Tsumugi stared straight into the dark depths of the barrel of Keebo's arm gun. A gun that was growing brighter by the second, illuminating the evening sky with its light, contesting the lamp posts lined up on the pathway towards the rest of the courtyard.
Back when she was her Mastermind self, she thought giving Keebo this much power was a good thing. As the symbol of Hope, it would be thematically appropriate if Keebo could overpower anything in his way - and she secretly hoped that it would happen at the time. She imagined Keebo, surviving until the final chapter, deciding to use his newfound power to destroy doors to access passageways previously not accessible by the students... The thought got her giddy with excitement at the time... But not anymore. She was secretly regretting making his gun so powerful... If it wasn't, then he wouldn't have been able to enter her hideout... And they wouldn't be staring down, eventually, an electric pulse so strong that it could shatter the very cage that the students were trapped in...
Tsumugi took a deep breath. Now wasn't the time to reminisce; it was the time for action. Even though Keebo was strong, the fifteen of them had to be stronger. They needed to be; otherwise her plan would have been all for naught... And fifteen more lives would be thrown away, for no reason at all...
The girl steeled herself. Keebo's Hope was powerful, but she knew that a world without Danganronpa was even stronger. So there had to be a way to save them... But how...
Keebo's gun was growing more powerful by the second... They had to stop that gun... If Keebo lost power, his gun wouldn't work... Right?
Tsumugi dismissed the thought. Keebo charged himself every night, and even then, he never used the full length of his battery... So that wasn't an option...
Could they restrain him? Surely with the fifteen of them, they could hold him down... However, not even Gonta could hold him back earlier... And how were they going to pull Keebo out of the air? His jetpacks were another annoying feature that made him particularly slippery...
So was that it? Is this-
Wait. There's one last way that the students could fight back. Only one way to remove Keebo's rage.
To remove his connection with the outside world. Then, he'd surely lose the will to fight. So she had to get to her-
Hideout? The device used to control the audience participation was destroyed by Keebo... For good reason. He must have anticipated this...
But there was one other way that he could lose that connection... The antenna on his head. The signal from the outside world was broadcast to that antenna... So all they had to do was find a way to make it to Keebo's head and pull off the antenna... And then they could all escape together...
It sounded easy, but she knew it would be insanely difficult... Nevertheless, they had to try...
She yelled out, facing the other students, ensuring they heard her plan.
"Everyone, we have to remove that antenna from Keebo's head! He'll lose his connection with the outside world!"
Kaede exclaimed, "His ahoge? That's an antenna?"
Rantaro nodded, "Apparently. But how are we going to remove it? He's sort of flying above our heads right now..."
Gonta stepped forward. The man was still hurt from the explosion earlier, but he stood tall, accessing some deep reserve of energy.
"Gonta throw things at Keebo, and maybe one will hit antenna!"
Miu yelled, "Throw what? There's nothin' here at all! That stupid manhole is behind the damn school."
Tsumugi thought about it for a second, but someone else came forward with an idea.
"Throw me."
Maki Harukawa approached Gonta, pulling out some knives that she had stored on her body, typical of the Ultimate Assassin.
Kaito reached a hand out to her, "But Maki-"
She responded stoically, acknowledging her fate, "I'll be fine. It's what must be done."
Keebo's voice broke their conversation, yelling at the students.
"Don't even bother."
He then pointed the semi-charged gun towards Rantaro, and an evil smirk appeared on his face.
"You're first."
Tsumugi screamed, "Gonta, now!"
The hulk nodded, picking up Maki by the waist. With one hand on her stomach, and the other propelling her feet, Gonta thrust Maki Harukawa into the air towards the flying robot. The girl straightened her arms and legs as if she was skydiving, a scarlet dart aimed directly at Keebo's chest. Her skirt fluttered in the wind, not even caring that she might give the students a peek at what was underneath.
Keebo barely had enough time to react. The girl latched onto him and went directly for the kill, reaching towards the robot's antenna. Keebo's jetpacks roared as he tried to shake her off, using his one free hand to swat away her attempts.
Tsumugi waved the other students on, running towards the dorms.
"Everyone else, hide over here!"
The entire group ran after her, their feet brushing against the evening grass as Keebo and Maki flew around the courtyard. After a few seconds, the air pressure caused Maki to lose her grip, and Keebo promptly shoved her off, the girl falling to the ground with a thud.
He laughed, "Do you think this is enough to stop me? Hope is all powerful!"
He then aimed his gun towards the students and released the blast of energy, an unstoppable ball of yellow light. Thankfully, they were almost all safe behind the dorms - save Ryoma, whose short legs caused him to lag behind. He jumped at the last moment - barely dodging the blast.
Tsumugi's heart was beating almost as fast as Keebo's engine - however Kaito's training last night helped her, at least a little bit. Her eyes darted around as the rest of the crowd caught their breaths and counted...
Nine... Ten... Eleven...
Where were the other two? Tenko and Kirumi?
Tsumugi peeked out from their shelter, and saw them. To her relief, they weren't caught in the explosion.
They were lining up next to Gonta.
Tenko sighed, but she couldn't hide her anticipation as Gonta picked her up.
"Guess you're not as much a degenerate as I thought..."
Keebo was dashing through the air, attempting to corner the hiding students. Gonta lifted Tenko into the air and aimed, just as he did before. Tenko shouted.
"Let's show that robot who's boss!"
Not long after, Tenko was flying through the air, holding her hands out in Neo Aikido style.
Tsumugi retreated back, the sweat now just forming on her face, dripping down onto her chest. Gonta and the others just bought them some time... But would human projectiles really be enough?
She could hear Maki run back to Gonta, begging him to be thrown again. Tsumugi was sure the girl wasn't in the best shape... Even if they knew how to land, it would still take a toll on them... She turned to the others and posed a question.
"What else can we do to stop him?"
Silence ensued from the crowd, as they looked towards each other. The first one to speak up was Ryoma.
"Well, if I had some tennis balls and a racket, I could pelt him with them. Apparently I've killed people before with them..."
Shuichi put a hand to his face in thought, "Ryoma, they'd for sure be in your lab... But it hasn't been unlocked yet."
Tsumugi shook her head, "Shuichi, if you head to my hideout, there's a green button that should unlock all of the labs. Ryoma's should be on the second floor, not far from the staircase."
She nodded, pointing around the dorms, "Go now! If you go around the back, he won't notice you as quickly."
Shuichi and Ryoma nodded, starting to run in that direction. As they moved, a hand grabbed Shuichi's. Kaede ran along with them, sending the boy a warm grin.
"You two won't be alone."
Himiko joined in, "Yeah! With my magic, those tennis balls will rip right through Keebo as if he was a slice of swiss cheese!"
Tsumugi smiled, watching as they ran off. Hopefully they'd make it in time... She turned around to check on Gonta.
The man's throws were slowing drastically, the girls just barely reaching Keebo's height. The injuries Gonta sustained earlier must have been too much for him...
The tips of Maki's fingers just barely grazed Keebo's feet, the girl being forced to land near the front entrance of the school. Her exhaustion overcame her, and she missed the landing. The girl rolled on the grass, ending up next to Shuichi.
Tsumugi's heart pounded, but before Keebo could notice them, Gonta hurled Tenko in the air at the robot. She let out a "Hiiiya!" as she flew, her eyes zoning in on her target's face.
However, Keebo had adjusted quite well. He aimed his gun at Tenko's stomach and shot, stopping the girl's forward momentum, and forcing her backwards. The whiplash took Tenko's breath away, her flower headpiece being thrust off her head. Tsumugi could almost feel the blast herself...
"De-generate-"
The girl fell, but Gonta rushed ahead to catch her. He barely made it in time, the girl's weight bringing him down to one knee. He carefully set her aside close to the dormitories, and motioned towards a battered Kirumi. Her gloves were thrown aside, her dress and apron ripped in a few places, and yet she nodded.
"It is what must be done."
Keebo prepared himself, recharging his gun as Gonta prepared to throw Kirumi. Tsumugi bit her lip and retreated back towards the dormitories.
She watched the other students' nervous faces as she thought... Maki, Tenko, and Kirumi were getting nowhere... So if people couldn't do it, would Ryoma's tennis balls be able to? No matter how many people he's killed in his fictional past life - not that Tsumugi didn't put faith in him - she doubted they'd get anywhere. No matter how she thought about it, it would only amount to another distraction at best, and dust on Keebo's shoulder at worst.
They needed something stronger. Something that could fight Keebo one on one... And also something that would be strong enough to protect Rantaro, and the rest of the students...
Her eyes instantly lit up as she remembered something. There were five things not far away from here that were built for that exact purpose.
The Exisals.
Tsumugi hurriedly waved everyone close, and couldn't hold in her anticipation. She clasped Rantaro's hand, who seemed to be taken aback by the action.
"You all remember the Exisals, right?"
Kaito smiled, "Yeah! Those big mecha things that brought us here. They woulda beat the shit out of us if I wasn't there!"
Tsumugi threw her finger towards the Exisal dock, in the bottom level of the courtyard, "Well, the five of them are currently parked there, in that hangar! They're our best chance against Keebo! And Shuichi should be unlocking all the doors shortly!"
The crowd paused for a moment, stunned that there was such an option that still existed. Rantaro was the one to break the silence.
"You think Keebo would let us go?"
Tsumugi thought about it for a second, "No, you're right. We have to wait until Ryoma's distraction starts."
Rantaro nodded, his eyes still displaying the same determination they did yesterday.
"Ok. We'll get ready. We need four more pilots."
Kaito slammed his fists together and joined Rantaro, along with three of the other students - Miu, Angie, and Korekiyo. Tsumugi smiled - it seemed that everyone had a job to do. They were all fighting together, one force, one voice, against Danganronpa... It was empowering.
She turned her head around, and that joy instantly faded, her eyes glazing over upon seeing the one person who hasn't done a single thing.
Kokichi Ouma.
Ouma let out a sheepish grin towards the girl. It seems she wasn't quite rid of him just yet...
A voice boomed from above them, growing closer by the second.
"I know you're back there, stop hiding! You know you can't beat me."
Keebo was flying towards them, and with no sign of Shuichi or Ryoma, Tsumugi's hope was starting to fade. She turned towards Rantaro, and the look on his face was clear.
He wanted to make a run for it now. But Tsumugi wasn't going to let that happen.
She grabbed his wrist, her expression lightening up, staring deep into Rantaro's eyes. And she wasn't going to let go.
Tsumugi then looked up towards Keebo, and interestingly enough, the robot stopped moving. There had to be a-
Kokichi Ouma had strode out, in the middle of the courtyard, still displaying a grin as wide as the sun.
"Heeeey, Keebo! I've got a-"
He inched his way closer and closer to Gonta, but Keebo pointed his gun at Kokichi and yelled. The boy jolted upright.
"Kokichi! I know what you're up to. Stop stalling, it won't work."
"Stalling? Me? I'd never do that, Keebo! I just wanted to..."
Kokichi began sniffling dramatically, and tears began falling down his cheeks. Fake ones, for sure.
"...say my final goodbyes to my best friend, Gonta..."
Keebo pointed his gun at Kokichi in one swift motion, causing the boy to bolt upright.
"Fine, but make it quick. And if either of you moves, I'll shoot."
Kokichi stretched his back, leaning towards Gonta. Once he got close enough, he whispered towards him aggressively.
"Gonta, throw me."
Gonta responded quickly, his voice low as well, "But Kokichi does not do martial art. Kokichi will get very hurt!"
"Gonta, NOW! They need a distraction!"
Keebo's eyes squinted towards the two in suspicion, "Hey, that does not sound like a goodbye!"
However, Gonta continued to insist, "But Kokichi will get-"
"JUST DO IT!"
The man grabbed Kokichi's midsection and hurled him as hard as he could towards Keebo. The robot, albeit a bit startled, remained calm, unintimidated by the flying clown. Kokichi let out a battle cry as he reached for Keebo's antenna, his arm stretching out as far as the boy could reach.
Unfazed, Keebo dodged to the left moments before Kokichi would collide, causing him to fly further through the air towards the school. The boy was on a crash course for the building's second story window. His scream of rage turned into one of panic, as Kokichi attempted to shield himself from the glass shards that would inevitably make their way into some parts of his body.
The shattering sound echoed through the courtyard. Both Gonta and Tsumugi winced at Kokichi's collision, the boy probably hit into a few desks as well. Pieces of glass and other debris trickled down from the second floor, embedding themselves in the bushes underneath.
Keebo let out a villainous smirk, and turned towards the window to see the damage. And with good reason; he didn't even have to lift a finger and these students were hurting themselves. It must have seemed like child's play to him.
Yet, before he turned around, a second shattering sound filled his ears - this one coming from the other side of the school. The robot looked in that direction, confused to see another window shattered, this one having nothing to do with Kokichi. Not long after his eyes focused, a small green object flew directly for his head.
Keebo snatched it out of the air milliseconds before it would have whacked him. After inspecting the tennis ball, he threw it aside, his smirk transforming into a scowl. He then deflected another one, staring into the room in anger. Ryoma Hoshi stepped forward, tennis racket in hand, continuously shooting tennis balls at the robot. Kaede was next to him, passing him tennis balls from a caddy.
And it wasn't just tennis balls, either. Himiko Yumeno was throwing playing cards at Keebo as well. She probably got them from her lab, since Shuichi opened them all at once. It was surprising to Tsumugi that playing cards could be so accurate; maybe Himiko was actually magical...
Shuichi was standing behind her, looking down towards the dormitories. Tsumugi locked eyes with him, and the boy nodded tacitly. She nodded back.
This was it. This was their chance.
A relentless assault of projectiles began from Ryoma's lab. Keebo darted around the courtyard and waved his arms around to protect his ahoge. Tsumugi knew this wouldn't last forever, so she turned around and waved the others on.
"Go now!"
After an initial bout of hesitation, four of the five pilots began a full-on sprint towards the Exisal Hangar. Rantaro's arm was still held by Tsumugi, but instead of releasing it, she pulled him closer and whispered something in his ear.
The boy nodded, and she promptly let go. He started to run just like the rest of them, his feet slamming against the brick pathway to the lower level.
Amidst the confusion, Keebo noticed the group of five running somewhere. He growled, and turned swiftly towards them. Aiming his gun, he released the blast he was charging up. However, one of Ryoma's tennis balls hit his arm moments before, throwing off the robot's aim. Angered, Keebo shot steam out of his ears, his jetpacks flaring.
Shuichi pointed at him, "Aim for his gun! We can't let them get hit."
Keebo continued to shoot smaller blasts at the five, but the assault didn't pull back. He couldn't get a clear shot, and many of the energy pulses skewed to the left or right of their target. As the robot was distracted, the three stranded warriors - Gonta, Kirumi, and Tenko - all hobbled over to the dormitories, where Tsumugi was sheltered. Kirumi must have injured her leg, so Tsumugi ran out to help her take cover.
Tsumugi then resumed her post, watching anxiously as Keebo tried to thwart their plans. These past few minutes have been a whirlwind. Her heart was pounding like a drum; her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails were digging into her skin. But she couldn't help it; she had so much invested in this plan. They needed to win.
She posed a question to the others, turning around, "Do you think we'll do it?"
With Tenko focused on Kirumi's injury, Gonta was the only one to respond. He was sitting against the dormitory wall, his clothes dirty and his hair even more disheveled than it normally was. The man turned up towards Tsumugi and answered.
"Yes, of course. With everyone working together, Keebo does not stand a chance."
Tsumugi deflated a bit, her tenseness subsiding.
"I wish I could do more to help... Everyone is doing such a great job... My talent and my plainness aren't great for combat at all..."
However, Gonta could only smile.
"Tsumugi has most important role, Tsumugi is leader. Very important to tell people what to do. Tsumugi know how to be quick thinker, too. With Tsumugi in charge, everyone will win."
Tsumugi couldn't help but smile contagiously. She didn't know if the man was being overly optimistic, or if he was telling the truth, but nevertheless, his words did touch her heart. She gave Gonta a nod and a wide grin.
"Thank you, Gonta."
Gonta grinned back, and then continued to rest. Tsumugi turned back around to continue to observe the fight. The projectiles fired constantly from the second story, pelting Keebo at a slower rate than before. It seemed they were running out of steam, but out of nowhere, something long and thin shot out from between Ryoma and Himiko. It was... an arrow?
The arrow darted blazingly fast towards Keebo's head - and barely grazed his ahoge. The antenna wobbled a bit, but remained upright. The robot stopped for a moment and turned back towards the second story of the school. Tsumugi looked closer to see as well.
Laying down on the ground, mostly covered by her assassin's cloak, was Maki Harukawa, surrounded by all her assassin weaponry. Shuichi must have told her about all the labs opening...
In Maki's strike, the faintest glimmer of hope arose in Tsumugi. Their teamwork was immaculate, everyone ensuring to protect each other and choosing opportune times to attack... These students only knew each other for a few days, yet she was able to band them together against Keebo...
They all deserved it. They all deserved to be rid from this stupid killing game...
Keebo kept his attention shifted there, ensuring his antenna was protected while he charged his gun. He weaved in and out of the tennis balls, cards, and bullets, moving at lightning speed.
Tsumugi looked towards Rantaro and the others, sprinting desperately to reach the Exisal Hangar. It was all up to them now... She hoped they could make it in time...
Thank you SO MUCH for sticking through with my fanfic! It's almost done, I promise! However, I am dreading writing the mecha fight that will ensue next chapter...
Nevertheless, it will get done. This has been a side project for me for a long time and I'm excited that I'm getting close to the end!