The anticipation was apparent on the students' faces... Thirteen teenagers, yearning to discover why they were brought here, trapped in a school and forced to kill each other. And the truth would be hard to swallow... That each of them volunteered to be in this game because they were Danganronpa superfans... Tsumugi knew that it was a steep uphill climb.
The students stared bullets at the girl... And previously, as her Despair counterpart, she'd have welcomed their inquiry with open arms, to dive them deeper into Despair. But she wasn't that person anymore. If she learned anything from her past few days here, it's that anyone can change. Anyone. Tsumugi hated that she kept this secret from them - but at the time, it was necessary.
Not anymore. It was time to come clean.
Tsumugi let out one last sigh, and began speaking towards the group without necessarily processing her thoughts. As long as she told them the truth, the whole truth, then that was the best she could do.
"I... Well... It's a long story. I don't know where to-"
Not a second after the girl opened her mouth, she was interrupted by Shuichi. Her eyes widened as they jolted to look in his direction.
"I... I think I can handle this, Tsumugi... It's a detective's job to find the truth... No matter the cost... No matter how much it hurts..."
Tsumugi, albeit surprised, acquiesced to the boy's request.
"Ok..."
Shuichi took a few steps forward to address his fellow students. A look of concern appeared on Kaede's face, but she didn't take action.
"Adding Keebo's testimony... It all makes sense now... There's only one explanation.
"Danganronpa is a show, with an audience in the outside world. And this show has been going on for a long time, as proven by this."
Shuichi holds up a specific monopad. The one he found in the trash bin in Tsumugi's hideout.
"We found this discarded in the trash bin. It's Rantaro's Survivor Monopad. Apparently Rantaro was given a perk for surviving something, and we can only assume that what he survived was a previous killing game. Rantaro?"
Rantaro peeked out behind Tsumugi, who instinctively looked over her shoulder. The boy let out a light chuckle, shrugging.
"Yep, you got me. I remember it all..."
Shuichi nodded, and continued his theory.
"And remember what Monokuma said earlier... That none of us were forced to play in this Killing Game...
"That proves we were once members of the very same audience that is controlling Keebo right now. We were fans of Danganronpa. And we willingly signed our lives away to participate in this gruesome game...
"Is that right, Tsumugi? You stripped us of our memories and gave us fake Ultimates and backstories to replace them."
Tsumugi took a second to process the information. Shuichi was right - every piece of his story... A solemn grin appeared on Tsumugi's face as she confirmed Shuichi's suspicions.
"Yeah. That's right..."
The students' eyes widened as they shuffled nervously amongst themselves, looking around to gauge the reactions of their fellow students. One particular student, Miu Iruma, clenched a fist and took a step forward.
"You... You bitch! You stripped us of our old personalities, and gave us these... these fake ones! What the fuck? That's seriously messed up. N-not that I don't like who I am now..."
Tsumugi leaned back in response to the girl's onslaught, fighting back with whatever she could.
"I... it was what you wanted... It wasn't my fault, you signed a contract..."
Ryoma seconded Miu's concern, "But still... that's... We have no one to go back to now. We've forgotten everything. Our personalities were created for this show. We're basically nobodies. Shells of real people."
Tsumugi once again countered, "That's not true! Y-You have each other! That's not no one."
Korekiyo held up a finger as well, "We've only known each other for a few days, Tsumugi. That can't replace eighteen years' worth of memories."
"But... Who you were before... Those people were addicted to Danganronpa... Addicted enough to volunteer yourselves to die."
Kaito nodded, scratching the back of his head, "I guess you do have a point... The world is sorta messed up right now..."
Tsumugi could feel the tides turning, albeit very slightly. This was her chance; and she had to take it. Determination flashed onto her face, and she stepped forward
"The outside world is almost dependent on this show... A show where students kill each other in the name of Despair, and execute criminals in the name of Hope... The show has been going on for fifty seasons now... Excluding the two original killing games.
"In those games, the participants had Ultimate talents that they've possessed their entire lives. But for you all, to make the show more accessible, we had to implant fake memories, and fake talents. There was no way we could keep your memories and still maintain the integrity of the killing game. I know this is hard to accept, that the people you are now are nothing like who you were before. It's honestly, all fiction.
"But that doesn't mean that fiction is entirely fake! Fiction can be as real as we want it to be. Fiction can change reality.
"Because of fiction, I was able to realize that these games weren't what I really wanted... I was able to open my eyes and see Danganronpa for what it really is - killing people for absolutely no reason.
Tsumugi turned backwards to face Rantaro. She smiled at the boy, grabbing his left hand.
"He was the one who showed me this. He somehow knew what I really wanted, and he convinced me to give up Danganronpa because of it. He knew... that I loved him... And he loved me back. Despite who I was. Despite the fact that I sent him through two killing games... I... I don't deserve him..."
Tsumugi could feel tears forming in her eyes... Tears that began to roll down her face. She didn't know if it was sadness, or relief, or even both... Rantaro put his free hand on the girl's shoulder, giving her another grin.
But despite the tears, despite the sadness, she needed to continue. Tsumugi turned back towards the students.
"Rantaro's character is entirely fictional. Yet, I still love him anyways. He's a persona that I created for the previous killing game, but that doesn't make him any less real to me. All the time we spent together before... That was real.
"And it's not just him. Talking with you all has given me the confidence I needed to stand up for myself. Doing sit-ups with Kaito, for instance... Your personas make be fake, but they are compassionate and motivational nonetheless."
Tsumugi threw a hand to the side, and her voice rose.
"I'm sure you guys have felt it, too! You all were complete strangers, and yet you built friendships with each other in such a short time. Your feelings for each other... Those feelings are real. You can't deny that.
"Yes, I was the Mastermind of this killing game. But not anymore. Now, I'm one of you, who wants to escape just like everyone else.
"So that's who I am... Everyone, let's get out of this killing game together. Let's defeat Keebo."
Tsumugi's words echoed throughout the area, but afterwards, there was silence, save the deep breathing of a girl whose words left her gasping for air. A few seconds passed until a student finally responded to her - Kaede Akamatsu.
"Tsumugi... I thought you were my friend... but you were hiding this from us, all this time..."
Tsumugi looked down, "I... I'm sorry... I don't know what else to say..."
Rantaro released Tsumugi's hand, covering for her, "Everyone's got somethin to hide. I'm sorry I hid the fact that I was in another killing game from you all. But it was for good reason. Tsumugi didn't really have a choice, either."
Korekiyo countered again, "But... Still... You were the one who trapped us here... Unfortunately I'm more hesitant to trust someone who did that to us."
Kokichi's sly voice rose above the crowd, compounding Korekiyo's statement. The boy threw a finger at Tsumugi.
"Yeah, they've both lied before... who's to say they're not just lying now? She just wants us to take care of the robot, and once we do, she'll reactivate Monokuma and have complete control over the killing game again."
"No... That's not it..."
Keebo, still floating in the air, watched as more questions and doubt arose from the crowd. A devious grin appeared on his face.
"Yes... Students rising up against the mastermind... Such hope... not the ideal end but a fine one nonetheless."
Tsumugi shot a glare at the robot, her nostrils flaring.
"This isn't a game anymore! This isn't fiction. It's reality! And it's not over yet."
She then turned to the crowd of thirteen nervous faces, posing a question she feared she already knew the answer to.
"Does no one here believe me?"
Silence ensued. However, for Tsumugi, her heart was beating in her ears, almost out of control. Each second that passed was another wave of despair that flushed over her. They've been looking for the Mastermind the entire game, and they finally found her. And as much as she tried to convince them that she changed, it was her word against theirs; of course no one would believe-
"I believe you, Tsumugi."
A man's voice echoed through the silence, rising above the crowd like a rocketship. He stepped forward, giving her his classic grin. The same grin that she saw that night, when she learned the strength to never give up, no matter how hard it got.
Tsumugi let out the breath that she didn't know she was holding in. Her vision seemed to clear up around her, as she passed the most difficult hurdle: the first one.
Maki Harukawa seemed stunned by the man's actions.
"Kaito?"
He shrugged, and gave her a naive answer. But it was one that Tsumugi appreciated nonetheless. Kaito walked up to her.
"I dunno, I just feel like she's tellin' the truth. That night... When we trained together... I felt somethin'... That's when I knew you grew stronger."
Tsumugi could feel a tear forming in her eye. This feeling... The feeling of appreciation... It's how she felt when she was around Rantaro... The feeling she's been missing her entire life...
"Kaito... Thank you."
"Of course!"
Kaito smiled, as he turned back to face his fellow students. After waving his hand, he placed it on his chest.
"Anybody else? Even if you don't believe in her yourselves, believe in the me that believes in her! She's not what Keebo says she is!"
Another bout of silence ensued, but it was short-lived. A high, bubbly voice ascended amongst them. The girl to whom it belonged stepped forward.
"Atua agrees, Tsumugi isn't lying!"
Angie Yonaga strode up to Tsumugi, giving her a warm smile. However, that smile faded as the girl turned towards the crowd, lowering her voice and speaking in a serious tone. One that Tsumugi never heard before.
"And I agree that she isn't lying, too. When we searched together, Tsumugi helped very much. I can tell she truly cares about us."
"Thank you, Angie..."
First Kaito, and now Angie... Tsumugi helped her out of the kindness of her heart. But she expected her good deed to go unnoticed. Tsumugi never expected this... She could tell that Rantaro was smiling behind her. He didn't know that she did these things...
Tsumugi could feel the anticipation. That feeling that you almost won, that you could see the goal, only a few steps away... Angie pointed a finger at the crowd, reverting to how she behaved previously.
"Atua says you all should listen, too~"
However, Miu and Korekiyo burst Tsumugi's bubble, interrupting the girl.
"I don't give a fuck what Atua says, there's still been no concrete evidence that this bitch won't turn on us."
"Yes... I agree. Show us the evidence, and I will gladly switch sides."
Tsumugi almost jumped at the sudden request. Evidence? Did she have any evidence? Evidence that proved her-
"You want evidence? I'll show you evidence."
It was now Shuichi Saihara who stepped forward. The boy tilted his cap back up, the evening sunset lighting up his face. He addressed the crowd once more, and Tsumugi didn't interrupt.
"Along with the Survivor Monopad, I found something else inside the trash bin in Tsumugi's hideout. It was a shotput ball. Suspiciously, there was also one lying around in the library. These shotput balls were originally found in a completely different room, on the other side of the building."
Gonta asked, "Weird... Why would shotput ball be there?"
"Yeah, that stumped me for a while, too. Why would heavy shotput balls be brought to the library, of all places? But after seeing Tsumugi's behavior, the answer dawned on me, and I learned the truth.
"Who was with Tsumugi last night, before Monokuma was deactivated?"
Kirumi responded, "That would be me, Korekiyo, and Miu."
"And did she leave at any point during that time?"
Kirumi pondered the question, and answered tacitly.
"As a matter of fact... Yes, she did. She went to the bathroom."
"Just as I suspected... This shotput ball proves her true intentions.
"Because of her access to the security cameras, she knew that a shotput ball would be used in an attempt to murder whoever investigated the cameras. Which just so happened to be Rantaro.
"But - her plan was to ensure that Rantaro died, because the shotput ball wasn't an accurate weapon, especially if the culprit wasn't in the room.
"So she brought one downstairs herself. She snuck out of her group and used the secret passage to approach Rantaro from behind - with the intention of killing him. Tsumugi, Rantaro, is this true?"
The two of them turned towards each other, unsure where the boy's monologue was going. Nevertheless, they both nodded in agreement. Tenko was the first to speak up after the confirmation, yelling at Shuichi.
"Um, what does this prove, degenerate male? It literally proves the opposite of what you're saying."
"You're right. Tenko. It proves that she had the intention to kill. But that's not the whole picture.
"Tsumugi 'kidnapped' Rantaro that night. She didn't kill him. He must have convinced her otherwise, and since she knew that Kaede and I were approaching the library, she made the only choice she could to prevent herself from being discovered. Which was to escape back through her hideout, and dispose of the shotput ball.
"Tsumugi has a change of heart then. For someone who is the mastermind of Danganronpa, killing is practically second nature to them. And to be convinced to not kill someone... that proves that she truly changed. That she won't go back to who she used to be."
Shuichi smiled, and began scratching his head nervously.
"I was debating this for a while, but after her speech, I realized that she's changed in the same way we all have. When I woke up, my confidence as a detective wasn't that great, to be honest... but thanks to one person, I was able to overcome that."
The boy turned towards Kaede, whose smile beamed on him like the sun.
"She gave me the strength to stand up for myself, to pursue the truth at all costs. And I'm standing here, a different person than a few days ago. I don't have to hide what I believe anymore."
In one swift motion, Shuichi grabbed the brim of his hat and threw it to the side. The dark hat landed in the grass, and would have been unnoticeable in the darkness save for the intense lights on Keebo's body.
A tuft of hair forced itself upwards on Shuichi's head, standing up in a similar manner to Kaede's and Keebo's. Tsumugi gave him that ahoge for a reason - because he had the power inside of him to be a protagonist - the one who moved forward, no matter what. Despite giving up her mastermind status, Tsumugi couldn't help but feel giddy that she could see Shuichi's character development firsthand. The boy continued his speech, placing a hand over his heart.
"I know this is all fiction. Kaede's character is fiction. My character is fiction, even. But that doesn't mean the lessons I've learned all go to waste. I can still fight for what I believe in. And fiction or not, I can still help the friends I've made along the way."
Shuichi joined Kaito, Angie, Tsumugi, and Rantaro with a smile.
"And that's why I'm on her side. Because this is my reality now. A reality that was created by fiction!"
After the boy's speech, there was more silence. Something Tsumugi was getting quite used to... However, the robot floating above their heads was tense. His hand was balled into a fist, shaking. Not long after, he stopped and pointed a finger at Tsumugi, his voice slightly hesitant.
"B-but she's the Mastermind! You want to go against her! Defeat her! She was hiding everything from you!"
"Tsumugi and Rantaro aren't the only ones who were hiding something."
It was now Kaede's turn to speak up. The girl approached Rantaro slowly, ignoring the fact that Keebo was a hot tea kettle, ready to blow at any moment.
The girl let out a heavy breath before confessing.
"Rantaro, I... I'd like to apologize. I was the one who rolled the shotput ball down the vent in an attempt to kill the Mastermind... But it almost killed you instead. I'm so sorry..."
Shuichi seemed startled, "K-Kaede..."
However, Rantaro could only chuckle as he threw his hands in the air.
"Dont worry, I forgive you. It was all in good intention, and I'm still alive, aren't I? I say no harm, no foul."
Kaede smiles back at the boy, and now turned to face the remaining students, still standing behind Keebo. Her voice showcased the same determination that Shuichi's did.
"Yes. I attempted murder. I had a dark secret, just like they did. This just goes to show, we're all really not that different. These people accepted who they are, and are fighting for a better reality. We should all do the same."
More shuffling came from the crowd, and Maki Harukawa's voice could be heard.
"I... I'm not really the Ultimate Child Caregiver... My real Ultimate is the Ultimate Assassin... I... I'm sorry I hid it from you all..."
She walked over to Tsumugi's group, and Kaito gave her a grin.
"No problem, Maki Roll! Thanks for sharing!"
Her face grew a deep red, and she shied away from the others as Kirumi Tojo and Korekiyo Shinjugi spoke.
"I have been dishonest with you all as well... I'm not only the Ultimate Maid, but I am also the Prime Minister of Japan..."
"And myself, as well... There isn't just one soul inside my body... The soul of my sister resides there as well... That is why I wear this mask..."
The two joined Tsumugi, and she grinned. This was it. This was exactly what she was hoping for. She looked up at Keebo, who was practically boiling with rage.
"What? NO! This isn't how Danganronpa is supposed to go!"
One by one, the rest of the students confessed their secrets, stepped forward behind Tsumugi once they have done so.
"I... I killed an entire Yazuka clan after they murdered my girlfriend... With just tennis balls..."
"My magical powers... Aren't really magic at all..."
"As I child, I... I used to be over-active, and... have anger tantrums..."
"Ok, ok... Does anyone else have any lies they'd like to reveal? Clearly not me since I never lie. Nee hee hee!"
"Gonta does. Gonta was raised by dinosaurs. Dinosaurs that are hidden from people, and people think they extinct."
The last remaining student was Miu Iruma, who suddenly became flustered. Her eyes darted from side to side, but she finally acquiesced and joined the others.
"Um... I'm... actually a virgin..."
And with that, there were no remaining students standing on Keebo's side. Tsumugi felt the most empowered she's ever felt in her life, as if she went Super Saiyan. Her courage, determination, and compassion flared within her, as well as the other students, amassing enough energy to drop a spirit bomb on the robot.
Is this... Is this how Hajime felt in Super Danganronpa 2...
It was. Overcoming the fact that you were Despair... To lead towards a brighter future... It had to be...
Tsumugi spoke up, her voice amplified by her newfound power.
"Keebo, we're all standing here, against Danganronpa. Against you. Fifteen against one. We're still willing to accept you if you'd like to join us."
Keebo could only scowl, his eyes redder than real life blood.
"Tch. I'd sooner kill myself than let Danganronpa die."
The robot then raised his gun again, continuing to charge it. And with good reason; he now had more than one target.
"And if I have to kill all of you to save it, then I'll gladly do so."