Ryoko's Resolution
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or any of its characters. They belong to their respective creators.
Synopsis: Out on her first field mission, Ryoko Otonashi finds herself on a boat headed for Jabberwock Island…where a new kind of trial awaits her.
Part 1
"So…that's it, huh?"
Ryoko Otonashi stared out the small portside window, a large island looming in the distance. It seemed fairly large, considering it's diameter from this distance. In just a few short hours, they'd make landfall…and Ryoko would begin her very first field mission for the Future Foundation.
"Jabberwock Island. A former tourist destination made up of an archipelago of five larger islands with a smaller central island…where the Future Foundation has set up their newest base," she recited from memory, having practically memorized the mission file. "And now…it's become the site for rehabilitating the Remnants of Despair…"
She'd had plenty of time to go over the mission briefing, considering she'd been confined to her cabin for the entire journey. Obviously, she understood why. Even though she'd been granted permission to help with this field mission, she was still a former member of Ultimate Despair…she'd have done the same in their position.
Turning away from the window, Ryoko stretched her arms up high and let out a heavy yawn.
"Five…days!" she exclaimed, letting her arms drop. "I can't believe it took so long to get here. Guess this means I've earned my sea legs, ha ha."
A hint of embarrassment rose up in her, but she ignored it. She'd become used to sharing her thoughts with the walls surrounding her. In fact, ever since they'd departed from Future Foundation HQ, she'd practically been left completely alone in her cabin.
Just like her room at HQ, the door only locked from the outside. And the only person she'd seen in the last five days had been Makoto, who was kind enough to bring her meals every morning and evening. He even gave her updates about travel time and how long to expect to be at sea. In addition, he filled her in on the finer points of the mission that weren't in the file.
"The Remnants have already been transported and detained," he'd told her, a hint of anxiousness in his voice. "Once we arrive, we'll officially begin 'Operation Rehabilitation'. We'll be using a similar type of 'Neo World Program' that you once experienced."
'Experienced'…that simultaneous summed up and undervalued what Ryoko had gone through so many months ago. This time, however, things would be radically different.
Instead of forcing the Remnants to relive their crimes, all of their memories of being Ultimate Despair would be removed…and a fun vacation on a tropical beach would take the place of those memories. Two 'Observers', a type of artificial intelligence, would be present for them to rely on. One of them would pose as a Teacher…a copy of Gekkogahara's Usami program, with a whimsical personality to boot! The other would be a student, created after their memories were scanned to create a 'friend' they could all trust.
The entire operation would be monitored 24/7, and Ryoko's job was to analyze the data as it came in and assist the tech team with keeping the simulation on track. At least, that's what it said on paper…
"I'm sorry to tell you this but…I don't know how much assistance you'll be providing. The team assigned to this was hand-picked by Miss Gekkogahara, so I can't imagine there will be much to do…"
Makoto had told her that sad truth a couple days into their trip. And while it was encouraging of him not to hide anything from her, she instantly understood what her true role would be.
"So I'm…a placeholder," Ryoko reminded herself, feeling more than a little dejected. "My job is just tosit there and behave. Great first mission…"
More than likely, they wanted to keep her somewhere they could keep an eye on her. At the same time, there was always a chance she might be needed for something. Hopefully it wasn't just getting coffee or something frivolous like that. Either way, she wouldn't know until they arrived and got to work.
Glancing around, she spied her laptop on her bunk. She'd brought it just in case…and the mere sight of it brought back an anxious memory…
Five Days Prior…
…Quickly flipping through the files Yukizome had brought her, Ryoko's eyes widened as she saw something she couldn't believe…
"No way…is this…?" she pondered aloud, lifting the page, and holding it up at eye level.
Involuntarily, the hand holding the file began to tremble, her red eyes dilating as she read over the contents. After scanning the file, her eyes shot to the ominous red flash drive in her other hand. Staring at it for only a few moments…Ryoko Otonashi glanced toward her work laptop and then back to the flash drive.
"…Report back ASAP, huh?"
Glaring at flash drive, Ryoko instantly felt torn about the whole affair. She didn't trust Chisa Yukizome. She was aligned with Munakata after all. But if there really was something important on there that the Chairman wanted her to analyze…
Once again, she turned her gaze toward the paper she'd found in the file. The contents of that file had shaken her to the core, and alarms started going off in her head.
"If I was given this…then that must mean that—."
*KNOCK*KNOCK*
Ryoko nearly jumped out of her skin as the knock interrupted her concentration. Before she even ponder who it was now, a familiar voice called out.
"Ryoko? Are you all set to go? It's time."
Makoto! He was here already?! How long had she been shell-shocked by this discovery?!
"A-Almost ready! I'm just finishing packing! Can you give me a few minutes?" she asked, outright lying. She'd already packed the suitcase she'd been provided for the trip, but she needed just a little more time!
"Uh…I'm sorry but we really need to get going." He sounded concerned, and a bit hesitant as well. However, that didn't stop him from asking, "If you want, I can come in there and help—?"
"No! Don't come in! I'm…I'm NAKED!"
…
…
…
"O-Okay…I understand," Makoto slowly answered, pausing for a moment before finishing. "You should…probably get dressed quickly. Also…I should tell you…I'm…not exactly alone out here…"
Ryoko felt her face heat up and she face-palmed for not thinking of a better excuse. Makoto probably had an escort team with him! And they'd all heard her scream that very embarrassing excuse! She was happy they hadn't installed a camera in her current room, so her lie couldn't be exposed so easily!
Not only that, despite the painful embarrassment, she'd bought herself a little time…but not much.
Whirling around, she folded the paper in her hands in half and set it on her laptop keyboard, snapping the screen down and concealing the file. She then thrust the laptop into her waiting suitcase and zipped it up, only to glance at the remaining files on her desk and quietly groan. Unzipping the suitcase, she tucked the files away inside and re-zipped it closed, wiping away nervous sweat from her forehead.
With all that finished…she turned to the most important item of all. The ominous red flash drive still sitting on her desk.
Reaching out her hand, Ryoko noticed that her hand was shaking…as if she was afraid to pick up the flash drive itself. In fact…from the moment Yukizome had first showed it to her, something deep down inside told her to stay away from it.
However, the logical part of her brain still argued that, if Chairman Tengan had indeed wanted her to analyze it, then doing so could help put her on better terms with him. At the same time, the analytical part of her brain deduced something that she hadn't concerned until this moment.
"Yukizome said to report to him ASAP after analyzing it. I won't be able to report anything until I get back anyway," she reasoned with herself, slowly retracting her hand. "I may as well leave it here and do it when I get back. Yeah…that's for the best…"
As she turned to leave, she came to a sudden halt…the agonizing frustration of indecision plaguing her.
"I…probably shouldn't leave it out though. Yukizome said the Chairman doesn't want anyone else to see it. But…I don't exactly have anywhere I could hide it. Maybe…I should take it with me…just in case."
Rationally, that was the best decision. If someone happened to uncover it, not only would Chairman Tengan lose faith in her, but it would also look like she was keeping something from the Foundation. And, even if she took it with her, she didn't have to analyze it until she got back anyway.
With that in mind, she slowly turned around and glanced at the ominous flash drive.
Knowing that time was short, she fought her feelings of dread, marched over to her desk and snatched up the drive. Unzipping her suitcase one last time, she hid the flash drive at the very bottom, beneath her clothes and completely out of sight.
Closing up her suitcase one final time, she marched toward the door and knocked loudly. A loud 'click' sounded as it unlocked and opened to reveal Makoto with an armed escort behind him.
"All…uh…ready to go?" Makoto asked politely, obviously trying to be considerate, which she appreciated.
Ryoko wasn't surprised with the reception, considering her situation…but it was still unsettling to see fully armed soldiers glaring down at her again. However, if that was the price she had to pay in order to be allowed outside, she'd deal with it!
"Yeah…Let's do this!" The enthusiasm in her voice was infectious, making Makoto smile as he turned to escort her on her first real mission.
Glancing back at her now vacant room one last time, Ryoko felt a hint of giddiness as walked next to Makoto…prepared to do whatever was required of her for the sake of fixing her mistakes.
"…Holy Moly…"
The facility that the Future Foundation had built on Jabberwock Island was even larger than Ryoko had anticipated. A massive set of buildings, with a sizable number of people running around and taking care of the massive ship that had just docked.
"Yeah…it's something, isn't it?" Makoto said as he stood next to her, lugging his own suitcase with him.
"It's huge! I must have taken months to construct all of this!" Ryoko surmised, taking in the base that would be her home for the next few weeks. However, as her eyes scanned over the entire area, she quickly sensed that something was amiss with this situation. "Is all of this…really just to help the Remnants recover from Despair?"
"Well…not exactly," the former lucky student told her as they waited for the ship to fully dock. "At first, this was a shelter the Future Foundation set up in case of an emergency. But later, it became a research facility under Gekkogahara's supervision."
That made sense. Gekkogahara must have worked very hard to convince the Chairman to allow her to convert the shelter into what it was now. More and more, Ryoko felt indebted to the painfully shy Division 7 Leader. Despite her history, Gekkogahara continued to encourage Ryoko to overcome her self-loathing and find some manner of peace.
It wasn't a stretch to say that, without Gekkogahara providing much needed therapy, Ryoko wouldn't have been on this mission right now.
"I hope she's doing okay…" Ryoko silently wished as she took in the wide expanse of the island.
Her eyes lit up and a wide smile broke out on her lips as she watched the waves crash against the sandy shore. She inhaled deeply, tasting the salt in the air. And even though it was overcast, she wouldn't have minded a short swim in the clear blue water surrounding them.
Out here…so far away from civilization, it was hard to believe the world was in such a deplorable state. And while she knew she'd need to survey the destruction eventually, Ryoko was secretly pleased that her first foray outside Future Foundation HQ was to such a beautiful location.
"It's so…peaceful here," she inadvertently said aloud, closing her eyes and listening to the seagulls cry. Slowly opening her eyes, she glanced over to see Makoto smiling gently at her, which made her flush. "W-What?"
The former lucky student chuckled. "Nothing…nothing. It's just…nice to see you smiling so much, that's all."
If possible, Ryoko's face heated up even more, and she sharply averted her gaze and dropped her smile.
"I-I'm just enjoying getting to stretch my legs for the first time in six days! That's all!" she stammered, a frown unexpectedly settling onto her features. "Besides, I know we're not here to enjoy the scenery. I'm gonna give this mission everything I've got…even if I don't end up getting to do much."
Makoto matched her expression for a moment before flashing a reassuring smile. "Hey, you never know. Maybe Kyoko could assign you some additional tasks. I'm sure she can find a suitable task for you."
At the mention of their Division Leader, Ryoko ears couldn't help but perk up. "D-Division Leader Kirigiri is here too? Weren't you supposed to be the only senior member of the Division here on this mission with me?"
A hint of panic crossed Makoto face and Ryoko realized that he may have just told her something she wasn't supposed to know yet.
"Y-Yeah, Kyoko's overseeing the entire operation," Makoto finally admitted, lying not being his strong suit. "She's actually meeting us once we finish docking. S-Speaking of which, it's almost time! Look!"
Staring over the edge of the bow, Ryoko watched as they began connecting a long wooden bridge that would connect to the docks. A part of her wanted to question Makoto a bit more, but in the end, she decided it wasn't necessary.
Although it was obvious he was deflecting her questions, Ryoko didn't think much of it. Sadly, she was used to being kept in the dark when it came to vital information. Given her past, it was the logical thing to do. Like it or not, her talents were dangerous, and they had to take some level of precautions with her.
Speaking of precautions, something about her current situation was odd to her. Glancing around, she noticed that no one hanging around nearby. It was just her and Makoto, alone on the deck, waiting to disembark onto the island. And…that didn't make any sense.
Where were the armed guards that had escorted her to her room when she first boarded the ship? Had they not come with them to the island? Surely they hadn't just been there to escort her to the ship and then left…right?
And yet, as far as she could tell, there wasn't an escort anywhere near her…or even on the dock waiting for them to arrive!
Instead, the only person she saw waiting to greet them was one Kyoko Kirigiri, looking as cool and aloof as ever. Ryoko fought back the nervousness that began to rise up as the boat successfully docked and they were guided to the ramp.
"It's good to see you both arrived safely," Kyoko Kirigiri said to them as they reached her. "How was the trip?"
A bright smile spread over Makoto's face as he answered, "Not bad. I think I'm getting used to traveling at sea."
The instant Makoto spoke up, a softness subtly manifested on Kyoko's expression as the two of them exchanging those simple pleasantries. Most people wouldn't have noticed such a small chance in her disposition, but Ryoko's analytical talents noticed it almost unintentionally.
"Will those two ever hook up?" she pondered, feeling almost like a third wheel in that moment.
Seeing their obvious care for each other was kind of painful…but only in a self-centered way. Ryoko wasn't the type of person to meddle in other's affairs…even when she couldn't deny that she found both Makoto and Kyoko attractive in their own ways. She knew from the start that, regardless of how kind Makoto was toward her, his heart already belonged to Kyoko.
And Kyoko…well, she had more reasons than most to despise Ryoko for—
"Is everything alright?" Kyoko's voice cut through the fog of her thoughts, nearly startling her back to reality. "You seem a little weary. Was the trip difficult for you?"
Kyoko's outright concern was both reassuring and confusing. Most of the time, the former detective treated her professionally and with the authority provided by her position. However, despite her formal tone, Ryoko could tell she was genuinely concerned…which was odd but not unwelcome.
"N-Not really, Division Leader," she replied quickly, paying her superior the utmost respect. After all, she didn't want her first mission outside HQ to be frowned upon. "I'm just tired from the trip, I think. Thank you for your concern."
Slightly bowing to her, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Makoto share a look with Kyoko. At first, her overly nervous mind thought she must have inadvertently insulted their Division Leader and was preparing to offer an apology when Kyoko spoke up again.
"Ryoko, while I appreciate your professionalism, you don't need be so formal with me all the time."
Ripples of shock washed over Ryoko as her superior offered the tiniest of smiles. Not only was Kyoko being considerate, but she was also acting outright friendly! The confusion was mounting and with so much conflicting information churning around in her mind, Ryoko could only stammer a brief reply.
"O-Oh…uh…okay…"
Her face reddened as embarrassment took hold, not lifting herself from her bow for fear that either of them might notice. After taking a few subtle deep breaths, she managed to regain composure and lifted her head back up. She then asked the question she couldn't help but wonder.
"So, I suppose we're just waiting for the security team to meet us?" she posed, unintentionally gauging their reactions. To her utter surprise, Makoto and Kyoko shared another knowing look, one that she could only interpret as hesitation.
Before she could speculate further, Kyoko's turned to her, her features firm but not hostile. "There is no security team. I will be escorting you to your quarters."
Again, Ryoko could only feel shocked by the completely unprecedented situation, and this time, she couldn't contain her surprise.
"W-W-WHAT?!" she shouted, feeling only slightly self-conscious as various people working on the dock glanced in her direction. What's more, Makoto gave her a sympathetic glance while Kyoko narrowed her eyes slightly. Under all that pressure, Ryoko somehow managed to reign in her overflowing emotions and instead pressed them for more info.
"W-What do you mean there's no security team?!" she emphatically whispered, drawing closer to them as panic began to set in. "Why isn't there a security team?! I'm…I'm dangerous! I can't be trusted! I should have a gun pointed at my head at all tim—!"
"Ryoko…calm down."
The red-haired woman froze as Kyoko, of all people, stepped forward and placed a hand on the side of her arm. Her gloved hand held on firmly, squeezing a tiny bit, but overall felt oddly comforting. The action inadvertently caused Ryoko to meet the former detective's gaze, and at that moment, everything became clear.
One glance at Kyoko's expression told Ryoko all she needed to know. Her analytical talents were in overdrive, absorbing all information at once…and with it came understanding. At the moment, Kyoko held absolutely no animosity toward her, and what she'd been told before had been the absolute truth. There was no security team coming to escort her. And, for some reason, both Kyoko and Makoto were fine with that.
…But that didn't make sense! And sadly, it was obvious that her confusion was worrying the two of them. Which was why Kyoko stepped up and was trying to calm her, with Makoto also stepping closer, his presence alone reassuring. They weren't bothered by her presence, and in fact, seemed to want her to feel comfortable around them…but why?
Even with all her analytical talents, Ryoko couldn't piece the 'why' together. However, it was clear that Kyoko could see that she was beginning to understand, and slowly released the hold on her arm. Strangely…Ryoko instantly missed the intimate contact. She'd felt…oddly safe when Kyoko held onto her. Perhaps that's what the detective had intended…
"Are you feeling better now?" said detective asked her in a soft voice, the sound instantly soothing the emotionally vulnerable analyst.
Again, Ryoko's face flushed almost as bright as her hair as she nodded firmly. "Y-Yeah…I think so…"
"Good," Kyoko said with a faint smile, genuinely relieved from what Ryoko could tell. "I know you probably have a lot of questions, but can they wait until we've gotten inside the facility? I promise to answer all of your inquires once we get you settled."
Despite the healthy fear that Ryoko had built up during her time at Future Foundation HQ, something about Kyoko's demeanor right now made her lower her guard. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it didn't really matter. With Makoto with them, she knew there was nothing to worry about.
And so, with little option but the faintest bit of hope, Ryoko nodded slowly and said, "Alright…"
Stepping back, Kyoko momentarily glanced at Makoto who offered her warm smile. Even in her current state, Ryoko could see the affect that smile had on Kyoko…and it was adorable! She hid it well, but for someone like Ryoko, it was plain to see that the detective lived for that smile. Just seeing it filled her with determination and strength.
"I doubt Makoto even knows that…" the analyst concluded, feeling slightly jealous but overall happy for the two of them. "They're so lucky…and they don't even know it. Maybe it's his ultimate luck at work…"
"Okay then, let's get you settled in," Makoto told her, aiming his weapon's grade smile in her direction.
Feeling the warmth from his expression fill her, Ryoko reciprocated the gesture and followed as Kyoko led them to the largest building in the complex.
"Alright, I'll see you two later!" Makoto said as he waved goodbye, entering his room, and closing the door behind him…leaving the two ladies alone in the hallway together.
The instant he was gone, tension began to set in. Even though Ryoko felt slightly more at ease with Kyoko's presence, the former detective still had an intense aura about her that wasn't easily dispelled. However, it seemed that Kyoko was at least somewhat aware of that and turned to her with a somewhat softened expression. Something in her lavender eyes wasn't as harsh as usual, but Ryoko had no idea why…
"You're room is down this way," Kyoko told her, already heading in that direction, and forcing Ryoko to keep pace with her. "Once we get you settled in, would you like to get something to eat?"
Only slightly taken aback by Kyoko's kind offer, Ryoko could feel her stomach rumble in earnest at the mention of food. She hadn't eaten since breakfast, and it was fast approaching evening. Perhaps the three of them could get dinner together? Not likely. They'd probably just deliver her meals to her room, just like at headquarters. Regardless, food sounded heavenly right now!
"Yes, please. I'm starving!"
Ryoko's earnest reply earned a nod from Kyoko, and with that, they continued down the hallway to a room not so far away from Makoto's. Producing a key, Kyoko unlocked the door and opened it before gesturing for Ryoko to head inside. Taking a few steps into the room, Ryoko's breath was taken away.
"Whoa…this is my room?!"
Before her was a well-furnished, spacious bedroom complete with a couch, a large workstation, and…two…beds…upon which someone else had already placed a suitcase of their own.
"Am…am I…sharing this room with someone?" Ryoko politely asked, the thought almost too absurd to consider.
"That's right," Kyoko answered her, much to her surprise.
For an instant, Ryoko wished that it would be Makoto, but given that they'd already stopped by his room, that obviously couldn't be the case. Not to mention that Makoto would probably be a bundle of nerves if he shared a room with a girl. He was adorably innocent like that. She was just about to ask who would be brave enough to share a room with a former Ultimate Despair when…
"You and I will be sharing this room together," Kyoko nonchalantly told her, closing the door behind her, and walking toward the suitcase on the bed. "I only arrived yesterday and haven't had time to unpack. I haven't slept in either of the beds yet so you can choose which—."
"H-H-Hold on!" Ryoko shouted, thankful that no one else was around to see her freak the heck out! "Y-You and I are…are…are sharing a room?!"
Raising an eyebrow quizzically, Kyoko answered, "That's correct. Is that a problem?"
"Uh, yeah! That's a major problem!" Ryoko shouted before her hand flew to cover her mouth…but the damage was done.
As expected Kyoko's expression hardened, and Ryoko knew she'd crossed a line. At the same time, nothing made sense and she was growing more frustrated with each new 'discovery' about her situation. She'd only been on the island for roughly thirty minutes and already she'd discovered she wasn't being constantly monitored, she was rooming with direct superior, and everyone was being nice to her!
…Well, not everyone, she still got dirty looks from a lot of people, but the atmosphere was more friendly than HQ had ever been. Regardless, Ryoko was at her wits end and was getting close to demanding an explanation when Kyoko finally spoke up.
"If you have any grievances, I'll gladly hear them." The former detective sat down next to her suitcase on the bed and stared at Ryoko, patiently waiting with a calm expression.
Tossing her suitcase aside, Ryoko finally snapped as her mounting confusion began to cause a headache.
"Look, I'm sorry but I feel like I'm going crazy! What am I even going to be doing here?! I mean, come on! I came all this way just to sit around and do nothing on my first mission?! Also, no security team?! Sharing a room with my boss?! You being nice to me! None of this makes sense and it's freaking me out!"
Panting after her tirade, Ryoko continued to stare at Kyoko, who continued to stoically observe her. Even after venting all of that, she felt more ashamed than relieved. The way that the detective was staring at her was unnerving to say the least and scared the heck out of her to say the most!
"Is there anything else?" Kyoko genuinely asked, obviously wanting to be sure before responding.
For a long moment, Ryoko Otonashi was silent. There was something she desperately wanted to ask Kyoko. Something she'd wanted to know for a long time but didn't have the courage to ask. Even now, when this near perfect opportunity presented itself, Ryoko found herself shying away from the topic and meekly answering, "…No, that's it."
It was a poor lie, and she was certain that Kyoko was aware that there was more. However, for whatever reason, the former detective didn't pursue it and merely decided to stand up and begin answering her inquires.
"I promised to give you answers, and so I will. Are you ready to hear them?" she asked, putting the ball back in Ryoko's court.
"Yes…" she answered immediately, unintentionally sighing in desperation.
"Alright then, take a seat." Kyoko waited for Ryoko to sit down on the opposite bed, which was comfier than she'd expected, before re-seating herself on her own bed. "Firstly, there is a security team in place in this facility. However, since you're currently less of a threat than the sixteen Remnants of Despair we have in captivity, it was decided that you would be under my direct supervision during your stay. Which is also why you and I are sharing a room together."
All that made perfect sense to Ryoko, and she felt more ashamed that she'd jumped to conclusions without waiting to hear any explanations. However, she didn't have time to comment before Kyoko continued…
"Secondly, I was going to wait until after you ate before speaking to you about your assignment, but I suppose I can do that now." She paused, as if waiting to see if Ryoko would interject. When she didn't, the detective continued, "You will be analyzing data from the Neo World Program in real time, to ensure that everything is running smoothly. If anything abnormal comes up, report it and we will take care of it. In all likelihood, if everything goes as planned, there won't be much for you to analyze. Hence why you were told there may not be much for you to do. I apologize for the misconception."
Well…that certainly explained why Makoto had told her that. Analyzing data in real time may sound difficult, but when little to nothing changes in the simulation, there would be nothing to analyze. If a major incident happened, then she may have more to do, but as it turns out, they were giving her a simple task for her first mission.
And frankly, that seemed appropriate. They wouldn't ask her to write programs or anything else during her first mission, unless they really needed to. Plus, they probably had tons of specialists on site, sent by Gekkogahara herself. She really should have expected that…but the excitement of being on her first mission outside HQ probably clouded her judgement.
"I'm such a screw-up…" she scolded herself, feeling more and more dejected as her position was made clear. "I wanted to be useful and thought I was being pushed aside…but they were just being considerate. Or at least, Kyoko and Makoto are…"
With all that out in the open, Ryoko bowed her head and said, "No…I'm the one who should apologize. I got ahead of myself and…I don't know what I was expecting. I'm sorry for being a burden."
"It's not your fault," Kyoko told her, her tone softening slightly. "Because of your…unique situation, the other Division Leaders don't have any faith in you. Which is why information was kept from you. You did nothing wrong."
Again, Ryoko was baffled as to why her superior was being so kind to her. It could have been that Makoto had said something to her…or the incident with Asahina made her pity the amnesiac a bit. But even so, it was hard to imagine the stoic Ultimate Detective suddenly wanted to be more friendly with her for no reason—
"And finally…" Kyoko abruptly continued but stopped, as if choosing the right words. "Is there something odd about me being concerned for you?"
"…Oh no…oh no, no, no, no, no, no!" Ryoko mentally panicked as she remembered the last thing that she'd asked of Kyoko during her tirade. "Why did I ask why she was being nice to me?! I should have just counted my blessings without looking the gift horse in the mouth!"
Mouth hanging open, Ryoko didn't trust herself to form words as she gapped like a fish out of water. Fortunately for her, it seemed that Kyoko somehow understood her feelings and rose to her feet.
"You're one of my subordinates. It's only natural that I would be concerned about my subordinate's well-being," she said firmly but without harshness. Taking a few steps toward Ryoko, the detective stood over her, her expression nearly unreadable. "Regardless of your past affiliations, you are a member of Future Foundation. And I intend to treat you as such."
A strange mixture of feelings swirled around in Ryoko's chest. Self-doubt, envy, appreciation, apprehensiveness…but most of all, she felt the tiniest glimmer of hope amongst that cacophony of emotions.
"I…I'm not quite sure…what to say," Ryoko spoke honestly, feeling a bit more relieved than before.
"That's fine." Ryoko's eyes widened as Kyoko revealed the tiniest of smiles to her. It completely took her breath away and she could only stare in awe as the detective continued, "You just have to keep doing what you've been doing. You don't have to rush anything. Just take your time and keep going at your own pace. And if you need any assistance, know that Makoto and I will be there to help you."
Ryoko found herself practically mesmerized by Kyoko's words. Of all the hypothetical situations she'd imagined would happen to her on this island, this certainly wasn't one of them. It may have been something Makoto had said to her, but she doubted it. The Division Leader wasn't the type to let herself be influenced by other people, even people she had romantic feelings for. That meant that she was genuinely concerned for her subordinates, which extended to Ryoko as well. It was a reassuring feeling, and the red-haired woman decided to put forth her best effort in order to repay the respect she'd been show.
Letting a nervous but hopeful smile tug at her lips, Ryoko nodded firmly up at her new roommate. "Thanks….I won't let you down."
With another affirmative nod, Kyoko turned toward their door and said, "Now that we've settled that. Why don't we get some food? We can invite Makoto along, if you'd like."
"R-Really?! Heck yeah! Let's get our grub on!" Ryoko exclaimed, leaping to her feet, and following Kyoko out of their room.
-The Next Morning-
"What the hell is she doing here?"
Ryoko inwardly flinched but said nothing as her new co-worker, a young man with short brown hair name Akihiro, openly berated her presence in the control room. Rows of computers and large display monitors littered the space, and there were even soldiers dressed in full riot gear at the entrances and exits. Just beyond a nearby door was the pod room, where all of the remnants were currently 'sleeping.' This was her first time here and Makoto had barely shown her to her station before this altercation occurred.
"Mr. Akihiro, you read the report, didn't you?" Makoto calmly interjected, trying to defuse the situation before it got out of hand. "It said that you'd be working together with Ryoko to—."
"The report didn't say anything about her being in the same room as us!" Akihiro cut in, slamming a hand on his workstation. "You know how dangerous she is! Allowing her into the control room at all is a huge risk and—!"
"I don't believe criticizing personnel is part of your job. Or am I mistaken?"
All heads turned as the door to the pod room opened, revealing Byakuya Togami entering the room. Walking with purpose, as always, he strode up to everyone with the same self-importance he usually displayed.
"Your mission is to oversee the rehabilitation process. A mission, I might add, that you volunteered for. Keep your personal opinions to yourself and do your job. Or do you think that one unarmed woman will single-handedly be able to overpower all of the security forces stationed here?"
Byakuya gestured to the numerous armed soldier scattered throughout the room. Ryoko had tried not to focus on it, but her analytical skills told her they weren't taking chances. If anything out of the ordinary were to occur, she had no doubt the soldiers would gun down her and all of the 'sleeping' remnants without a moment's hesitation.
However, judging by the expression on Akihiro's face, he didn't think it was enough…
"Mr. Togami…" Akihiko lost some of his fervor but surprisingly didn't back down. "With all due respect, having someone like her in the room with us is unnecessary. She can monitor the situation and analyze the data from a portable laptop in her own room. There is no need to risk our safety by have such a liability in the room with us."
Despite his harsh criticism, Ryoko wasn't all that upset with his observation. If it was possible to work in a separate room, then shouldn't they have done that? If only to ease the minds of the people in charge of the rehabilitation process itself? Not to mention, the way Akihiro stood up to Byakuya, despite the possible consequences, was admirable. Sure, his biting words stung, but Ryoko understood why he was having this reaction.
In addition, Akihiro wasn't from Kyoko's division and instead had been handpicked by Gekkogahara herself. He was a part of the Ultimate Therapist's 7th Division, so it was no wonder that he wasn't fully aware of her presence or purpose for this mission.
"Need I remind you that while you are participating in this mission, you are directly under the 14th Division's command?" Byakuya sneered, trying to pull rank. Sadly, it wasn't very effective against the hot-headed Akihiro.
"If I knew this was going to be the case, I would have spoken up about it sooner," Akihiro persisted, gesturing to his fellow division members. "We're all putting our lives on the line for this mission, and yet we weren't told about her direct involvement until just before the procedure was about to start? Don't you think that just a little unreasonable?"
…'Putting their lives on the line'? What did he mean by that? This was an officially sanctioned mission…wasn't it? The obvious conclusion was that being near the Remnants of Despair was dangerous in and of itself but…something about Akihiro's tone implied…something deeper than that.
Ryoko turned and gazed toward the pod room, a growing sense of unease bubbling up inside her.
"L-Let's all just calm down for a second, okay?" Makoto said, trying to get between them and keep them apart. "I'm sure that we can come to a reasonable solution if we just talk this out."
As Byakuya and Makoto continued to try and defuse the argument, something at Ryoko's workstation caught her eye. Slowly moving toward it, being sure to walk as inconspicuously as possible just in case one of the soldiers was trigger happy, her analytical eyes spotted a small dual hard drive plugged into her unit.
At first nothing appeared out of the ordinary, but the more she examined it, the more it just felt…off. She honestly couldn't explain why…but the fact that this unit was cleverly tucked to the side, as if it was supposed to be hidden from view, bothered her. So much in fact that she decided to take a risk and called out, "Uh, excuse me? Is this supposed to be at my station?"
All attention immediately focused on her, including that of Byakuya, Makoto, and Akihiro…which made her suddenly feel self-conscious. Fighting off a wave of nausea from this unwanted attention, she pointed at the hard drive again and said, "What is this supposed to be? Besides a hard drive…obviously…"
"It's probably just a data transfer from the mainland," Akihiro said with an aggravated tone. "We had to transfer the program here manually so that our activities would go unnoticed. Didn't they tell you anything—?"
"That's enough," the stern voice of Kyoko Kirigiri sounded from the entranceway, making everyone stand at attention. Walking into the room, the 14th Division Leader spared a tiny glance toward Makoto and Byakuya before turning her full attention to Akihiro. "Ryoko Otonashi will be overseeing analysis from that terminal. Rest assured we are taking the utmost precaution. If you have any further complaints, you are free to voice them once we finish preparing the simulation. Is that understood?"
Akihiro clenched his fists but kept his tone even as he replied, "Understood, Ma'am."
Kyoko's stern expression lingered on him for just a moment longer before she turned to address the entire room.
"The operation will begin in one hour. At 0800 hours, we will begin the operation. Everyone, proceed to your station and prepare for start-up procedures."
All at once, people began moving. People began rushing to their stations and the chaos of it temporarily stunned Ryoko. Just then, a soft hand landed on her shoulder, and she turned to see Makoto smiling gently at her.
"Alright. It's time. Let's do this, Ryoko!" he said softly but firmly, his smile infectious.
Reciprocating the gesture, the red-haired woman nodded firmly and turned back to sit at her station. However, as she glanced at the hard drive one last time, a sense of foreboding welled up inside…but she ignored it. Her monitor was on, and data was already coming in. Most of it was in computer code, but since she'd worked with various programmers in her own division while analyzing data, she didn't have any trouble deciphering it.
Glancing behind her, she saw Kyoko and Byakuya standing at a larger terminal in the back, with a large monitor that would show the inside of the simulation. Makoto hustled over to join them, and Ryoko felt reassured that he was going to be in the room while they all worked—
"Hey, stay focused!" a harsh voice beside her interrupted her revelry, making her jump a little.
Snapping her head over, Ryoko was only half surprised to see Akihiro sitting at the terminal right next to her, his seat only about six feet away. No wonder he'd been so concerned about her presence here. If she had to sit next to known mass murderer, she'd probably voice her complaints too! However, instead of feeling sorry for herself or getting ruffled by his comment, she instead chose to concentrate on her work.
"You're right. Sorry," she said swiftly before returning to her work…which only consisted of watching the monitor and waiting to see if abnormalities occurred.
Out of her peripheral, she noticed Akihiro sneer at her, but he said nothing, preparing for his own duties while occasionally sending a nasty glare her way. As anxiety-inducing as that was, if she just focused on her own duties, she should be able to block his rudeness out…she hoped.
It was going to be tiring, just sitting there, watching, and waiting for something to go wrong. However, if they were lucky, and everything went smoothly, then within the next few days, a completely rehabilitated group of Ultimates would finally be free of despair…
"Aww…she's so adorably creepy," Ryoko whispered as she viewed the simulation inside the Neo World Program. Usami or as she called herself "Magical Miracle Girl Usami", was exactly like she remembered. Gekkogahara had created the "Usami" Observer quite a long time ago and using a copy of it inside the simulation was a no-brainer.
However, the other Observer was a lot more shocking. Instead of creating a random student by observing the hippocampus of each students brains…a digital recreation of Chiaki Nanami appeared as the second observer. Ryoko had read about how Chiaki had gone missing from Hope's Peak just before the Tragedy occurred…and her status had only recently been confirmed as 'deceased'. When the Remnants turned themselves in, they all but confirmed that Chiaki was dead, but none of them mentioned exactly what happened.
So, naturally, to see her visage as the other Observer was quite a shock to the entire team. However, the simulation was already underway, and Kyoko told everyone they could look into the matter later. For now, they were to focus on ensuring the simulation ran smoothly…and for the most part, everything seemed fine.
While most of the students were skeptical at first, slowly but surely, they all seemed to accept the idea that they were on a tropical island and were being treated like honored guests. It was a far cry from what Ryoko had experienced when she'd been in the simulation.
"Then again, my circumstances were different," she reminded herself, pushing away the horrifying memories from when she'd been trapped in the simulation. "At least they don't have to worry about killer robots trying to mutilate them. Kinda makes me jealous…"
Everyone in the simulation seemed to be having so much fun…it was hard to believe these people had been responsible for nearly destroying the entire world just a few months ago. Then again, that was the entire point. Replacing their despair memories with wholesome ones to undo the brainwashing they'd suffered sounded risky, but if she would've had a choice…Ryoko might have taken that option. At least then she would actually have memories instead of constantly worrying about her old ones coming back to haunt her…
Watching as the students all put on swimsuits and began splashing around at the beach, a gentle smile formed on Ryoko's face.
"This is best, I think. I wouldn't want them to have to relive their crimes the way I did…I just wish my time in the simulation was half as fun as—."
B&*NF#$RD^U*(IKJ^#(GB^$#^*(P*
Wait…what was that? An unknown code…it was only there for second, but it was definitely there. The problem was…she couldn't see it anymore and she had no idea where it was or what it did. A pit formed in her stomach and her mouth suddenly dried out as she turned around.
"Um…excuse me…someone…?" she called out, not knowing what else to do. She had only been told to analyze the data, and since she seemed to be the only one who'd seen the weird code, she didn't know who to tell about it. Makoto had stepped out and both Kyoko and Byakuya seemed busy monitoring the students.
"What…?" the annoyed tone of Akihiro sounded next to her; his brows furrowed as he stared at his own monitor.
Although Ryoko really wanted to report this issue to someone higher up, if by some chance she made a mistake, she didn't want to waste their superior's time. Plus, maybe if she tried being friendly with Akihiro he might be less of a jerk…she doubted it, but you never know.
"Uh, did…did you see that weird code in the system a second ago?" she cautiously asked, thinking maybe he might know more about it.
"What weird code…?" he half-heartedly asked, still concentrating on his own task.
Ryoko was about to answer when she suddenly saw the same code flash across Akihiro's screen. "There! Right there!" she eagerly pointed out, jabbing her finger on the screen. Unfortunately, it seemed her outburst completely startled the focused man and her sudden intrusion of his pace caused him to shout.
"W-Whoa! What the hell?!" Akihiro yelled, roughly grabbing her arm, and pushing her away. His grip was firm and stung her arm a bit, but she didn't have time to react before he shot up and got right in her face.
"Do not get in my space ever again," he seethed, gripping her arm so tightly she winced. However, Akihiro barely seemed to notice, continuing to berate her. "Next time you try to pull something like that, I'll have security subdue you and toss you out of here. Get me?"
Weathering his harsh tone, Ryoko tried her best to ignore his threats and try to get back to the point.
"But…But what about that weird code I saw on your—?"
Raising an eyebrow at her, he sneered and said, "I didn't see any weird code. All I saw was your finger smudging up my screen." Finally releasing her, Akihiro pulled a cleaning cloth out of his pocket. Wiping down the screen, he continued to lecture her, "Listen, I need total concentration to ensure that nothing goes wrong in the simulation, and you—!"
Suddenly, he froze…his eyes staring at his screen.
"No…it can't be…!"
Ryoko's eyes would have darted toward his screen, if a pair of hands, Akihiro's hands specifically, hadn't abruptly reached out and grabbed her by the collar. Pulling her toward his angry reddening face, Ryoko could barely process was what happening when he furiously shouted at her.
"What did you do?! Tell me what you did, right now!" he abruptly yelled, his voice vibrating through her, causing a migraine.
"I…I just…" she stammered, unable to pull her focus away from his intense features. Tears began prickling in the corners of her eyes as she struggled to speak. "I…the code…it was…it was…"
All of a sudden, Akihiro began shaking her, shouting all the while. "Tell. Me. What. You. Did!" He shook her violently, intensifying her migraine and causing her tears to erupt.
She couldn't speak, he was shaking her too hard to get any words out. It didn't matter, since she had no idea why he was so furious and couldn't get her thoughts in order. Just as she felt she might pass out from the incident, the shaking stopped. Not only that, but she also felt Akihiro's hands release her. When that happened, she lost all her strength and lurched backward. Her mind was barely able to worry about how hard she was going to hit the floor when a gloved hand shot in front of her vision.
Suddenly, her descent stopped, her back resting against someone behind her, propping her upright.
"Are you alright?" the familiar cool voice of Kyoko Kirigiri softly entered her ears.
It took Ryoko a moment to realize that the detective was behind her, her slender arms wrapped around the analyst, firmly holding onto her in an almost protective embrace. Against her will, Ryoko felt her cheeks flush at this realization, and she could only stammer, "I…I, uh…yes…?"
"Sadly, you may not be in a few moments," the harsh tone of Byakuya sounded in front of her, turning her attention toward an unexpected sight.
Akihiro was being restrained by security, not roughly but it was clear they were keeping him away from her. A look of frustration coupled with regret marred his features, but that wasn't the strange thing. Ryoko could see that everyone's attention was split between this incident…and the image that appeared on Akihiro's screen.
No…it wasn't just on his screen. Everyone single screen that was monitoring the Neo World Program had the same image. Or rather, the same 'creature' displayed on it. And the instant Ryoko saw it, her blood ran cold and her whole body began to tremble.
"Upupupupupu! Greetings, Future Foundation! Your favorite Hope's Peak Academy Headmaster is reporting for duty!"
Monokuma…the terrifying half-white, half-black bear creature…was on every monitor…and it was speaking directly to them! Everyone, Ryoko included, was petrified…unable to move or barely even think as the maniacal bear openly laughed at their expressions.
"Oh, how I wish I could see your faces right now! Sadly, since you elected not to have camera or audio set up to view anything outside this wonderful program, all I can do is imagine the hopelessly beautiful, despair inducing faces you're going to make as I reshape this world into my personal playground! Ahahahahahahahaha!"
Then, unceremoniously, the image of Monokuma vanished and the feed returned to normal…for about three seconds. Because the view inside the Neo World Program changed. Dark clouds rolled in, and Usami began to visibly panic as the world itself began to turn against her. All the while, every technician watching the screen visibly blanched as their worst fears became realized.
"Give me a status report. Now." Kyoko ordered, everyone immediately returning to their stations and frantically trying to decipher what happened. Security released Akihiro, who practically leapt into his chair and began furiously typing and analyzing.
With all this going on…no one seemed to remember that Ryoko was in the room, let alone the incident between her and Akihiro. Only Kyoko, still holding Ryoko upright, seemed cognizant of her, and for good reason. Without her Division Leader's support, there was no way her shaky legs would've supported her. She'd gone deathly pale, and a nervous sweat trickled down her forehead.
"No…No…This…This shouldn't be happening! It was supposed to be safe! Why did this happen?! HOW could this happen—?!"
"Are you alright?" Kyoko's soft voice invaded her ear, breaking her out of her spiraling thoughts.
Glancing over her shoulder, Ryoko nearly gasped. A look of genuine concern was spread over the detective's face, and she wasn't trying to hide it. Kyoko Kirigiri, a person who rarely showed emotions due to her very nature, was expressing concern for Ryoko and her situation. It was something that Ryoko had never expected to see as long as she lived.
In that moment, a feeling of heartfelt warmth spread throughout Ryoko's body. Her cheeks flushed but she didn't look away, or rather, she couldn't look away. The majesty of Kyoko's visage was mesmerizing…but more than that, it somehow gave her strength.
Only Makoto had ever given her this kind of strength before…and for a brief moment Ryoko wondered if he may have gotten some of that strength from Kyoko. Those two truly were soulmates…but now wasn't the time to think about such frivolous things.
With newfound resolve, Ryoko managed to steady her legs, even though they still wobbled, and emphatically replied, "I'm gonna have to be…"
A look of recognition passed over Kyoko's face before she released her hold on Ryoko, seemingly unsurprised when she could stand on her own.
"Good," the Division Leader said swiftly, her features growing stern. "Because I need a full analysis of the situation ASAP."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Ryoko confirmed, nodding firmly before speeding to her station. She never saw the gentle smile that tugged at Kyoko's lips right before the detective suppressed her emotions once again and took command of the situation.
"Our first priority is the safety of the Remnants," Kyoko announced, moving back toward her own position near the largest monitor. "Once their statuses are confirmed, we need to isolate the issue and see about shutting down the simulation."
Sitting down at her station, Ryoko closed her eyes and took a deep breath. And for the first time since she'd awoken without memories…Ryoko Otonashi embraced her analytical talents.
"This time…I'll use my talents to save people! I won't let any of them die!"
Crimson eyes snapping open, Ryoko engaged full 'Analysis Mode' and dove into the coding of the Neo World Program.
"How bad is it?" Makoto asked once he returned and was given a full update. He'd been out of the room when Monokuma had resurfaced, and it still didn't quite feel real to him. However, with both Byakuya and Kyoko's accounts, he had no choice but to accept the reality.
Monokuma, or rather, "Junko Enoshima", had returned.
As much as he didn't want to, he stole a glance at Ryoko as she continued to sift through the data. She was completely focused, not noticing him in the slightest, absorbed in her analysis. Before darker thoughts and worries could cloud his mind, Kyoko's stern voice returned him to reality.
"We're still looking into it, but things are looking grim," she told him bluntly, and he appreciated the honesty, despite the poor outlook.
"What we need to figure out is how this happened in the first place," Byakuya spoke next, pushing up his glasses and glaring at the monitor. "Whatever this is, it's obviously some kind of program or virus. It couldn't have been uploaded wirelessly, which means it came from outside the island. More than likely, we have a traitor among us—."
"That's not necessarily true…" Makoto interjected, already deep in thought.
"Do you have some reason to believe otherwise?" Byakuya asked, his tone a bit harsh from being questioned. However, it was obvious he was holding back a scathing remark due to his friendship with the former Lucky Student, and instead just waited for a response.
Not wanting to betray that level of trust, Makoto immediately answered, "It's possible that, even if there is a traitor, they aren't here at all. Whatever this program is, it had to have been uploaded from one of the hard drives used to bring the Neo World Program to this island."
"I also think that's the most likely scenario," Kyoko concurred but then added. "However, we must keep in mind the possibility of a traitor among us as well."
"But—!" Makoto tried to interject before she cut him off again.
"The possibility isn't zero. Therefore we need to consider it. As uncomfortable as that may be, we can't risk the lives of everyone on this island by being overly optimistic."
Makoto was silent for a moment, not wanting to revert back to his old way of thinking, being cautiously trustful of everyone around him…just like in the killing game. Despite the growing unease, he decided it was best to simply hope his assumption was correct and keep a watchful eye regardless.
"Yeah…you have a point," he admitted, but didn't let his resolve waver. "But this isn't like back then. We have allies this time, people I know we can trust. So let's do our best to figure out what's happening and keep everyone safe!"
A chuckle escaped Kyoko, making the hopeful young man blush. "I'm glad to see you're the same as always. And I agree. The situation isn't like it was back then. There's no need to suspect everyone. I'll investigate to see if there have been any suspicious activities exhibited by our staff. I'll let you know if I find anything."
Fully aware of his flushed cheeks, Makoto smiled brightly and said, "Thanks, Kyoko."
"As naïve as always," the authoritative voice of Byakuya spoke up, a stern look on his face. "Just don't do anything rash. I won't be running to your rescue if either of you do anything drastic."
Despite saying that, the Togami Heir smirked, proving that contrary to his words, he would be there to support them no matter the challenge. As their confidence gave him strength, Makoto once again turned in Ryoko's direction, unable to keep himself from worrying.
"…How's Ryoko doing?" he tentatively asked, not letting his gaze linger too long, for fear of drawing attention to her.
"She's been quiet ever since she started analyzing the data," Byakuya told him, sparing the amnesiac a momentary glance. "Beyond that, I couldn't say."
Lowering his voice so that only the two of them could hear him, Makoto cautiously asked, "…Is there any indication that she…remembers anything?"
Makoto chose his words carefully and spoke swiftly, feeling guilty for having this conversation in the first place. However, because of the circumstances, it was necessary to discuss such a possibility.
"…At the moment, no." Kyoko replied, also speaking in a hushed tone. "I've been keeping a close eyes on her, and while this incident has shaken her, there's no evidence she's recalled anything."
"…That we know of," Byakuya corrected, eliciting a glare from both of his former classmates. Weathering their glares, the Togami Heir continued, "She fooled all of us in the past. That is an undeniable fact. So, regardless of our personal feelings, we need to keep ourselves impartial…especially in this kind of situation."
Makoto hung his head, wanting to retort but knowing he couldn't. Even he couldn't deny that deep in the back of his mind…he was concerned about that very scenario. Junko Enoshima had been frighteningly intelligent, and while there was nothing to suggest that Ryoko would ever return to being that person—
"Division Leader? I have a report." One of the researchers, Akihiro if Makoto remembered his name correctly, nearly startled all of them.
"Let me see it," Kyoko said swiftly, shifting back into her position with relative ease. Taking the document Akihiro held, her lavender eyes scanned the report, her face growing more and more stern as she read it.
"What have you discovered?" an impatient Byakuya asked the technician, who stiffened but answered accordingly.
"It's a virus, basically. It has completely infected almost the entire system and at this point, removing it might be imposs—."
"It's not a virus. It's worse."
Makoto's attention jolted over behind Akihiro, who also spun around in surprise. Standing there, with a grim expression, was none other than Ryoko Otonashi…
To Be Continued…
Greeting's my beautiful readers! I'm so excited to bring you this next portion of Ryoko Otonashi's story! With her on Jabberwock Island, what do you think is going to happen next?
Let me know what you think of the story so far! I'll be updating this ever other day until all four parts are uploaded, so look forward to them! Take care, and remember to keep on smiling, my beautiful readers!
