
An eerie silence filled the area as they departed, but it didn't last long.
"As much as it pains me to admit, Byakuya has a point," Sakura reluctantly concurred, turning to face the stairway. "We have little time, and I'm afraid that my skills will be needed to subdue this villain. I must be off!"
She didn't wait for approval, instead choosing to follow her instincts, and sped off toward the stairway. As the others watched her go, it became clear that swift action was needed.
"Wait for me, Sakura!" Hina shouted as she prepared to follow, but hesitated as she glanced toward Celeste. "Sorry, but I'm going too!"
"Then I shall accompany you," the gambler swiftly replied, smiling brightly at her companion. "It won't be a problem as long as we are together, yes?"
As one would expect, Celeste's gesture caused a smile to erupt onto Hina's face as she instantly concurred, "Right! Let's go, Celeste!"
The two of them took off after Sakura, not even sparing a word for Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru. He held out a hand in a vain attempt to stop them, but didn't have time to shout before someone else volunteered for the chase.
"I'm going with them!" Mondo abruptly shouted, his voice full of righteous fury. "If the masked freak was tough enough to give Sakura trouble, she's gonna need all the help she can get!"
Before he took a single step, a white haired, blazing eyed Committee Chairman leapt in front of him, blocking his path.
"You fool!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru immediately reprimanded, narrowing his gaze at the biker. "Your responsibility is to guard Chihiro! That is what we decided as a group to be your punishment! We cannot have you abandoning your post—".
"Sayaka and I will stay here and watch over Chihiro and Hifumi," Leon suddenly announced, lightly pounding his chest with one fist. Glancing at Mondo, the baseball star grinned and finished, "You just promise to catch the bastard, alright?!"
As Leon's words of confidence rang in his ears, Mondo could practically feel the baseball star's trust. Not wanting to betray that trust, the biker's visage hardened as he sidestepped Taka and dashed toward the stairs.
Meanwhile, Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru was so stunned by everyone's disobedience that he failed to act as Mondo passed him, leaving him feeling dumbstruck and frustrated. Gritting his teeth, he turned his ferocious aura back toward the baseball star.
"T-This is preposterous!" A furious Taka shouted at Leon, taking a decisive step toward him. "The two of you won't be able to fend off anyone who—!"
"Don't underestimate us." Almost effortlessly, Sayaka stepped between the two, aiming a determined glare directly at Taka. "We're not as weak as you seem to think we are…none of us are."
Taka flinched as her voice penetrated his ears, her words like dagger stabbing into all corners of his mind. Standing there, unable to retort, all he could do was watch as Sayaka took Leon by the hand and led him back into the nurse's office, throwing one last determined look over her shoulder before slamming the door.
For several moments after they'd gone, Taka stood in silence, trying to contemplate how he'd so quickly lost control of the situation. Only Makoto was there with him now, and for a moment, the Disciplinary Chairman thought it was because the lucky student truly desired guidance from him.
However, that hope was quickly dashed when Makoto placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "We should keep looking for the others. With all this commotion, I'm sure they'll come to investigate. We need to make sure they're all right."
Makoto's unintentional rejection sent waves of uncertainty through Taka's mind…but he couldn't deny that the lucky student had a valid point. Three people were still missing, and if everyone else was busy fulfilling other duties…it fell to him to continue the search!
"…Indeed. Let's keep searching then," Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru agreed, slowly trudging off in search of their missing classmates.
From up on high, Junko watched the chase and search through the monitors…her eyes moving independently as she analyzed every aspect of the chaos. All the while, a despair-induced grin settled onto her face, which slowly widened into a sadistic smirk as her rolling eyeball suddenly focused on one particular camera:
The Art Supply Room…where Hifumi waited for his 'tsundere' companion to arrive.
"Here's where the magic's gonna happen!" Junko giggled to herself as she glanced down at the monitor Celeste was on, watching her meticulously make her way to her destination. "Which is more palpable, I wonder? The despair of having your plans utterly ruined? Or the despair of desperation and betrayal? Either way…Momma's gonna get her despair on tonight!"
Junko's hand subconsciously began roaming her own body as she watched with glee at the unfolding chaos. Beside her, an entire stack of Hawaiian flower leis sat…ready to be implemented.
"Dammit! I'm so close and yet so far!" Celeste mentally cursed as she 'investigated' the art room along with Hina. "Why did I agree to search with her?! I could have elected to go on my own!"
Even as she thought that, she knew this was the best option. Besides, this would be the last time she and Hina would hang out before the swimmer was executed along…with…everyone…
"God-dammit! Stop thinking about that! Hina means nothing to Celestia Ludenberg! She's a detriment to my dream and I don't need someone like her slowing me down!"
While the swimmer kept searching for anything that might lead her to finding her classmates or the masked freak, the gambler continued to eye the supply room door…which was currently locked. She'd secretly tested it without Hina's knowledge but knew she couldn't signal Hifumi to let her in while the swimmer was present…leading to her current predicament.
"I'm not losing this now! I'm so close! Just on the other side of the door is my ticket to freedom!"
With that driving thought, she carefully removed one of her earring and hid it near the supply room door. Standing up, she turned to face Hina and said, "I believe we've searched this room long enough. We should investigate elsewhere, don't you agree?"
Peeking around one of the marble statues in the room, Hina reluctantly sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. We should probably find Sakura and search with her. It'll be safer that way anyway."
"I agree…" Celeste concurred, making her way out of the art room with Hina close behind. As they exited the room, the gambler purposefully played with her bangs closest to her ear that was missing the earring and said, "Where should we go form here? We've already searched the Rec Room and the classrooms…"
"Hmm, I'm not sure…" the swimmer replied, a puzzled look crossing her face. All the while, Celeste continued to twirl her hair, watching for Hina's reaction.
"Take the bait…take the bait…take…the…bait…God-dammit!"
Suddenly, Hina gave a little gasp as she leaned in toward Celeste. "Hey, Celeste…I think you're missing an earring."
"Checkmate!"
"Oh, dear me…you are correct," she feigned ignorance, fiddling with her naked ear. "It must have come loose in the art room. I am positive I had it when we went inside."
"Really? Do you think it might still be in there?" Hina asked, as if prepared to go and search for it.
Celeste held back a smirk as she continued, "Do not worry, I believe I know exactly where I misplaced it. If you'd be so kind as to wait here, I'll retrieve it and be back momentarily."
To this, Hina raised an eyebrow and said, "You sure you don't need any help? Two pairs of eyes are better than one, you know!"
Again, Celeste's chest grew tight at Hina's kind-hearted offer. She had no idea that she was being completely manipulated…poor girl had probably never told a lie in her entire life. That should have made things easier but, instead, it just intensified the guilt that Celeste continued to deny existed.
Unbeknownst to her, the hairline crack in her perfect mask began to fracture, barely holding itself together thanks to the lies Celestia Ludenberg had conceived. She just needed a little more time…just a few minutes to kill Hifumi and then let this tragedy unfold around her.
"Just a little more…I just need to get through this! I'm on the home stretch…just need to push it a little further and then…everything with work out…it has too…"
With a perfect smile, she pleasantly replied, "Thank you, but it will only take a moment. Besides, with you keeping watch out here, there is no way anyone could get past you. Perhaps Sakura will come by while you wait? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Oh…yeah, I guess it would," Hina answered, obviously a bit surprised by that answer. "Okay then, I'll wait for you out here. But don't take too long, okay?"
"No need to worry," Celeste said as walked past the swimmer, a devious smile revealed once she was out of sight. "This will only take a minute…"
With no more obstacles in her way, she rushed toward the art supply room as fast as her legs would carry her.
KNOCK * KNOCK * KNOCK
"Hifumi…it's me. Unlock the door," Celeste called out in a low voice, glancing over her shoulder to be sure she wasn't overheard.
A few moments later, a heavy clack, signaling the unlocking of the door, echoed. She waited a moment, giving him time to take up his 'injured' position. Taking a deep breath, Celeste forced away all pity, compassion, and emotion from her being, in preparation for the horrific deed she was about to commit. Turning the handle and slowly pushing the door open, the gambler had expected to find Hifumi playing dead on the floor, as she'd instructed. Unfortunately, to her shock, and horror, as she stepped inside, she saw him standing completely upright in front of her, an unreadable expression on his face.
Instantly, the resolve she'd built up dissipated, replaced with uncontrollable fear and anxiety. Without a word, she slammed the door shut, frantically locking it before turning to face her co-conspirator.
"H-Hifumi, dear!" she forced herself to stay 'in-character', maintaining her accent despite the great shock she'd just received. Recalling her own plot, she purposefully glanced back at the doorway before saying, "W-Why aren't you…following the plan? You were supposed to be 'unconscious' when I arrived…"
The fanfic creator's face twitched slightly, growing increasingly nervous as she spoke. "I…I know that but…wait a second…where is Mr. Ishimaru? I thought you were going to bring him with you?"
"Shit!" the gambler mentally cursed, frustrated that her bluff had unintentionally been called. "I have to think fast! I just need him to turn around for a few seconds!"
"Taka is just outside, in the art room," she skillfully lied, praying Hifumi wouldn't notice that 'Taka' was being uncharacteristically quiet. "Once you assume your intended position, I will 'discover' you and bring him here. Then, we can enact vengeance on him together."
"Oh…I see…" a visibly hesitant Hifumi answered, his resolve all but gone by this point. It was making him entirely uncooperative, something she'd noticed back in the nurse's office.
However, in spite of this setback, Celeste was confident she could overcome this last obstacle and finally free herself of this wretched place! The hammer she'd hidden was only a few feet away. All she needed to do was get him to turn his back, then she'd cave in his otaku skull and complete her master pla—
"Miss Ludenberg…I've been thinking. Perhaps we should turn ourselves in…"
CRACK
She heard it, clear as day…even though it was only in her head. Her perfect mask, the one she'd spent years crafting and honing…had just crumbled into pieces. Those words…Hifumi's decision to back out now…at the most critical point…had completely shattered the one thing holding her mind together.
And now that it was gone…all hell would break loose.
Celeste's face twisted violently, pure rage surging forth as she let out a furious scream, "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!"
Hifumi reeled back, absolute terror engulfing him as she stomped over and grabbed him by the collar with hands, pulling him down to meet her rage-infused gaze.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING GET IT YET!" she howled in his face, all traces of her accent completely gone. "IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THE FUCKING PLAN, THEY'LL HAVE US EXECUTED! KILLED! DEAD! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT, FATSO?!"
She was shaking him now, her emotions overruling her judgement as her fragile mind struggled to comprehend just how fucked they now were. Everything she'd planned, all the work she'd put into making her escape…gone! Her plan had practically burst into flames around her at every turn, proving the Murphy's Law did in fact exist and that the universe hated her!
The fanfic creator desperately tried to form words but all he could manage was to hang his mouth open and sputter, "Uhhh…ummm…ahhh…"
"I AM NOT GETTING EXECUTED! YOU HEAR ME!" she continued yelling, her nails digging into his skin beneath his shirt. "I'VE COME TOO FAR TO LET THAT HAPPEN! I'M NOT DYING IN A FILTHY SHITHOLE LIKE THIS! DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
Shaking him even more violently than before, Celeste couldn't even begin to wonder how she'd fix this problem. Her mind was too frantic. Panic had set in and there was no way to dispel it, and it was seeping deeper and deeper into her soul with each passing moment.
Suddenly, two large hands gripped her own, a sensation that startled her so completely that she immediately stopped shaking him. Dazed for a moment, she blinked rapidly in confusion as Hifumi grasped her hands tightly…almost reassuringly.
"T-There is no need to fear, Miss Ludenberg! I know what we must do!" the fanfic creator shouted, deepening his voice dramatically. "We must appeal to Mr. Naegi for aid! Once we explain ourselves, I'm sure that he can convince the others to stand down!"
The power behind his words hit Celeste like a freight train, her jaw dropping from the sheer shock of his suggestion. Loosening her grip, her hands slipped downward out of his grasp, falling to her side, and swaying back and forth for a moment. Her gaze lowered but her shocked expression didn't dissipate. Instead, it slowly began to morph…
"…Appeal to Makoto? That's your great idea…?" she questioned aloud, as if expecting a response. However, she didn't give him enough time before her face twisted in anger as she shouted, "IF YOU THINK I'M PUTTING MY LIFE IN THE HANDS OF THAT NAÏVE DIPSHIT, YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING! HE'LL PROBABLY JUST EXECUTE US ANYWAY, ONCE HE FINDS OUT WHAT WE ALMOST DID—!"
Despite her brutal rage, Hifumi didn't back down, pointing a finger at her accusingly. "No, that's wrong!"
Gasping in surprise, a startled Celeste took a step back as Hifumi used their classmate's catchphrase to silence her. All at once, she felt as though she was in a class trial, staring down the opposition that wished to destroy all of her hopes and dreams. Before she could collect her wits, the fanfic creator began shouting.
"Since there has been no killing thus far, we cannot be put on trial! And once we speak with Mr. Naegi, he will help smooth things over with Mr. Ishimaru! No one will need to die and we can all work out our issues in peace!"
As he shouted, he took several steps forward, unintentionally forcing Celeste to back away from him. From deep inside, Celeste felt a twinge of fear as he towered over her, his large body suddenly becoming immeasurably intimidating as he closed the gap between them. Her rage was immediately replaced with fearful anxiety as she felt all of her power and control slip away.
"B-B-But! What about your revenge?!" she tried to reason, slightly recovering her accent. "Do you not seek vengeance for Taka stealing away your beloved Alter Ego?!"
She expected that to at least slow him down and give her time to formulate another strategy. However, the fanfic creator's advance didn't lessen. In fact, it seemed to increase in speed, further pushing her toward the corner of the art supply room.
"Once we admit to our wrong-doings, I'm certain that Mr. Ishimaru will come to his senses and release my beautiful digital angel!" Hifumi proclaimed, shaking his fist emphatically, which sent waves of terror down Celeste's spine.
"T-That's ludicrous! There's no way someone as stubborn as—!"
As she spoke, Celeste's back suddenly hit the far back wall, preventing her from retreating further. At the same time, Hifumi invaded her personal space, his stomach unintentionally rubbing up against her. Panic soon enveloped her as she realized there was nowhere to run…and she was completely at his mercy.
"For the sake of our continued survival, we must turn ourselves in!" Hifumi bellowed as he stared down into Celeste's terrified visage. "I know you said you'd take responsibility if we were caught, but I bear much of the blame as well! Therefore, we need to admit to our wrong-doings together!"
As he spoke, she avoided meeting his gaze, her eyes frantically searching for some way to escape. And that's when she noticed exactly where she was…the far corner with a large dresser…the place where she'd hidden the mallet she planned to bludgeon Hifumi with. She could see the handle clearly…and it was within reach.
And apparently, Hifumi hadn't noticed it's presence yet…
"Miss Ludenberg!" His loud voice shot her attention back to him, only to watch him drop to his knees before he, bowing his head deeply. "I implore you to reconsider your plan and turn yourself in with me! Please, Miss Ludenberg! We have no other choice!"
As he groveled at her feet, Celeste's breathing became ragged as panic flooded her being. Her heart was pounding, adrenaline was rushing in her veins, and her mind was foggy. She couldn't think straight, even if she wanted to. The nearby mallet handle was calling to her, begging to be used, providing her a way out of this horrifying situation.
Subconsciously, she must have realized this was the perfect chance to strike. Hifumi was practically asking to be bludgeoned, and in her frazzled state, she could think of no other way to survive this ordeal.
If he turned them in, she knew…knew they'd never forgive her. There was no doubt in her mind. She would be executed, probably by having her lying tongue cut out! Unintentional images flooded her mind…horrific visions of Monokuma holding her tongue out with pliers as a blade slowly descended—
"NO! I WON'T LET IT HAPPEN! I WILL LIVE! I WILL HAVE MY CASTLE! I'LL FINALLY HAVE THE LIFE I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF! I'LL FIND HAPPINESS! I WON'T LET YOU KILL ME!"
Almost instinctively, she reached for the mallet, her slender hand gripping the handle tightly as she pulled it from it's hiding place. With a great struggle, she managed to lift the mallet over her head, preparing to crush Hifumi's bowing head. Closing her eyes, she prepared to swing the mallet…
However, even if it was only for a moment, she hesitated. At first, she wasn't sure why…but suddenly, the image of Hina flew into her mind…cruelly reminding her that by killing Hifumi…she was killing Hina as well. Despite that, Celeste's fragile mind also told her that if she didn't take this opportunity…she'd be executed anyway. That paralyzing fear of death seized her…and a single tear slipped from her eye.
As this merciless reality came crashing down on her, she was forced to realize that…in the end…she truly…
"I HAVE NO CHOICE!"
Snapping her eye open, she prepared to swing…when she noticed a pair of beady black eyes staring up at her in shock and alarm. Celeste drew in a sharp gasp, her entire body frozen as she stared directly into her intended victim's eyes. And in that moment…she saw everything he was feeling: surprise, anger, hurt, sadness, confusion…and more of all…betrayal.
She had seen this before, in the eyes of her gambling victims…but never so intensely. There was always anger at being tricked or cheated in a gambling match…but the immense hurt and shock of possibly losing their life? That was not something she'd ever experienced before…or had planned to experience. Her entire being trembled as she finally felt the full weight of her decisions collapse reality around her…feeling the utter despair that came with taking a human life…
The onslaught brought about by this direct eye contact caused Celeste to shudder, her grip on the hammer weakening. As it began to slip, her arms fell forward, bringing the hammer down directly toward Hifumi. Even if she wanted to stop it, she couldn't. The weight of the hammer was too much for her and, whether she meant to or not, it was on a collision course with the fanfic creator's face.
But then…the momentum stopped, and it took Celeste a few moments to realize why. Her crimson eyes widened as she discovered that, without her even realizing it, Hifumi had shot up to his feet and grasped the falling hammer by the handle, keeping it from descending. Towering over her once more, holding a firm grasp on the only means she had to defend herself, Hifumi's emotion-filled eyes glared down into her very soul.
"Miss…Ludenberg…You…You tried to kill me…" he said slowly, his grip tightening around hammer handle. Through gritted teeth, he proclaimed, "You actually…meant…to kill me!"
All at once, intense fear took hold of Celeste, and she frantically began try to tug the mallet from his iron grasp. Unfortunately, in her frantic and frazzled state, she could barely hold a firm grasp, let along try and tear it away from him. And then, with a sudden jerk, Hifumi ripped the mallet from her slender hands, leaving her entirely at her intended victim's mercy.
"Mercy? No…there won't be any mercy…"
Hifumi, now armed with the mallet she'd intended to murder him with, glared down at her with intense rage. She'd seen that visage before, when he'd talked about murdering Taka in cold blood. Only now, the object of his destructive ire would be her…a thought that caused her legs to buckle as her face twisted in terror.
Her back pressed against the back wall, her legs pushing away from Hifumi despite knowing there was nowhere to escape. She began to hyperventilate as the fanfic creator readjusted his grip on the hammer, obviously intending to smash her into tiny, bloody bits. She was going to be killed…murdered by the very person she'd intended to kill in order to achieve freedom.
As that realization dawned on her, she let everything slip away. Her pride, her dignity, her honor…all of it melted away. In that moment, Celestia Ludenberg vanished, and in her place sat Taeko Yasuhiro, a frightened young woman whose only desire…was to live.
Suddenly, she let out an ear shattering scream pierced the air of Hope's Peak Academy.
"AAAIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"
To Be Continued…
Greetings, my beautiful readers! Sorry this took so long to get out, but I assure there are reasons. But what will happen now?! Will Hifumi exact his revenge on Celeste? Will anyone arrive to help her? And if so, who? You'll have to tune in next time to find out!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
As you may have noticed, this chapter took longer than I anticipated to release. The reason for that is simple…my beta and I are having issues getting our schedules to synchronize. To that effect, we've decided to ask if any of you would be interested in being a second beta for this story!
Now, this would only be for spelling and grammar mistakes, as that is what holds us up most of the time. Benefits would be getting to read the story ahead of time, and being a part of our team…also virtual cookies, fresh from the oven! But seriously, if anyone would be able to help us, we'd appreciate it.
Bear in mind that we need someone who'd be able to look over each chapter very quickly and efficiently. If you think you can do that, then please send me a PM/Comment to let me know you're interested. Thank you!
Aside from that, I wanted to thank all of you for being patient with me. I know productivity has been slow, but honestly, things have been hard lately. I lost three grandparents all at once at the beginning of this year and it's been affecting everything, writing especially. So, I apologize for the delays but I promise that soon (with the help of a new beta) I'll be able to get more chapters out more quickly!
As always, reviews are very much appreciated, as they truly make my day! Thanks again and have yourselves a great day, my beautiful readers!