Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Danganronpa series. I only own Hikari Seishin and her family. I also do not own any video games I mention in this fanfic.
Note: I try to make the story as canon as I can with obvious creative liberties. Please let me know if any of the original cast is OOC and I will do my best to fix it.
Thank you so much everyone for the views this past month. Just a heads up, this chapter definitely is despair-inducing. Please enjoy.
Chapter Sixteen
Her Sacrifice
"The mask has fulfilled its purpose…just as I have," Peko stated plainly, her eyes slowly becoming dull as her death sentence hovered over her head.
Hikari grasped her necklace as she looked apprehensively at the Swordswoman. "What do you mean, Pekoyama? What was your purpose? Why do you say that it's 'too late'?"
"Now that you've already cast your votes…is what it means."
"H-Hey…!" boomed Nekomaru. "Be clearer! We're asking you what your purpose was!"
"I have no purpose… I am just a mere tool…"
"What does that even mean!? Why are you calling yourself a tool!?" Hikari asked Peko, the Spirit Medium feeling her emotions going haywire, but she didn't care at all at this point. Today was one of her most stressful days on the island and she knew it was not going to get any better.
Nagito crossed his arms with a small frown. "She called herself a tool…which means someone else used her, then?"
"Hmph, of course…" Peko replied with a slightly crazed grin. "A tool cannot do anything on its own."
"I see…I finally understand… Well, I did have a sneaking suspicion all along…" Nagito said with a smile, relaxing his posture.
Hajime glanced at the Luckster. "What…do you mean?"
"I mean, besides Pekoyama and Saionji, someone else was also at the beach house."
"S-Someone else!?" Hiyoko gasped in surprise.
"There is proof that establishes that fact. Try to remember it."
"Wait…" Hikari blinked and turned to the white-haired teen. "Is that why you asked Monokuma about the body discovery announcement?"
Nagito smiled. "Yep, that's right. I mean, didn't Monokuma say so earlier? The announcement is made when at least three people discover a body… And in this particular case, the killer, Pekoyama, is not one of those three. If that's the case, it would mean only Saionji and Souda discovered the body, but…"
"I see," Chiaki acknowledged, pulling her hood over her pale mauve hair, "that leaves us one person short."
So Souda triggered the announcement, Hikari thought to herself, which means Hinata was not one of those three since he went to the beach house shortly after Souda.
"Plus, the fact that Monokuma tried to hide that truth from us by being flexible with his own rules…" added Nagito, arms crossed. "That's such a vital clue that it could alter the outcome of the trial. Like an accomplice, for example—"
"No, that's not it…" Peko interjected, her own arms crossed.
"Huh? Am I wrong?"
"Yes. From your basic way of thinking about it, you are wrong. Didn't I tell you…? I'm just a tool. That means I'm just a simple tool to be used by that person."
"Therefore…that person would have the strongest motive out of anybody else here, right?"
Who has the strongest motive to kill Koizumi…? Hikari slowly looked at each of her peers before remembering where all the evidence from the game pointed to. Well, it's obviously Kuzuryuu… The ebony-haired girl widened her eyes when she stared at the Yakuza. Pekoyama is Kuzuryuu's tool!?
"…Is it Kuzuryuu?" Hikari blinked and glanced at Hajime as he uttered those words, the boy looking at Fuyuhiko seriously. The blond male's composure was slowly crumbling, his hands balled into fists that were stuffed in his pockets, a couple of beads of sweat appearing on his face as he inhaled sharply at Hajime's accusation.
"I see…" Chiaki said with a nod. "Now I finally see the connection… The connection between the motive and the incident…"
Akane's eyebrows furrowed. "But even if it's the motive, it's just a game, right? There's no reason to believe it's even true. Would you call a game like that…a strong motive?"
Hajime fidgeted uncomfortably before pulling out the photos obtained from the game. "I didn't think it was necessary to confirm it if it didn't have anything to do with Koizumi's murder, but… There's no doubt that game is based on actual events. That much is clear if you saw the ending prize." He passed around the four photos for everyone to see. "The photos awarded for beating the game are not actual in-game screenshots… They're all...actual photos…with the surrounding scenery cropped out…" Hajime confronted the silent Yakuza. "You…knew all along, Kuzuryuu…didn't you? You knew whether or not the first victim in the game was actually your little sister…right? Because…whoever beat the game first and received the ending prize… It was the envelope, right? The person who received the ending prize… It was you, wasn't it?"
I had a feeling it was… That's why I wanted to see Kuzuryuu before the trial started, Hikari thought, watching Fuyuhiko start to sweat more, his body shaking a bit.
"If you were shown a photograph of your sister's dead body, you'd have no choice but to believe it…" Nagito stated. "Even so, you wanted to deny the truth…that's why you sent those photos to Koizumi to confirm it."
Hiyoko pouted. "H-Hey… Why are we talking about Kuzuryuu? Who cares…? Cause…Pekoyama is the killer, right?"
"But…we already voted!" Mikan squeaked, starting to panic.
"That's why I told you…" Peko said with a satisfying grin, "you're all too late. As I said before, I exist as nothing more than a tool… I had no motive for killing Koizumi… No reason to kill…not even the will to kill… I was simply used as a tool. As long as I am a tool, I cannot defy my orders."
Hikari glanced back and forth between Peko and Fuyuhiko, the teenage boy looking very vulnerable at the moment. Is she really being used as a tool? It doesn't seem that way with how Kuzuryuu has been acting now... Hell, even during the trial he was defending Pekoyama…
"I'm not the killer!" Peko exclaimed. "The true killer, who used me as their weapon to killed Koizumi Mahiru, was Kuzuryuu Fuyuhiko!"
"What!?" Gundham shouted in dismay.
Akane's jaw dropped. "What the hellllll!?"
Nagito chuckled, grinning cheerily. "I see… That's what you were aiming for all along."
"No…" Peko disagreed, "I have no aim. But my young master does. My young master planned this from the start."
"Y-Young master…?" Hajime echoed.
Hikari frowned, her eyes glued onto Fuyuhiko. I'm still not sure… If what she says is true, then why is he so despondent? Shouldn't he be celebrating since either way he survives? Hikari blinked, just realizing something despairing. Wait… If that is true, then either way…Pekoyama gets executed. Why? Does she really not care about her own life?
"That…" Peko said bluntly, "is the truth of this case. I'm sure you realize it by now, but it's too late. You cannot undo the vote…"
"That's a problem…" Chiaki said with a frown, worry apparent in her eyes. "If Pekoyama's allegation holds up, that means our vote is incorrect."
"I-In that case, the person who gets to live is…" Ibuki babbled, stumbling over her words in disbelief.
Fuyuhiko's skin turned a sickly pale, gaping when he comprehended what Ibuki was trying to say. "Just…me…?"
"Th-That's nuts! No matter how you look at it, that's completely insane!" Hiyoko protested loudly.
Nekomaru still appeared troubled by Peko's words, running his hands through his black hair. "H-How…would Pekoyama be a tool in the first place…? Pekoyama is a legitimate human being!"
Peko glowered at the SHSL Team Manager. "That's not for you to decide… It's for Monokuma…" Then the corners of her lips turned upward, twitching slightly. "The votes have been cast! All we can do now is wait and see what Monokuma decides!"
Hikari glanced at the Swordswoman quietly, sadness filling her chest. Pekoyama, what happened to you in your life before this killing game…for you to think that you aren't even a human being?
Monokuma tilted his head to the side, a paw touching his chin. "Hmmm…I'm in a bind, and what a bind it is… I guess for now…let's take a quick recess! We'll be right back after the commercial break!" Slowly, everyone stepped off their platforms, the uneasiness in the atmosphere almost unbearable. "Ahem!" Monokuma cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention. "Although there were some twists and turns along the way, the one who killed Koizumi Mahiru is…"
"H-Hold on a sec…!" Hajime interrupted with urgency.
The bear chuckled, his paws over his mouth. "Okay, I'll wait. So sorry…I'm just hesitating!"
"Th-There's no need to hesitate!" Kazuichi cried out. "No matter how you look at it, Pekoyama's the killer!"
"…Why?" Peko asked.
The Mechanic blinked in confusion at Peko's question. "Wh-Why…?" Then he growled in frustration, pointing at the young woman. "Well, that's obvious! You're not a tool, you're a friggin' human being!"
"If I'm a human, then I'm not a tool… If that's what you're saying, you're wrong. Because…you just don't know. You just don't know that there are people who only exist to be tools. …People such as myself."
"Only exist…to be tools…?" Hajime's voice faltered while wearing a troubled expression.
Hikari frowned and turned to Fuyuhiko. "…What does Pekoyama mean by that, Kuzuryuu?"
He gritted his teeth, still very upset with how things are being played out, but decided to answer the Spirit Medium. "Peko…and I…grew up together."
Hikari blinked in surprise. He's not using honorifics… So they must be close…
Sonia clasped her hands, her eyes full of sympathy. "Are you two…childhood friends?"
"No…" Peko replied, closing her eyes, "it's completely different than that. Right after I was born and abandoned by my parents…the Kuzuryuu Clan took me in." She opened her eyes and stood composed in front of her peers. "They gave me a reason to exist. I am to fulfill my duty as my young master's property."
"It means she's…a hitman arranged by my clan to work directly under me…" Fuyuhiko explained with an annoyed sigh, a hand on his hip.
"If my young master is attacked, I must defend him as his shield… If he intends to kill, I must be his sword… That is my only reason for living. Before I am human…I am my young master's tool, first and foremost. Until this body of mine can no longer move…I shall fulfill my duty until the very end…!"
"But…you're wrong, Pekoyama," Hikari said, a hand to her chest, her fingers brushing against her silver necklace. "You are not a tool. Because…if you really are a tool…" She gripped the necklace tightly and stepped toward Peko. "Then what was all those moments…we spent with everyone!?" The deep-blue eyed girl's mind was filled with snapshots of memories containing moments of everyone spending time together, discussing how to escape the island on the beach, eating as a group in the hotel restaurant, playing around with the girls outside Rocketpunch Market…
"…Nothing." The taller bespectacled young woman's voice carried no emotion, sending shivers down Hikari's spine.
"Huh!?" Sonia gasped, taken aback greatly, looking distraught.
"I was ordered by my young master to behave… Just as I was ordered to…interact with you all…"
"Wha-!?" Hajime sputtered, his eyes wide.
"'Our professional relationship doesn't exist on this island. We're just fellow high school students now…' Right after we arrived on this island, that is what my young master ordered me to do."
"That is why you were hiding your relationship, you mean?" the Breeder asked in a gruff voice.
"It's not as if…that started the moment we arrived on this island… Before that, my young master has always told me to hide our relationship. My young master loathes relying on his household's power… He even hates me, the tool given to him by his household…" Hikari glanced at Fuyuhiko all the while Peko was talking. However, his eyes were closed, hands in his pockets. "No matter what I'm told, I am nothing but a tool for killing… If my young master intends to kill, it is only natural for me to act as his tool."
Hajime blinked. "Then…the one who tried to kill Koizumi wasn't you, it was…Kuzuryuu?"
"I-It is what it is…" the Yakuza conceded with a shaky voice. "When I thought I beat that game…I was suddenly given these photographs… Dammit…I didn't understand… Why was my sister…in these photos…? And she was…she was covered in blood! What did it mean!? Why couldn't I remember!? If it wasn't for Seishin being possessed by my sister before the trial, I still wouldn't believe that she was gone…" Everyone paused before slowly turning to Hikari who was just as stunned, her mouth open slightly, staring at Fuyuhiko.
"I was possessed…by your sister…?" Hikari whispered, her body starting to shake at the mention of the possibility of regaining her talent.
"Yeah… I know for a fact that it was her since she told me things only us siblings knew…"
"How come you didn't tell us, Seishin?" Ibuki asked.
Hikari blinked quickly, looking at the Musician weakly. "I…didn't know… Most possessions, I black out and don't remember…" The bespectacled girl bit the tip of her thumb, recalling a lapse of memory in Fuyuhiko's cottage. Did I…really do it? If so, then why…why can't I still see spirits…? Why can't I see Onee-san…? She closed her eyes tightly, starting to feel overwhelmed.
"Seishin…" a gentle voice called out to her as Hikari felt a presence on either side guide her back a couple steps. She opened her eyes to see Chiaki have a firm hold on the Spirit Medium's right upper arm and Mikan at her left side. "I think you should sit down. You look very pale."
Mikan nodded rapidly. "S-Sit against the podiums' sides. We don't want you to pass out again…" Hikari nodded feebly, allowing Chiaki and Mikan to help her to a sitting position on the ground against the circle of podiums. The ebony-haired girl felt the hard wooden surface against her back as she tried to regain some form of awareness of her surroundings. However, even that was difficult when her mind was occupied with hazy thoughts of why her talent had randomly returned only to dissipate when she really needed it the most for her own emotional strength.
Making sure Hikari was relatively okay, Chiaki stood up and looked at Fuyuhiko. "Before witnessing Seishin's possession, you…tried to confirm your sister's death with Koizumi…and that's why you wanted to talk to her…" said Chiaki solemnly, her words gradually fading from Hikari's ears.
"Yeah…" the Yakuza answered, even his words were becoming harder to hear for the distressed girl. "I sent her the photos because I wanted to make sure she'd respond… But she never replied back to me… Not only that…she started avoiding me, too…" At that point, Hikari's ears felt as if pieces of cotton were wedged into them, only able to hear muffled voices that she perceived to be her friends talking with each other. Hikari really thought that she would black out like during the aftermath of the last trial. However, a strong scent of flowers, herbs, and fruit invaded her sense of smell, pulling the girl back to alertness.
"Ah…!" Hikari gasped breathlessly as a small bag of potpourri was literally an inch from her nose. Breathing heavily, she whipped her head to the right to find Hajime on one knee, the owner of the fragrant source, holding the small mesh bag in front of her face.
Hajime smiled weakly. "Are you okay?" he asked in a quiet voice as Fuyuhiko explained what happened at the beach house. She nodded slowly before shifting her attention to the scent. "I got that from that Mono Mono Yachine before all of this happened. I forgot all about it in my pocket until now when I recalled that a strong smell can help bring people back around from stupors or something like those. I'm a bit surprised it worked…" Hikari glanced guiltily at the concerned teen.
Why is he helping me? Isn't he troubled that his own talent hasn't come back? Isn't he jealous of me because mine seems to be returning…maybe? She closed her eyes, embracing the familiar feeling of self-loathing. I'm such a mess… This is the second time I caused them to worry about me in this stupid place… Am I really that weak-hearted?
"I-I don't get this at all!" Ibuki shouted anxiously, hands cupping her cheeks. Hajime stood up and turned to the group, having placed the potpourri in Hikari's hands.
Monokuma covered his mouth with his paws as if hiding the permanent grin on his face. "Well, of course you don't understand. Cuz humans are completely different from one another. Everyone's birthplace and upbringing are different. It's obviously impossible for them to understand each other. So everyone just pretends to understand…and pretends to be understood."
"Hey…you're too annoying," Chiaki commented harshly, puffing out her cheeks while sternly looking at the bear. "Can you just be quiet?"
With that, the stuffed bear turned his back to the teens. "Okie-dokie, I'll be quiet."
"Afterward…just as my young master planned, I proceeded to tamper with the scene of the crime," Peko divulged to the group. "However, I also considered the possibility of being found out… So in order to get you guys to make the wrong choice, I decided to make use of that serial killer story."
"It cannot be…!" Sonia moaned. "You insisted that you were Sparkling Justice in order to make us hasten our votes…?"
Nekomaru closed his eyes, clenching a fist helplessly. "So…we fell for it… We fell for her trick all along…!"
"That's right… You guys have made the wrong decision," Peko declared with a twisted smile. "You voted for me, a mere tool, as the killer, unaware that my young master was the true killer…"
"H-Hold on!" Kazuichi yelled, raising his fist in the air, tears glossing his eyes. "Don't act like our loss has been decided yet!"
"No, it should be decided already. Isn't that right, Monokuma?" Peko glanced down at the two-toned bear.
He waddled around, tilting his head. "I'll admit, all this talk about Peko being a tool sounds pretty persuasive. When you approach it from various angles, it makes sense that Fuyuhiko is actually the true killer…"
Hikari gripped the bag subconsciously, her painted nails digging into the mesh as there was a huge chance that she will die a gruesome death in a matter of minutes. Am I really going to die here…? The only positive is then I'll see my sister soon…
"I see…" Nagito murmured, his index finger tapping his chin. "So for Pekoyama, Kuzuryuu himself is your true hope, then? On his behalf, you killed Koizumi…and now you're trying to sacrifice us so that you can protect him." The Luckster grinned at the Swordswoman. "Great! You would only go that far because he's your one and only hope…" Only the most observant people could have seen Peko fidget slightly as she listened to Nagito.
"Wrong… I have no hope," she denied strongly. "I am just…"
"A tool?" Nagito finished her sentence with a knowing smile, arms crossed. He sighed tiredly, closing his eyes. "Well, even if we ask her, she'll probably just play dumb anyway…" The white-haired teen straightened his stance, putting a hand on his hip. "So I'm going to ask someone else." His light green-grey eyes landed on the Yakuza. "Hey Kuzuryuu, what do you think?"
Fuyuhiko bristled up, inhaling sharply. "Huh!? A-About what…!?"
"Is Pekoyama just a tool to you? Using that tool… Surviving by sacrificing Pekoyama and the rest of us… Is that your hope!?" Nagito asked before he started to laugh maniacally, his eyes becoming crazed.
"Wha…!?"
"H-Hold on…!" Peko moved to step in between Fuyuhiko and Nagito. "What's the use of asking something like that!?"
Nagito blinked, appearing surprised. "What? You seem distressed. A mere tool doesn't panic like that, right?" He sighed heavily again, closing one eye and placing a hand on his head. "Jeez… Pekoyama…be honest… Are you trying to protect Kuzuryuu of your own free will?" Peko's crimson eyes widened, a bit speechless.
Chiaki looked at Fuyuhiko seriously. "Hey Kuzuryuu… Can you tell me the truth? The fact that she killed on your behalf, the fact that she lied to us by acting like the killer… Are all those things you ordered her to do? Is that the truth?"
"I…I…" Fuyuhiko stuttered, clearly feeling conflicted.
Sonia gazed at the Gangster pleadingly. "Um…Kuzuryuu?"
"I know you hate our guts but…" Kazuichi grumbled, gritting his teeth. "If you listen to Pekoyama, we're all gonna die!"
"I…!" the blond male repeated, looking at everyone with an uneasy look, his gaze resting on Hikari who stared at him with bloodshot eyes and sitting on the ground, her hands holding onto the potpourri bag with a death grip, the mesh bag starting to tear a little. "I…I…" Fuyuhiko looked at his feet, starting to break down.
Peko stood rigid in front of him, her back to him. "Young master… You just have to tell the truth. I was only following your orders… You just have to tell them that."
"I…I…"
"Kuzuryuu…" Hajime murmured, frowning as he watched the boy in front of him. "You don't really want this, right? You're not that kind of person. Because…if you were… You wouldn't be hesitating…like you are now, right?" Fuyuhiko flinched, his lips curling downwards.
Peko clenched her fists, her eyebrows furrowed. "There's no need to hesitate, young master! Please just tell them the truth! Young master, you were the one who ordered me… I just did as I was told because I am a tool!" Fuyuhiko remained quiet, his body trembling.
"Kuzuryuu…" Nagito began gravely, "this could be considered your ultimate choice. Regardless, either way you'll still lose Pekoyama but… If you insist you're the killer just as she said, you can sacrifice us and survive alone. Or…" He grinned, holding out his arms in a grand gesture, "would you rather reject Pekoyama and fight alongside us against despair? Which one will be your hope? Let's hear what you have to say."
Dammit! Fuyuhiko cursed loudly in his head. "I…I…!" The conversation with Peko right after Mahiru's murder returned to the forefront in his mind, wishing that it was he who killed the Photographer and not Peko, wishing that he could switch places with her and save her from the impending execution, wishing…
"So how about it, Kuzuryuu?" Hajime asked quietly. "Please…tell me the truth…" The suit-wearing teen closed his eyes, wondering how Natsumi would have handled this. He looked in Hikari's direction briefly, imagining his spitfire sister standing there with her hands on her hips and looking pissed off.
"Onii-san! Are you seriously going through with this!?" the boy could hear her snarky voice echo inside his head. "That is not the Onii-san I know! Grow some balls and man up! Tell the fuckin' truth and stop being a pathetic excuse of a man!"
She's right… I won't go on depending on anything anymore… Peko…she's not a fuckin' tool…she means so much more to me than that! Fuyuhiko frowned in resignation, closing his eyes again. "I'm sorry, Peko… I guess…I couldn't go through with it after all…"
Peko whipped around to face her most precious person. "Y-Young master!"
Finally calming down a bit, Fuyuhiko took a deep breath, a hand on his hip. "Cause…if that's actually what I have to do to survive… I'd just feel ashamed of myself. It'd mean I can't live without depending on something… I'd just feel disgusted with myself… And…if I admit that… It means…you really are just a tool to me. How many times did I tell you…? I don't want a tool given to me by the Kuzuryuu Clan…"
"Young master…!" The silver-haired girl closed her eyes tightly, gritting her teeth as if in pain.
Monokuma popped up next to the two distraught teens. "Ohhh myyyy, so this is how it turned out! And here I thought it'd be more brutal and heartless… Man, how disappointing! Which means…everything happened thanks to her meddlesome actions! There's no way a human that meddlesome could ever be considered a tool!" Even Peko started trembling, trying to contain all her emotions.
"Monokuma…" Nagito said, turning to the bear. "You knew all along, didn't you? You knew about what Pekoyama and Kuzuryuu discussed… Well, it's obvious now… I mean, that's why you have surveillance cameras. You were just having fun, huh?"
"Maaaan! Even if it was an act of desperation, Peko's claim was surprisingly interesting! Puhuhu, you're actually the first one to try to influence the outcome of the trial like that… But toooooooo bad! You're definitely the killer! Peko, the tool with a heart, is the killer!" Monokuma shouted before bursting out in hysterical laughter, paws on his belly, his head leaning back. Peko remained quiet, a couple of drops of sweat starting to appear on her face.
"Peko…" Fuyuhiko whispered, too ashamed to look into her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill your request. Even though…you did all that to provide me the chance to survive… But I…"
"…I had a feeling it would turn out like this," the pale girl admitted with a melancholic sigh, crossing her arms.
Fuyuhiko blinked in surprise and snapped his head to gape at her. "…Huh?"
"Young master… You have a kind heart, despite being a yakuza… That's why…you question your position and constantly worry about it… For you to sacrifice someone else just to escape by yourself… I believed you wouldn't accept that so easily." She closed her eyes and smiled warmly at her close friend and chuckled. "We've been together ever since we were children. Even a tool would understand that."
Hikari watched the interaction dumbstruck. This… is the first time I'm seeing Pekoyama's smile… She looks so…pretty…
"Th-Then…why…?" Fuyuhiko asked frantically.
Uncrossing her arms, Peko's gentle smile faded. "Even so…I wanted you to escape. I wanted to protect you…"
"Peko…"
"I am terribly sorry I will not be able to serve by your side until the very end…young master," Peko said softly with another smile. "…Good bye." Fuyuhiko closed his eyes, frowning as Peko turned to face the others and bowed her head. "And…I'm sorry for what I've done to you all, too. It may be a selfish request but…please forgive my young master." Still in that position, the girl clenched her fists as she closed her eyes tightly. "And please do not cause a senseless killing such as this…ever again…!"
"O-Of course…" Hajime managed to say. Hikari stared at Peko, tears already falling down her face, her throat constricted so she couldn't speak for herself. She was glad that Hajime was able to unknowingly convey the Spirit Medium's feelings.
Pekoyama…I forgive you and Kuzuryuu… I will try with all of my strength to make sure there will be no more killing… I don't think I can take any more… Hikari thought sadly.
When she felt satisfied with her apology and farewell, Peko faced Monokuma with unwavering strength. "That will do, Monokuma… Why don't you start it already? Just so you know, I will never feel despair. As long as I am a tool…I am fully prepared to die."
"Puhuhuhu, sooooo cool!" Monokuma exclaimed mockingly. "But will you be able to maintain that composure until the very end? People who act as proud as you always shed tears of despair in the end. Noooow then! Let's begin!"
Peko turned to Fuyuhiko one last time. "Young master Fuyuhiko… Please permit me to make one final selfish request…"
"Didn't I tell you…" the dejected blond teen whispered, "not to call me 'young master'…?"
Peko smiled softly at his stubbornness. "I want you to remember…the tool, Pekoyama Peko, who used to stand beside you… I would like it if you remembered that. …That's it."
"Tch… How many times…do you have to keep…? I don't need any tools…"
"You…did…say that…"
Monokuma giggled and raised his black paw in the air. "Then let's begin! The punishment time brimming with despair!"
"Jeez…" Fuyuhiko sighed tiredly. "Why don't you get it yet…?"
"This time, for the SHSL Swordswoman, Pekoyama Peko…"
"You stayed by my side…all this time… Why don't you get it…?"
"I've prepared a special punishment for you!"
"I never needed…a sword…or a shield… I never needed…a tool…" Fuyuhiko said slowly, his voice starting to crack. "S-So… You didn't…need to become a tool…"
Monokuma raised his voice higher. "Let's give it everything we've got!"
"You just…you just needed to be yourself…" Fuyuhiko clenched his fist and stared deep into Peko's eyes, his own eyes glassy with unshed tears. "I… I never wanted a tool! I just wanted you! Only you!"
Peko gawked at the young man before her, her heart skipping beats in her chest. "…Young master?"
"Wh-Why!? Why couldn't you understand!? We've always been together, ever since we were kids!"
"Let's go!" yelled Monokuma, feeling pumped up. "It's…PUNISHMENT TIIIIIME!"
It was at that moment that the SHSL Yakuza's walls were completely torn down. "P-Please Peko! Don't go…! I need you! Don't leave me!" Fuyuhiko cried out, reaching his hand to her, tears freely falling from his eyes, looking very alone and vulnerable.
"Young…master?" Peko called out weakly, tears starting to cascade down her cheeks, taken aback by the Yakuza's breakdown and the revealing of his true feelings for her. "Young master!" she wept, letting her emotions out in tears, not daring to reach for him with the imminent death speeding toward her. Hikari could only look on, her lip trembling as she bit it, holding in her own sobs. Her body shivered as she felt her heart pulse in her throat, her shaking hands gradually tugging the mesh bag, the fabric starting to rip and the dried flower petals, fruit skins, and herbs were on the verge of tumbling out.
Monokuma waddled to his golden throne and hopped onto it, taking out his gavel out of thin air as a red button rose up from the ground in front of him. His left eye glowed a bright red as he raised the gavel high in the air. Once he slammed the small mallet onto the big red button, a black screen appeared on the big screen with red pixelated graphics showing Monokuma walking by Peko and grabbing her by the collar, dragging her away. The words "GAME OVER" and "PEKO HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY. TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!" stuck out like blood against the black screen. Like with Teruteru, a steel claw sprang out from behind a set of steel doors, latching onto Peko's neck and dragging her through the darkness into the unknown. To everyone's dismay, Fuyuhiko sped after the condemned girl, the doors closing behind him. Powerless to do anything else, the group of distressed teens had their eyes glued to the huge tablet screen.
What they saw was that Peko was now standing on top of a cliff overlooking strong-hitting waves. The claw was gone and she stood composed while brandishing a katana. Moments later, a horde of fierce samurai Monokuma robots surrounded the Swordswoman, Fuyuhiko standing on the outskirts of the crowd, trying to keep an eye on his friend. Suddenly, a gigantic Monokuma appeared outside of the group, holding a marionette made completely of straw with a picture of Peko's face glued on the puppet's head. With a jerk of his paw, Monokuma moved the puppet's right arm and, in turn, Peko's own arm that held the sword moved on its own, Peko's crimson eyes glaring up at the laughing bear. That was then when the spectators knew that the marionette was a voodoo doll, controlling Peko's every move.
At first, the execution didn't seem too bad. Monokuma sent the puppet flying about, causing Peko to decimate the samurai robots with deadly grace. This gave Hikari a glimmer of hope: if anyone could survive Monokuma's punishment, it had to be Peko. However, Hikari's hope was for naught. Not able to see Peko anymore and worry mounting up inside him, Fuyuhiko dashed towards the melee, dodging flying samurai that were in his way. Reaching Peko, the Yakuza slowed down to catch his breath, staring at Peko's back. The stoic girl panted heavily, sweating profusely as one robot jumped up in front of Fuyuhiko towards Peko. Peko turned around and slashed the robot cleanly with an upward strike. Once the robot crashed to the floor, gasps were heard in the trial room. Hikari ripped the bag in her hands in two, her eyes not believing what she was seeing. Peko stood frozen as she realized what she had done, not only destroying the enemy robot but also greatly injuring the most important person in the world to her. Fuyuhiko's vision slowly faded to black as he saw the look of sheer horror on Peko's face. The Gangster collapsed onto his back, the right side of his face slashed open, splitting his cheek and eyelid in half. Peko dropped her sword and stumbled to him, falling to her knees. She gingerly lifted the upper half of his body, her eyes full of sorrow as the robots creeped around the two, their red eyes glowing sinisterly. Peko closed her eyes as she embraced the boy close to her, the robots getting closer, swords poised to strike. One robot stood behind Peko, raising his sword to pierce the grieving young woman before plunging the silver blade into her back. The camera panned away to show that the robots piled on one another in order to stab the dying girl.
Everyone screamed and panicked as they watched blood spurting into the air and pooling on the ground from the pile of robots, hearing the disturbing sounds of metal entering flesh before the screen turned black.
"This cannot be!" screamed Sonia, horrified. "Even Kuzuryuu!?"
Ibuki spazzed out, tears seeping from her eyes. "This is bad… Th-This shouldn't be allowed… People dying so easily… Falling like dominoes…"
"Y-You bastard… What is this!?" Nekomaru cursed, tears flowing freely as he gritted his teeth.
"Th-This can't be…" Hajime mumbled in shock. "This…is a lie right…?" He closed his eyes tightly as he shouted loudly, "Pekoyamaaaaa! Kuzuryuuuuu!"
Hikari carefully stood up as the steel doors silently opened again, what was left of the potpourri laying at her feet. "For heaven's sake…" Nagito sighed sadly, looking downward. "This is just the worst…jeez, what a waste… This conclusion…what a waste… This is why…she should've just discussed it with me… It was supposed to be a clash between two hopes, but it was crushed into something so unpalatable…" Hikari shot the Luckster a death glare as she wobbled to the steel doors, still feeling a bit light-headed.
Chiaki glanced at Nagito unamused. "You…you're still talking about that?" His nonsense did bring Seishin back to normal somewhat…
"The hell's wrong with you!?" Akane berated loudly at Nagito, almost growling at the boy. "Aren't you pissed that two of your friends got killed!?"
Nagito made a fist, starting to look upset as well. "I am pissed…and I even feel sad and hopeless… But still…" He took a breath and his carefree attitude took over. "It's going to be all right! This despair is worthless! Even this despair…is just a ladder to a bright, shining future that awaits us! The higher the ladder, the brighter we can shine… That is the unmistakable truth!"
I'd like to shove that ladder right up your ass, Komaeda… Hikari mentally grumbled as she reached the dark tunnel-like hallway that led outside where Peko was executed.
"Calling me a ladder, huh… You say some pretty interesting things," Monokuma commented, having appeared before the group of teens. The bear covered his mouth with his paws as he stood in front of the white-haired teen. "Puhuhu… In a way, your misguided thoughts of what hope should be…remind me of him."
Nagito smiled. "I don't really understand…what you're saying…" He abruptly pointed a finger at the bear with a determined look. "Anyway, I shall make a declaration! We will definitely destroy you! Haha, the hopes of all the SHSLers here will definitely, completely, utterly destroy you. There won't even be strand of cotton left when we're done with you… That's your future."
Hajime stared at Nagito exasperatedly. "H-How much longer…are you planning to say such stupid things…? Don't you understand!? Even Kuzuryuu died, you know!?"
Hikari was beginning to enter the tunnel, her heart breaking at the fact two people were just killed, when she heard a gentle yet strong voice. "Not yet… He's…still alive!" Monomi exclaimed. When that reached her ears, Hikari hurried down the tunnel, almost tripping on her own feet. The Spirit Medium could hear her friends scramble through the steel doors as she got to the cliff, anxious to see what waited for them. Hikari had to use all of her willpower to keep herself from throwing up on the spot.
Yards in front of them were two bodies lying in a huge pool of blood, katanas strewn all over the ground around them. The teens could not have noticed Fuyuhiko at first since Peko's corpse laid on top of him in an attempt to shield his body. When reaching the two bloodied teens, the group silently stood by as Akane and Nekomaru stepped into the blood to Peko and Fuyuhiko. The two powerhouses positioned themselves on either side of the pair. After a solemn nod to each other, they bent down and carefully pulled Peko's body from the wounded Yakuza, moving away to a clean area of the cliff while Kazuichi and Gundham pulled Fuyuhiko closer to their anxious peers.
"Ghk… Spuhk…!" Fuyuhiko groaned in pain, eyes still closed and his whole body covered in blood. Mikan, Sonia, and Hikari immediately rushed over to him as Kazuichi and Gundham stepped back. Akane and Nekomaru came over after they gingerly placed Peko's body on dry ground. Hikari quickly glanced where Peko was and frowned when her deep-blue eyes found her. Peko was on her side and appeared as if she was asleep even though her clothes were tattered, her grey skin stained with blood, and her back punctured with swords poking through.
"H-He's still… he's still breathing!" Mikan exclaimed as the Nurse had the Gangster's head on her lap as she was trying to assess the damage as well as trying to stop the bleeding. Sonia kneeled by Fuyuhiko's right, holding his hand to support him, not knowing what else to do, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Hikari focused her attention back to the injured boy, biting her lip, kneeling at Fuyuhiko's left side. Since Mikan was concentrating on his head injuries, Hikari scanned Fuyuhiko's body for any other major bleeding. The Spirit Medium was not sure where the bleeding was coming from since he was so bloody but still gently placed her hands on the front of his torso to feel for a puncture wound. Coming upon one located on the center of his abdomen, Hikari pressed her hands against the hole to apply pressure.
"I-Is he gonna be okay!?" Hajime asked, very concerned.
Kazuichi panicked, shouting at a rattled Mikan, waving his arms. "D-Do something! Hey! You need to save him… HEY!"
"I-I'm trying!" Mikan stammered frantically, keeping a hand on Fuyuhiko's neck to keep watch on his pulse. "But his blood! He won't stop bleeding out! His pulse…is getting weaker...!"
No…this can't be happening…! Hikari thought in fright, her own hands still pressed against one of his injuries.
"Hmm..." Monokuma hummed as he waddled to the group, Monomi running behind to catch up. "Well, serves him right." He bent towards the hurt Yakuza. "Were you filled with hope at the thought of saving her yourself? That's why you ended up like that."
Monomi raised her arms in anger at the bear. "Wh-What are you so laid back about!? You need to hurry up and save him!"
Monokuma looked at the stuffed rabbit. "Huh!? A surprise order!?" A vein throbbed above his eye and displayed his claws at her. "What the heck!? Why do I have to burn my precious calories just to save some yakuza scum!?"
"It's your duty to save him!"
"…Duty?"
"Cuz…it's written in the school trip rules! 'Rule #6: If the blackened is exposed during the class trial, they alone will be executed.' If only the blackened gets executed, then Fuyuhiko shouldn't be allowed to be executed…!" Monomi started to cry, tears wetting her furry cheeks. "W-Well…if I could…I would do something about it right now… But since my Magic Stick was taken away…I'm practically powerless…" She stared at Monokuma sternly. "But you, you should be able to do it!"
Monokuma stood there silent, realizing that Monomi outsmarted him, for once, with his own rules. "Jeez! I guess I have no choice!" he sighed in annoyance. "Well, there's no way I can violate a rule, even if it's me… Fine then! I'll save him!"
Hajime stared after him in incredulity. "R-Really!?"
"Heh…I was actually gonna do that all along! So I've already prepared for this!"
Monomi tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? Prepared?" Then, a siren sounded off in the distance, the noise getting gradually louder. Monomi jumped in shock when an ambulance started speeding towards the group. "Ha-wa-wa!? An ambulance!?"
"Just leave the rest to me: Doctor Killgood!" Monokuma boasted proudly, suddenly wearing a stethoscope.
"Doctor Killgood!? You've already killed your patients!"
Hikari grimaced, remembering the last time she was bombarded by the screeching sirens and flashing lights of an ambulance. She hated that sound ever since…and that was ten years ago. "We gotta get this patient to the Monokuma Hospital ER and get him under 24 hour observation, stat!" Monokuma ordered, ignoring Monomi and somehow managing to put Fuyuhiko into the back of the ambulance. "Sooooo I'll see you later!" Jumping into the ambulance himself, Monokuma drove off and left everyone there reeling from what just happened.
Mikan whimpered, looking very uneasy, her apron and arms covered in blood. "U-Um…is it really gonna be okay…? To leave this to Monokuma…?"
Akane growled in frustration, blood also on the Gymnast from moving Peko's body. "It can't be helped…it's not like there was any other way…!" Hikari blinked where Fuyuhiko laid, the dusty ground stained with red. The petite girl took notice of her own self, staring at her hands, palms facing upward. All she could see was the crimson fluid covering her fair skin, then suddenly feeling an abrupt light-headedness. Hikari sensed that she was in this exact position before, kneeling on the ground somewhere, blankly staring at her own blood-soaked hands. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly until a single thought crept into her mind and continued ring in her ears as if on repeat.
"I am…cursed…"
The Spirit Medium stayed like that, her pupils constricting and she started to breathe quick and light breaths, the girl completely oblivious to what her friends were discussing. By this point, the exhausted throng of teens started to leave. Hajime took a step toward the tunnel in order to get off of Monokuma Rock and hoping never to come back when he felt a hand grip his sleeve gently. "Hey, hey… Can you wait a moment?" Chiaki asked quietly. Hajime blinked and turned his head to the Gamer who stared at Hikari apprehensively. "I need your help…probably." The plain teen's gaze went to the glasses-wearing girl and instantly understood Chiaki's worry as Chiaki let go of him and briskly walked to Hikari. Is her memory coming back…? Is this from a glitch? Is it Monokuma's doing? Chiaki thought with a frown, kneeling down in front of the panicking young woman, slowly moving her hands to Hikari's face.
"…In…" a faraway voice called out faintly in Hikari's mind. "Shin… Seishin… Focus on me, Seishin…" The Spirit Medium weakly looked up from her hands and the blood to see Chiaki a few inches away. "I need you to breathe like me… Just concentrate on my breathing…" The mauve-haired girl positioned her hands on Hikari's cheeks to make sure Hikari's eyes kept contact with hers before starting to take slow and deep breaths. Hajime watched silently as Chiaki was trying to calm the hyperventilating teen, Hajime amazed to see this side of the often sleepy Gamer.
Hikari's body shook visibly as she began to mimic Chiaki's breathing. It took a few minutes, but she gradually returned to a normal way of breathing. Chiaki smiled gently at the girl in front of her, not taking her eyes off her as she started to speak to Hajime. "Hinata, can you help me bring Seishin to her cottage? I don't think she has the energy." Hikari slowly closed her eyes and yawned, fatigue from hyperventilating settling into her bones, causing her body to feel heavy.
"S-Sure…" Hajime walked over as Chiaki stood up, the two of them taking a hold of Hikari's arms and carefully brought her to her feet. Hikari drowsily leaned her head toward Hajime, her eyes still closed as the three made the long and silent trek back to the cottages.
Once they arrived in front of Hikari's cottage, Chiaki looked up at Hajime. "I got it from here, Hinata. Thank you for your help."
"No problem," Hajime said, nodding slowly as he let go of the exhausted girl who clumsily pulled her key from her dress pocket. Chiaki gently took it from her hand so that it wouldn't be covered in blood and unlocked the door. Hajime walked to his cottage nearby, feeling zapped of energy himself.
Once inside Hikari's cottage, the Gamer led her dazed friend into the bathroom to wash the blood off her hands and change into clean clothes. Chiaki looked at the Spirit Medium sadly as she was getting undressed, Hikari still wearing her bathing suit for the get-together that was planned earlier that day. Why did things end up like this…? Chiaki thought as she walked out of the bathroom, carrying Hikari's e-handbook, key, and the couple of Hope Fragments she earned that day. The backpack-toting girl went to the bedside table, opening the drawer to place the things in when she spotted a photograph resting inside. Curious, Chiaki delicately picked it up to have a better look and smiled softly. Koizumi must have taken this… The picture showed a relaxed Hajime and Hikari at the party Byakuya insisted on having, the two teens' glasses barely touching, a gentle light bouncing off the point of the glasses' contact. A soft-sounding shuffle of feet caused Chiaki to pay attention to the source, moving her head toward the bathroom. Hikari stood in the doorway, eyes full of tears as she saw the photo in Chiaki's hands. Chiaki put the photo on top of the end table before going to the traumatized young woman, leading her to bed. "Do you want me to stay, Seishin?" Her friend nodded weakly to which Chiaki reciprocated, getting her into the bed before getting in herself. I'm glad I have my handheld on me…
"I…miss her…" Hikari whispered, her voice cracking with sadness. Chiaki initially thought she was thinking about Mahiru, but was having second thoughts when her friend sobbed out, "Onee-san…" The Gamer gave her a sympathetic expression, taking off the girl's glasses and placed them on the bedside table next to the photograph before holding Hikari close, still not completely sure why she has this familiarity with the Spirit Medium.
Days Left: 15
Survivors: 13
