The last few weeks have been quite the roller coaster. Waking up from the Neo World Program, finding out you were stuck in some crazy virtual world as part of some rehabilitation program, realizing that the whole thing was hacked by a rogue AI that forced us to kill each other in an attempt to possess the bodies of those who died while we revert back into the despair ridden psychopaths. You know, the usual things that make you question your hold on reality. Everything was thrown at us in those last moments in the simulation. We were all terrified. We didn't know what waited for us when we got out or what would happen to everyone else. If they were truly dead...
But the five of us decided we would face an unknown future together. I remember what happened when woke up from our pods. The lid opened and I leapt out onto my feet. An overwhelming sense of anxiety and anticipation filled me as I looked around the room. I locked eyes with Fuyuhiko and we smiled. Akane leaped from her pod in excitement and ran over to us. Miss Sonya rose from her pod with the grace only a princess would have. We couldn't believe it, after everything we had seen and gone through, we made it out alive. We all looked over at the last opened pod and we saw Hajime. He looked at all of us and smiled. "Hey guys."
"HAJIME!" We all let out and ran towards his pod. Akane and I helped him out. Miss Sonya ran over and hugged him.
"Eh-Hi Sonya, happy to see you all here!"
"This is unbelievable! We're alive!" I said with tears streaming down my face.
"What a fucking nightmare, I'm just glad it's all over." Fuyuhiko said what we were all thinking. It was all over right?
"HEY GUYS, GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE ALL OKAY!"
We heard a loud, booming voice over our heads. When we looked up, we saw three people looking at us through a window. The same three who helped us escape the simulation. Makoto, Kyoko, and a skinny looking Byakuya. Apparently he was the real one and the one we knew was some poser that acted like him.
"Makoto, you guys, thank you for helping us!" Hajime said.
"We would've been in some deep shit if you guys didn't show up!" I was still crying when I said that.
Kyoko grabbed the microphone from Makoto, "We may have stepped in, but it was you five that rejected Junko's AI. You all chose to fight for your futures. Despite all that has happened, you guys overcame tremendous odds. Congratulations, guys. But as much as I would love to continue these celebrations, we still have a serious issue regarding your friends."
We all froze up when she said that. All that excitement vanished, replaced with dread as finally looked around the room and saw everyone else's pods. All of them were still inside, we couldn't tell if they were dead or not. We knew that the avatars where deleted when they died but we didn't what would happen to their real selves. They just laid in there pods motionless. I couldn't bare to look at them.
She handed the mic to Byakuya, "By the looks of the data, there are both good news and bad news. The good news is that your friends are still showing vitals which means..."
They're still alive. That was all I heard. All I needed to hear. There's a chance, that's all I needed. All we needed! But Byakuya said something that brought me back to my senses. He said that because they died in the simulation, their minds were sent to some kind of alternate program completely separate from the one we all shared. At the time I didn't know what that meant. It was probably another one of Junko's tricks that prevented them from leaving. Regardless, they were all stuck and we didn't know how to get them out. It's such a crazy thought that either one of us could've easily been in their places. If I did anything different, I could've been killed. Maybe, instead of me here, it could've been...
Some time has passed since then. It's been a slow progress trying to figure how to help everyone. I managed to find some schematics to the pods on the computer that's hooked up to them. Along with that were some documents saved there as well. Mostly stuff that tells me how the Neo World Program works and what to look out for in the people using them. Helpful, but nothing that was really going to help us save everyone. I wasn't going to let it bother me. This was something that was going to take time until a real solution is found. The most I was able to do with that information was explain it in a way that made sense for everyone else. It was like trying to explain how a car works to someone that doesn't know. Except this was a car that was able to link with the minds of several people at once and if the mainframe is damaged or destroyed in anyway, we can lose everyone still inside. Yeah, after I explained that part Hajime put me in charge of anything hardware related. This was pretty much how I was spending my days, looking over screens and documents to try and make sense of it all. It's been a few days without much sleep, mostly some coffee and candy to keep me awake. Even then I was drifting in and out consciousness trying to maintain my focus. It wasn't helping that my mind was in two places right now. One was here, the other was thinking about her. Her birthday was coming up and I was planning something special. Despite the circumstances that we're in, I'm sure she'll appreciate it. Fuck it, I know she will! Even... even if she's...
"Oi, Kazuichi!" Fuyuhiko called me out, breaking me from my thoughts.
"Oh, hey Fuyuhiko. What's up?" He walked over and sat in the chair next to me. Keeping the gruff, hardass demeanor despite his size. Granted, I think that eyepatch may help him keep up that image. Even if it was a little help. Heh, little help.
"Four cups, three bags of gummy bears, blueprints all over the place, your eyes are bloodshot. You're over working yourself again."
"Well someone's gotta try to figure all this stuff out. It's just that there's so much here that I have to learn and understand. Blueprints, booklets, notebooks, journals, software layouts. All kinds'a stuff. It's all fascinating."
"But trying to put it all together in order to help everyone. That's the difficult part."
"Right. Some time ago I was just putting together car engines, bikes, and robots. Now I have to become Einstein and figure out the Matrix. That's what it feels like at least." I let out a hefty sigh after that, I think I feel all this weight starting to take its toll on me. "I never thought one day I would have so many people rely on me. To have the lives of others on my shoulders. It's all just so to comprehend."
I didn't even look at him, I was just letting out what was on my mind. I heard him let out a slight chuckle so I looked up.
"Well, I guess it was a good thing I took the time to do a little bit of studying myself. Why don't you take a couple days to wind down? I can handle this." He had his usual smirk on his face. Does he even know what to do with all of this?
"A-are you sure about that? This is A LOT to look after."
"Don't worry about it, I understand this thing enough to make sure nothing bad happens. Besides..." he crossed his arms and looked towards the screen in front of him. He was looking at Peko's pod that was displayed on there. "You shouldn't be the only one who feels like you have this massive weight on your own. The others and I hafta carry the burden too. You've already done a lot, Kazuichi, you at least deserve some kind of break."
A break, huh? I've been on overdrive for weeks since we got out. I guess he was right, I could really use one. Besides, that gives me enough time to prepare my gift! This could've come at a better time!
"All right! I'll take up that offer! Thanks Fuyuhiko. Though if you need anything-"
"Don't expect me to ask for anything. As of this moment, you are on break. I don't want to see you until you are fully rested up." Wow, this was the same Yakuza guy from before? Hard to believe it honestly.
"Okay then, well I'm going to leave this here with you. It's my notebook that has everything that I've learned about so far written down. You can refer to it if you need it." He was looking through the book but his face formed a confused look. My handwriting isn't THAT terrible.
"Dude, this notebooks'a fucking mess!"
"Don't worry, I'm it'll make sense, eventually." I left the control room, leaving Fuyuhiko behind to decipher the mysterious code that his my writing.
I headed topside to my cottage, at least what resembled one. I hadn't had the time to really spruce up anything. Not that it mattered, there was just more important things to do. Fuyuhiko wanted me to relax for however long I needed. Not sure how I could with everything on my mind. Mostly what I'm planning to do for her. I had everything in the closet ready to go, I just needed the finishing touches. But maybe I can sleep on it for a bit. I got two full days for myself, surely I'll have everything finished by then. I closed my eyes, despite my thoughts, I drifted off to sleep.
Those few days off really was something I needed. I feel refreshed and pumped up! Perfect timing too. Today was her birthday. I had everything I needed. The present, the letter I wrote, I have no doubt she would love! Doesn't matter what the circumstances are, I want to do this. I want to let her know she's not alone.
I grabbed everything I needed and made my way towards the chamber with a pep in my step. It's been awhile since I felt this good. I feel so confident that I can do anything. I can make a life size scale model of the Titanic if I wanted to. It would probably sink though. Regardless, I'm ready for today. I've had more than enough time to prepare myself for what to say and poured my heart out in that letter. I have a good feeling about today.
I walked passed the control room and, sure enough, I saw Fuyuhiko staring at the monitors. Yup, that looked familiar. It was surprising to see Akane in here. Even if she was asleep with my notebook on her face. I hope none of her drool is on that.
The closer I got to the door, the more my stomach was filled with anxiety. Despite all of my preparations for this day, I was still nervous. Given the circumstances, it's probably pointless for me to even do something like this. Who knows if she would even care about what I'm doing. I should just head back before I make an ass out of myself and...
"Gah! The hell am I thinking! I can't back down now. I've made it this far already, I can't keep doubting myself!"
I was always confident in myself when it came to Miss Sonya in the simulation but this is different. Everything was different...
I finally gained the courage and opened the door to the pod chamber. A sight that I've gotten use to seeing, unfortunately. Everyone that died in the simulation was here, stuck in whatever alternate reality they were sent to afterwards. At least they were still alive.
Just as I expected, Miss Sonya was here. She was sleeping with her head rested against the pod the Gundham was in. It must've been another long night for her. I walked over to try and wake her up. I rubbed the back of the shoulder, I whispered to her, I even tapped on the glass of the pod but none of it worked. She was out, nothing was going to wake her up. I let out a small laugh and I looked at the man left in his pod. "At least we know you have someone waiting for you on this side, pal." I passed by some of the other pods. Peko, Teruteru, Mahiru, each one of them died in the simulation whether if they were killed or executed by Monokuma. I continued looking around until I found the one I was here for, hers.
I walked up to the pod and there she was. Ibuki Mioda, the ultimate musician. Stuck inside her own virtual limbo after she was killed in the simulation by Mikan. I don't even want to remember how we found her. The sight of it all still haunts me. I remember the night after the trial I came to the music venue by myself. I couldn't keep myself together and I cried for what felt like hours. Ever since I keep wondering to myself if I did things differently, she would be here with us or maybe even instead of me. Anything could've happened where I ended up dead yet here I was. Why her instead of me? She didn't deserve what happened, she didn't deserve to die! She deserves to be here with everyone instead of me! She-
There I go again. Getting wrapped up in my own thoughts again. I didn't even notice the tears falling down my cheeks. Pull yourself together, man. She's alive! That's all the matters. She will get out eventually and I'll be here when it happens. Besides, today was her birthday. She might not be "here" exactly but I still want to make the most of it for her. I grabbed the strap around my shoulder to put on the ground. There were no chairs so I used one of the weird cube things around the room to sit on. Only the sounds of air filling the pods filled the room. Like an oxygen tank in a hospital room when someone was in a coma. I sat down thinking of what to say. C'mon Kazuichi, it's like as if you were talking to her normally. She's just stuck in some kind of coma, ya know? I took a deep breath...
"Hey 'Buki. It's been a bit hasn't it? Sorry, it's just been-a lot, these last few weeks. A lots'been on my mind. Haven't had the time to really understand everything for myself. It's just all so crazy and incredible. Though, I guess you didn't experience what we did or know why we're here in the first place. There's so much thats happened since that I wouldn't even know where to begin. Like how we are actually the bad guys and that we were here for our own good. Look how long that lasted. For now, me, Hajime, the rest of us... we're are doing our best to get you guys out." I couldn't even look at her. All I could do was just stare into my own reflection on the ground. "We honestly don't know what to do. The simulation itself is so massive. Different codes, failsafes, programs, just so many things to learn in a short period of time. I'm a fast learner when it comes to that stuff but there's only so much I can do on my own. That's why Fuyuhiko's been helping but I know he still needs to figure something's out." It was like I was speaking to someone in an open casket. You like to think they can hear you but you know they can't. Like it's pointless to even talk to someone like-No Kazu, stop thinking this way! You have a chance to save them. To save her! Besides, you're not here to mope. I took off my beanie and rubbed the top of my head.
"Sorry 'Buki, I don't mean to be much of a downer. Like I said, we'll be doing everything we can to get you guys out. For now, I wanted to show you something." I grabbed the case I had put down earlier. It was a guitar case and inside was her gift. "Ta-dah! It's a guitar! Hehe-look I know you probably have plenty of these but I promise this one is unique. I remember when you would practice you had one that looked like this. I did my best to recreate it from scratch. I think I got it down pretty well if I say so myself. I mean, it was mostly the same as yours but I also decided make some additions to it. The neck is collapsible to make it easier for transport, AND has its own built in amplifier. You can hear what it can sound like without having to plug it into anything. I mean it may defeat the purpose of an amp' but at least you don't have to constantly need one nearby." I chuckled nervously as if she can hear me. Like as if I was making a purposefully bad joke. "I wanted to make this for you since it's your birthday and you're probably going to need a new sickass guitar when you come out! Want to here what it sounds like?" I held the guitar in my hands to play it. I adjusted the volume of the built in amp so that it wasn't loud enough to wake up Sonia. Now I'm no musician so the most I can do is fairly basic stuff and - I just realized I didn't refer to her as MISS Sonia! Weird. My stomach filled with butterflies when I started lightly strumming the strings. I was thinking of playing the happy birthday song for her. I figured that it would be something she would appreciate and that it was probably the easiest song to play.
When I found the right tune, I started singing to her. My voice was shaky and couldn't carry a tune to save my life. My guitar skills could use some more practice, a LOT of practice. Still, I sang with all my heart in hopes that she would somehow hear me. I didn't even bother to see if anyone else heard me or if Sonia had woken up. Huh, I did it again. Is this a sign of some kind? I don't care, not now. I finished singing with a smile on my face and a sigh of relief. For a song that's like twelve seconds, it felt forever trying to sing it. It was worth it because it though, that's all that mattered. "It works like a charm, all it needs now is the right person to play it. Who better than the ultimate musician, right 'Buki?" I laid the guitar back into the case and took the letter out of my pocket. "I also want to give you this. It's something that I wrote. I wanted to write something to show how much you mean to me." I opens the letter, I took a deep breath and I began to read it aloud.
"When we met each other in the simulation we thought it was our first meeting. I honestly didn't think much about you aside from I thought you looked pretty cool. But the more time we spent together the more I got to see who you were. Your unique way of living life to the fullest was honestly beautiful to me. Not caring what others may think because you always stayed true to yourself. Your music maybe a bit too much but that is all part of your charm. Something I wouldn't change for anything. But what was weird about all of it was that it all felt familiar to me. That's because when I came out of the simulation, my memories have been slowly coming back to me. Memories of everyone, memories of us. It turns out that we best friends. 'Two halves of a whole idiot' as Hiyoko would call us. We used to do all kinds of stupid stuff but we didn't care. In the end we had each other along with everyone else. So many great memories together and with the class. All lost when we became despairs, when we went inside the simulation. But still, we were deeply connected. Deep down, your still the most badass gal I know. You are still my best friend. I'm sorry I couldn't help you." I can feel my eyes filling up with tears. Every words was getting hard to say. But this is all I want to say to her. I suck it up and keep in reading, "But I will do everything to make up for my mistakes. You always saw the best in me. You always did your best to cheer me up. Now I will do my best to return the favor. Your friend, Kazu." I hovered over her pod and placed my hand on the glass. I folded the letter back up and placed it beside her pod along with the guitar. She was still adrift in whatever place she was thrown back into. I just hope wherever she is it's some place better than that damn island. "Sleep well, Ibuki. I promise we will see each other again soon!" I lifted my hand from the pod. Deep down, part of me believes she heard it all.
I stared at the ceiling in my cottage. Holes and pieces of wood sticking out were scattered around up there. Feels like it perfectly matches my thoughts right now. Everything is just running around in my head. Specks, equations, Ibuki, data, alternate reality, my notes, Ibuki, how is Akane going to figure out this thing, Ibuki, Ibuki, Ibuki. Everything ended up back to her, even when I was thinking about Sonia. It's now to the point I don't even call her Miss Sonia! Maybe it's for the best, it's not like I ever had a chance with her. I was holding onto this childish fantasy of being with a princess like I was in a fantasy movie. I remember when I first layer eyes on her and thinking I was going to marry her. Ibuki was there too and she said the same thing. But I also remembered the conversation we had after that class when we met her.
"That Sonia sure is something, isn't she 'Buki?"
"No kidding, she must come straight from the pages of those old fairytales. Not to mention with a last name like Nevermind, it's like she was meant for Ibuki!"
"Hey! What do you mean 'meant for Ibuki?' Clearly, I'm the one who's going to be with her."
"OH NO WAY KAZU!!! Not before Ibuki dates her first! She already has something in mind for our first date."
"In your dreams, 'Buki."
"Hehe, want to bet on it?"
"What kind of bet?"
"A simple one. If either one of us has Sonia as their girlfriend, the other person has to pay for that first date."
"You know what, you're on"
She stuck her hand out to so we could shake on that stupid bet. I went to shake so we could seal the deal. But then she decided to make a second stipulation.
"It's a deal then! May the best one win. And if neither one of us date her, then we will date each other!"
"Alright, to the best one wi-wh-WHAT-Wa-wait hold on! What did you say?"
"You heard me. If neither you or Ibuki date Sonia, then the both of would start dating."
"The hell kinda stipulation is that? I-uhh-I mean, you and I are like best friends. Why woul-"
"It's because we ARE best friends, Kazu. Besides, who knows. It could be fun, y'know?"
I remembered when she said that. I was still blushing at the idea of dating my best friend. But all it took was to look at that smiling face of hers. "Alright then, it's a deal!"
I laughed after remembering that scenario. But she was right, it could be fun if we were a couple. "Soon, Ibuki. I'll see you soon."