Friday, July 19th, 2019 – 6:30am
Nagisa was in his room, looking out the window. He held the tape in his hands and said, "So… It all comes to this… I wonder if Kaede will come out soon… She's due to wake up at 7am… but maybe she overslept. But I had a terrible night, last night. That imposter found out about me and assaulted me. For now, I made sure that she doesn't get her way… but that's a temporary solution. She'll find a way around it."
One hour later, he walked to the kitchen, as he went to make breakfast. Otome appeared, as she was dressed in a white blouse and purple shorts, with black hair, cut into shoulder length. Nagisa gasped, as he saw the NEW Kaede Kayano, or rather a brand new Otome Saotome.
Junko was stunned, "I don't believe it. Last night, she was a panicked mess, but she's calmer than before. Was it because of last night?"
Last night, Otome was panicky, but was stabbed in the arrow. Junko pleaded to her, "DON'T IGNORE ME! I said that we're leaving town, now! Those Hope Morons are about to expose you! We have to leave town, before they search the house, tomorrow!"
Otome said, as she let her hair down, in a calm voice, "There's no need to worry…"
"But… Saotome!"
She opened the door and grabbed a hairbrush and a pair of scissors. She explained, "Thank you, My Despair Goddess. Because of you, my Lethal Queen has acquired a third ability."
"Eh?"
She brushed her hair, and then dyed her hair black, as Junko was speechless.
Back to the present, Junko said, "This is unbelievable… How the hell can she act so lackadaisical, after last night? It's like she tossed despair into the trash, like an old diaper… yet her aura is bloomed in new despair. What could it mean?"
The TV played, as the newscaster said, coughing, "Darn this cold. WHAT? What do you mean we're on the air? AHEM!" He spoke to the audience, "Good morning. It is 7:55. It's time for today's prefectural weather report…"
Nagisa was watching the news, as Otome said, "Listen… About what happened last night…" she pondered, "I'm sorry…"
He thought, "She's apologizing? Her attitude has changed, since last night. What happened back then?"
She went to the mirror and adjusted herself, as the phone rang. One minute later, Otome answered the phone. She called, "Hello? Sorry, this isn't the Sakurai Residence. You have the wrong number."
She hung up, as Nagisa sighed. She left to go to work, as Nagisa picked up his teacup. It suddenly fell off his hand and broke the cup of coffee. She said, "Oh, my…"
He said, "Sorry, I'll clean it up. You go on ahead."
She stated, "Now, now. There's no need for an apology. I'll see that I buy you another one." She then said, "Well, I'm off to work."
She departed, as he said, "Eh? What the hell's gotten into her?"
He decided to leave for work, as Junko was baffled by this moment. She then pondered, "Maybe I picked the wrong stooge to make her do my bidding. She was in a panic, when I told her about today, but she's calmer than ever. What's going on here?"
Episode 52 – Chapter 1: Otome Saotome's NEW Ability!
Bites the Dust!
Nagisa peeked out of the doorway, as he said, "Good, she's gone."
He walked out of the doorway, as Otome called, "Yo!"
He paused in fright, as she said, "Listen, you want to walk to the station, together? I thought I'd make it up to you… after last night's quarrel."
They walked together, as he said, "Huh… I don't get it… Why are you, all of a sudden, nice to me?"
She explained, "One moment, I'm in the throes of despair, now I'm on top of the world. So much has happened, so very quickly. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions. But now… at long last, I'll be able to live life freely of worry and anxiety. You really put the pressure on me, last night, but thanks to you, I've matured."
He asked, "Eh? What's that supposed to mean?"
She stated, "Well, you could say that I have changed, for the better. You were right. But you were determined to find me out, especially since we go to the same school. It's incredible that you stood up and threatened Otome Saotome."
Nagisa gasped, and then thought, "What? Otome Saotome? So, that's her name?"
She giggled, "Oops… Did I just say my real name? That's okay, no one is around."
He said, "Does that mean you'll kill me?"
She replied, "Oh, heavens, no. Simply because you know my secret? Like I said, I've matured." She walked towards the front of Nagisa and said, "But no matter what you or anyone else does, no one in the world can rival me now. You no longer have any interest in me… and if I wanted to kill you…"
She glared at him, "…I would've simply finished the job on you, last night. We'll get along just fine. I guarantee it. So take a breath, kiddo. After all, we're friends."
She walked off, as Nagisa was stunned, "Well, I should be going. You take care, Nagisa." With that, she left.
Nagisa said, "So… I was right. Kaede Kayano… is Otome Saotome. But what she said… No one in the world can rival me now… Rival? As in, someone else has a bizarre power like her? I know who Kaede is, but… This woman is even scarier than Kaede. But what did she mean? Still, she has terrifying confidence. She brazenly calls herself unrivaled now. Does that mean she gained some new power? What do I do now?"
He stopped and pondered, "DAMMIT! I HAVE NO IDEA! HOW CAN I STOP THIS MANIAC?"
The car opened, as Kazuki appeared. He called, "You there, kind sir?"
Nagisa asked, "Who, me?"
Kazuki said, "You're Nagisa Shiota, aren't you? I was waiting for you. My name's Kazuki Sendo, and I have a question for you. Do us both a favor and answer me." He showed him the picture and said, "This is you, isn't it? And is that your girlfriend? You were taking a video of her, were you?"
Nagisa gasped, as he saw the photo he took. He ran off, as Kazuki grabbed his shoulder. Nagisa's face split open, turning into a book, as he gasped, "What… is this?"
He collapsed, as Kazuki sighed, "Well, that's a relief. I know it was unexpected… Questioning him would be troublesome. Reading his mind will be much less troublesome than a simple Q&A."
He placed the unconscious Nagisa into the front seat, and examined him. He read the pages and said, "Odd… I cannot sense his pages. They are simply classified pages, like in assassination manuals. Heaven's Gate can only read candid honest written accounts of his life's memories. And yet… Wait… What is on this page?"
A page says "DO NOT read on" as Kazuki said, "I see… Some assassins like to keep their secrets discreet. But what is his deal, anyway? When I came over, I wasn't planning to give him a quick peruse… but now he's got me strangely hooked. Lemme see…" He read the pages that were classified. First, it said "an old man was walking with his fly down". Next, it said, "He then sneezed, and grumbled. Two girls laugh at him, while he walks." Another page said "Rain fell, and the two girls ran away."
"What is all this?" Kazuki asked, "This makes even less sense! What does it mean?"
Just then, the old man in white hair, in a beige coat, with his fly down, sneezed. He grumbled, "Ugh… Dammit all…"
Two girls in school uniforms giggled from behind his back, as he walked off. It was how it was written. Kazuki gasped, "This boy… Who the hell is he?"
He read through the pages, "And next, rain fell… I see…"
It started to rain, as the girls ran off, trying to avoid getting soaked. He then pondered, "It's like predicting the future…" He then read "At 8:27, the Pepsi Sign was hit by lightning."
CRACK! BOOM!
Lightning struck, hitting the Pepsi sign. Kazuki was bewildered, as he gasped, "What the hell is this? Who is this Nagisa Shiota? And how does he experience the future? Is he a Stand User, too? No, best not to think about it… I should read on… No way is this a Stand ability. Heaven's Gate can't even predict the future. It just reveals what one has seen or heard. I'm sure that an explanation will be inside these pages."
He then found an extra page, which read "I don't know if I were to be scared by it, but my friend, Kaede Kayano… she goes by the real name, Akari Yukimura. However, she undergone a new name… She's not Akari Yukimura… She blew up a couple in an apartment in Jozenji, without a trace. She's a bloodthirsty murderer who has superhuman power… Her name is… Otome Saotome."
"Saotome…" Kazuki whispered, as he looked at the photo, spotting Kaede on the photo. He then cheered, "It's all coming together! This guy's a gold mine! He solved the mystery! Otome Saotome is Kaede Kayano! She disguised herself to be this boy's best friend!"
He turned the next page, as he wanted to learn more. But…
…
…
…
Kazuki was mortified and shocked, as he saw what was on the last page…
"And then… Kazuki Sendo… was also killed?! The new superpowered Saotome found a way to murder him…" He gasped in horror, "What? Killed? Is it because he knew about-?"
Click!
A sound was made, as a chibi-Lethal Queen appeared from under the next page.
"LETHAL QUEEN – BOMB TYPE THREE! BITES THE DUST!" The Stand cheered on.
Kazuki roared, "HEAVEN'S GATE! ATTACK!"
His Stand attacked the tiny Stand, but she was transparent. The Stand called, "Lethal Queen has already entered inside your pupil, Kazuki Sendo!"
He gasped, as the Stand was now in his left eye. The Stand continued, "No… You're not seeing things. Lethal Queen's Bomb Type Three has already been activated! YOUR TIME HAS COME!"
The Stand dove in, and Kazuki was attacked. His back shot out four shots, from inside, gushing out blood. He fell, clinging to life, and losing blood.
"And there you have it… Lethal Queen's new power will annihilate all those who attempt to take me down! It's a bomb that will activate in anyone, who dares to approach Nagisa to get to me! Nagisa's verbalizing my true name will activate the bomb, as will putting my name in writing. In other words, I am a new bomb that is implanted in Nagisa!"
Kazuki regained his strength, as he was moaning, "I forgot… The others… they're, ugh… supposed to come. I know who she is, now… Tsukasa and the others should arrive at 8:30…"
He crawled off, as he moaned, "I have to tell them… I must… Ugh… I MUST! Kaede Kayano is Otome Saotome in disguise…"
He found Tsukasa with Peter, as they were walking by the corner. "I… I finally found her… Tsukasa… You have to… ugh… Please… answer my call!"
He was slowly crawling to Tsukasa, as he was far away, bleeding heavily, and dying.
"You have to hear this! Heaven's Gate sniffed her out! I found her! Otome Saotome… she's Kaede Kayano!"
He reached for Tsukasa, but Nagisa woke up, and Lethal Queen reappeared from inside Kazuki's eye.
"AND NOW, Gaze upon the glory that is Lethal Queen's BOMB TYPE THREE!"
The Stand hit the trigger, as Nagisa saw Kazuki starting to explode from inside his body.
"TSUKASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Kazuki Sendo exploded into nothing, by Otome Saotome's new ability. As for Nagisa, he shrieked in terror, as he was caught in the explosion. But then, as the explosion hit him, he screamed, trapping himself into a huge vortex, and sucking up everything inside him.
SHOOP!
After that…
Nagisa woke up in his bed, in cold sweat, as he breathed heavily. He whispered, "What happened? Ungh… Just a dream…"
He looked at the time. It was 5:42am. He moaned, as he was getting up. He said, "What happened in my dream?"
He was in the breakfast table, as he was making breakfast. He then said, "Kaede should come down… But… Why does it feel like… I know this day from before?"
The TV played, as Otome appeared, in her outfit.
The TV played, as the newscaster said, coughing, "Darn this cold. WHAT? What do you mean we're on the air? AHEM!" He spoke to the audience, "Good morning. It is 7:55. It's time for today's prefectural weather report…"
"It's crazy… but…" he gasped, "I've seen this newscast!"
The phone rang, as Nagisa realized it, "THIS ISN'T A DREAM! I'm… None of it happened today! THIS IS THE SAME MORNING! Everything is repeating! Somehow, I am reliving the same morning, again! Then that means… This woman is Otome Saotome! She's behind this! This is what she meant by being unrivaled! This must be her new powers!"
He went to the phone, but stumbled and caught the coffee cup. He sighed and said, "Great… That was close…"
Otome answered the phone. She called, "Hello? No, it's not. I'm sorry."
She hung up, as Nagisa sighed, "Phew… That was close… But it doesn't change the fact that I'm in the same morning, again…"
Otome held the cup of coffee and said, "You knew you were going to drop it, were you?"
He gasped, as she said, "Sorry… It appears you have returned from blasting someone to kingdom come, Nagisa."
He shivered, "What?" He then thought, "No… Then that means… What I did… was practically… It happened! But… How did I come back to the start of the day, again?"
She explained, "Tell me. Who was it that died, after he exploded, and you were there when you saw it? Truthfully, I'm not into the gory details of your little foray, today… but Lethal Queen's new power is called Bites the Dust."
"Lethal Queen?"
"It automatically protects me from right inside your body. So, thank you, Nagisa."
He shivered in fright, as Otome said, "Oh, right… You remembered who it was that you met. He was Kazuki Sendo, correct? One less insect that is removed from my range." She then smirked, "But then… Were you aware that I killed you, last night, when we were in the bathroom, together? As that moment, it's as if the fates themselves had witnessed my despair, and I was granted a form of this ability. I tried the ability out on you… and as luck would have it, time reset itself for one hour. The reality that I murdered you was nothing more than a figment of imagination. At the same time, you also became my personal life-protecting bomb. You told Sendo about me, thereby activating the bomb, and killing them from inside, and sending you back here."
She smirked, as she held him, "Even if you never bothered to tattle, a simple inquiry of the identity of yours truly will be enough to activate Bites the Dust, and then incinerate the target into nothing, and you'll zip right back to where you were. Your visit with Kazuki Sendo was all a memory. So now you know the power that Bites the Dust holds."
She boasted, as Nagisa was shocked, "MY TRUE NAME WILL NEVER LEAVE THESE LIPS, AND NO SOUL WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH WILL SEEK ME OUT!"
Otome smirks in victory, as she used Bites the Dust to eliminate Kazuki Sendo. All Nagisa could do was tremble in fright and fear.
Meanwhile, in Darkveil, Luzer arrives at the castle. Kendra was sitting in her throne, as she held herself in a huge pain of panic. She whispered, "No, it can't be…"
"Countess?" Luzer asked, "What's wrong? I came back, as requested, so The Gang can save the day."
Kendra sat up and boomed, "Your friends will die, TODAY!"
Luzer squawked, "WHAT?"
Kendra stood up and said, "Follow me, Luzer…"
She and Luzer departed to the basement room, down the long stairway. She explained, "The true terrors of the Moji Mikisa have arisen. Otome Saotome, under the guise of Kaede Kayano, has acquired a brand-new ability called "Bites the Dust". Similar to how Yoshikage Kira holds it, Saotome has learned to eradicate her victims. But there's more."
"More, countess?"
"Indeed… Otome Saotome has gained a mentor, in her wake of her murderous spree."
"Oh… You mean, Junko Enoshima? I heard. She's the Ultimate Despair. My Master killed her, in his unbridled chaos and darkness… but he hid it and made it say that Junko killed herself, out of sacrifice. What does it mean?"
Kendra stated, "It means… that Junko Enoshima wants this… Killing everyone in F City, including The Gang, Chazz Princeton, Tsukasa & Kagami Hiiragi, and others, will result in the biggest, most terrible, most awful, most tragic return ever…"
She shone her eyes red and hissed, "If they all die… Junko Enoshima…"
Luzer gasped, "A resurrection and blood sacrifice?! If Saotome wins, Junko Enoshima is revived?! EVERYONE DIES, AND THE TRAGEDY WILL BEGIN?!"
Kendra said, "Correct."
He yelled, "WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU SAY SO, IN THE FIRST PLACE?"
Kendra stated, "BECAUSE! Because Junko Enoshima is the DEVIL! She bleeds despair! She cries despair! She sweats, pisses, even shits despair! Even in death, she won't stop her cruel crusade of despair! She is THE True Ultimate Despair! And that's why she must be stopped!"
Luzer growled, "Damn… I leave, and I left them all to die… WHY NOW?"
Kendra said, "It's too soon… She's already got Kazuki Sendo…"
"HUH? SHE GOT HIM?"
Kendra explained, "Lethal Queen, Saotome's Stand, was able to trick Sendo into being caught in the explosion, from within… From what I am told, Lethal Queen is able to activate Bomb Type Three – Bites the Dust, a tertiary bomb that Junko unleashed. One utter of her true name will be triggered to the end of those who know her secret. The Sketch Artist Killer is known to hide in secrecy and kill anybody, without leaving a clue or a trace of evidence. Junko Enoshima began that horrific run of murder, and it led to her murderous spree of Despair. But when she died, Otome Saotome filled that reign, and she became her new puppet!"
Luzer said, "I don't get it… Sendo's dead?"
Kendra said, "Likewise the rest… But I overheard what goes on in the future, as I foresee. While Kazuki Sendo dies, Nagisa Shiota, the victim who was used to kill Kazuki, managed to erase the moment, one hour behind. However, all it did was regain the memories of what Nagisa and Saotome did…"
"OH! You mean like Groundhog Day? I never saw that movie."
"Once time restarted itself, by one hour, the events continue, like it never happened. However… the events that happen, due to Bites the Dust, will activate, throughout. In short, if the morning starts again, and Nagisa witnesses Kazuki Sendo's presence, he dies immediately…"
The Stand dove in, and Kazuki was attacked. His back shot out four shots, from inside, gushing out blood. He fell, clinging to life, and losing blood.
"…And with it…" she continued, "…he explodes into a ball of flames, and thus, the morning continues on…"
The Stand hit the trigger, as Kazuki was starting to explode from inside his body.
"TSUKASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Kazuki Sendo exploded into nothing, by Otome Saotome's new ability.
"Monster!" Luzer growled, "But why?"
Kendra sighed, as she whispered, "I don't know… But you, my dear Luzer… You have to stop her, from making this horrible error."
"What happens to the others, after Kazuki dies?"
Kendra bit her lip and whispered, "I'm afraid that it's not that simple. Kazuki's death was Part One. By the time Nagisa ran into Peter, Tsukasa, Chazz, & Asahi, Otome Saotome activated Bites the Dust, just as she was about to claim more souls…"
Nagisa was sitting on the ground, as Peter, Tsukasa, Asahi, & Chazz all were succumbed to Lethal Queen's Bites the Dust.
"You're looking Lethal Queen – Bomb Type Three. To attack me now is futile." The Stand said to everyone its possessed, "In fact, the only reason you CAN see me is that I already entered your pupils. It doesn't matter how many of you I have, the moment you asked about my TRUE identity, YOUR FATE IS SEALED!"
The Stand activated its bomb, and everyone exploded into nothing, thus Nagisa returned back to 5:30am, where the entire morning started.
Kendra hissed, "Seeing that Stand repulses me… And even so, killing everyone will please Junko Enoshima, upon her resurrection. Lethal Queen DIDN'T set back to an hour. No… She headed back to the start of the morning, and decided to redo the whole morning, all over again."
"She's learning how to control time?" Luzer gasped.
Kendra said, "That's right. Like this horrid Groundhog Day movie, this one is a pure horror show."
"What happens next?"
"Well… Once they die, Saotome goes after Steven, Farra, & Kagami. And then, one-by-one, they all die… from Bites the Dust, and until she is pleased, she will leave it alone, and live on, as the others perish forever…" Kendra growled, as she looked down, "If Otome Saotome succeeds with the mass amount of people she sacrifices for True Despair, Junko Enoshima will live again, and thus, The Tragedy that will befall the AUs will restart, all over again. Meaning Enrico Pucci's RESET Button, as Peter Giese called it, didn't matter anymore!"
"Is there a number to this?"
"A number?"
"How many victims?"
Kendra said, "I'm afraid it is a lot. Sixteen. The number of souls needed is the number of people that play Junko Enoshima's Killing Game."
"WHAT? 16 SOULS?!"
"Yes… And it must happen, within the same day, at the same allotted time period… One whole hour. She would've killed 16 people at once, but those are deemed unworthy. No, she'd have to delete sixteen worthy and righteous souls… Those are the souls of hope. If she kills 16 of them, Despair looms once more… and The Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Event in Human History begins, once more…"
Luzer bowed his head and said, "Countess… … … What can I do?"
She asked, "Huh? You?"
Luzer said, "If I let Master die, what is next for me? Should I reset myself to find a new master, or stop this, before it even happens? If I let The Gang, Chazz Princeton, The Hiiragis, and everyone else perish by The Sketch Artist Killer, there's a chance Junko Enoshima would erase us, too! I refuse to let it happen, but I don't know what to do! I've done all I can… but… LET ME BE THE ONE TO SAVE THE GANG, FOR ONCE! TO HELL WITH DESPAIR! AND TO HELL WITH JUNKO ENOSHIMA!"
Kendra was amazed, as she said, "I see… Such words." She bowed her head and said, "Luzer, you were always my favorite student. I've taught you a lot, such as the others that will to me."
She then requested, "Very well… But this is all I can give you, until I can be awakened again…" She held up a dark energy orb from within her body, as she whispered, "Take all my powers… Luzer, you are to wield everything that I have… and stop Kazuki Sendo from his demise, as does the rest…"
Luzer asked, "Wha-? What are you doing?"
Kendra said, "This is all I can do, until my reawakening… My body will stop moving, but I will slowly recover. Please… Use what I have, and save F City and the worlds… from Despair…"
The orb absorbed into Luzer, as Kendra called, as she was slowly turning into stone, "NOW GO! Go to F City! You will travel to time, at 4am! Nagisa Shiota will wake up at 5am… enough time… to stop… Saotome… "
Luzer flew off, as he cried, "COUNTESS! NO!"
Kendra was fading, "I will contact you… in… spirit… Luzer… my… darling… star pupil… You have… one shot… to… save… … …every… one… from… de-, des… despair-."
She was completely turned to stone, as Luzer flew away, "COUNTESS KENDRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Total silence was made in Castle Darkveil, as Luzer, tears from his eyes, as he whispered, "Countess Kendra, my teacher… I promise… I promise I won't let you down. Despair cannot win… Junko Enoshima will NOT win! I WILL SAVE MY MASTER AND FRIENDS! AND ON TOP OF THAT, MR. SENDO OWES ME, FOR THE JAN-KEN-PO GIRL, RECENTLY!"
His aura boomed in a dark comet, as he called, "By the powers of Darkveil, I summon you! Give me the strength of the Darkveil Secrets!"
He zipped off, into a huge sonic boom, and vanished into the air.
Friday, July 19th, 2019 – 4:00am
And so, time reset itself back to early morning, at 4am. Luzer arrived at Nagisa's house, as he said, "I made it… And just in time… From what I can recall, Saotome's already activated Bites the Dust, on Mr. Sendo. She's yet to use it on the others, yet. So, I'm good to go."
He perched onto the branch and plotted how the moment will go:
"So… At 7am, Otome Saotome wakes up…
By 7:30, Nagisa wakes up, and have breakfast.
At 8am, they share a walk together, but since Bites the Dust reverts back to the morning, he'll try to avoid Saotome…
By 8:30, Kazuki Sendo is attacked, by an unknown blow… and three minutes later, he blows up and dies…
And then, by 8:36, which may happen, if I blow it, Master, Chazz Princeton, Asahi Sakurai, and Tsukasa Hiiragi all die to Bites the Dust… And soon enough, Steven Cooke, Farra Stevens, & Kagami Hiiragi will feel the same fate…"
He glared at the window, "I owe Kazuki Sendo so much, since we fought Celestia Ludenberg. Suffice that he doesn't have any friendly qualms with The Gang, I have to make sure that he's saved. Mizuki admires him, as a friend. But I'm not doing this for the Countess, Mizuki, or Master… It's for Sakura Minamoto… the first victim who died, at the hands of Junko Enoshima! If I let Kazuki Sendo die, it's all over… But since I arrived, and it's not even 6am, I'm going to rescue him…"
He plotted, "Lemme see… Since we know that Otome Saotome is in disguise, and Nagisa Shiota is going to be waking up and reliving the moment… I GOT IT!"
One hour later, he flew into the window, and pecked at the window. Nagisa woke up, as Luzer cawed. Nagisa opened the window, as he moaned, "A dream? Wait… Why was I dreaming, earlier?"
Luzer said, "Nagisa Shiota?"
Nagisa cried, "AGH! YOU CAN TALK?"
Luzer nodded, as he introduced himself, "My name is Luzer. I am from Castle Darkveil in Transylvania. I know what's going on, and I'm here to assist you."
"Assist me? You mean, you'll help me stop Kaede Kayano? She goes by the name-."
"I know. And that's why I want to help you. Listen to me, and we'll map out a plan, together."
Nagisa and Luzer plotted together to stop Otome from using Bites the Dust. What are they planning?
To be continued…