CHAPTER 2: UNCHARTED MAP OF A BEATEN TRAIL
Monopad #1
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Journal
Shuichi Saihara
File #2
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Kaede said... to believe in myself...
Even if it's all fiction...!?
...Where did that come from...?
...
Tsumugi... betrayed us all... for some show...
...right?
There should only be one truth... yet I'm remembering it different ways...
...
Yes... the first time...
She toyed with our lives and mocked our despair.
It was horrible. I could never forgive her.
But with each time we were there, she changed.
It was no secret she remembered everything. She must have been desperate.
Her actions seemed more and more genuine each time.
She even broke down crying...
I felt less angry with her as time went on, all because she changed her actions.
...
All culminating in the final retrial...
Tsumugi was like a friend going through change.
Without even knowing, we helped her through that change.
It felt like I was watching a bully I met in school start to grow into a better person.
...
Like... a redemption arc. Coz it's fiction, right...?
I can't fight for a lie... can I?
...
...The power of fiction...
...
How long was I asleep for?
...
...
I feel weak again.
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Monopad #16
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Kaede Akamatsu
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RULE 6: If a murder occurs on campus, the killer will be exterminated by the Exisals with extreme prejudice.
MAKI: Why would you need to have a rule for that? Not being allowed to murder should be a given, especially in a dating game...
RANTARO: That is bizarre...
KOKICHI: Nee-hee hee... I have a few ideas...
KAEDE: You do?
KOKICHI: Well, we were all gathered here based on our talents, right? That rule must be in place to prevent one of us from using our talent to attack people.
TENKO: I see, I see...
Maki left in a hurry after hearing that.
KOKICHI: Tenko, for example. Her Neo-Aikido could seriously injure someone if she's not careful, y'know?
TENKO: Well, of course! It's a martial art! That's the whole point!
KOKICHI: That's my theory, anyway.
KAITO: That's ridiculous. There's no way they'd need to make such a big point about that rule in an ongoing dating game. This game has probably been broadcast before, so the audience should already know about that.
ANGIE: Maybe there was an incident?
GONTA: Incident? You mean, murder happen before?
KIRUMI: If that were the case, the show should've been forced off the air...
KOKICHI: Well, who knows? That rule was probably just put there as a joke. That's my theory, anyway.
KAITO: Wait, which is it?
RANTARO: Hey, let's just relax. Our objective is to get together and fill out our report sheets. We should focus on that first.
K1-B0: I have an idea, actually. The audience might get overwhelmed seeing everyone at once, especially crowded together like this. Why don't we split up again? Half of us participate in the dating game, and half of us search the academy for clues.
KAEDE: Clues to what?
K1-B0: This academy no doubt has many secrets. We may find something if we look.
KAEDE: Something like what?
KOKICHI: What indeed, Kaede? Well, this works out anyway. It seems like Shuichi, Ryoma, and Maki are already searching, so we just need 5 more to break off from our group.
MONACA: Yeah! Divide and conquer! That's a great idea, meow!
KOKICHI: Okay! Then the ones exploring will be Kiyo, Kii-boy, Kaito, Miu, and Kirumi!
KAITO: Hey, don't just go making a decision like that!
MONACA: I think we can trust him.
KAEDE: Well... Does everyone else agree with this?
KAITO: Grrr... It's spontaneous, but...
TENKO: I see through your ploy, Kokichi. A 2:3 female to male ratio?
KOREKIYO: You can relax. I doubt any of us will attempt to harass them. I'm personally not interested, Kaito has his public image as an astronaut, and Keebo may not even be capable of having sexual fantasies.
K1-B0: Even when I am being defended, I get hounded by these robophobes...
TENKO: I'll be keeping an eye on you.
HIMIKO: Tenko, let it go... It'll be a big pain for them to go looking for clues with you hovering over their shoulder...
TENKO: A-Ah...! Right, my mistake, Himiko. If you trust their word, then I guess it must be alright. Because you used your magic to check, right?
HIMIKO: Yeah... They're definitely not suspicious. I would have been able to tell otherwise.
KAITO: Well, alright. In that case, just leave it to us. Our team definitely won't fail with me on it!
K1-B0: That's a rather bold claim.
With that, the five Kokichi listed were on their way. It seems like he has a plan, but I don't have the slightest clue what it could be...
RANTARO: So, the rest of us should get into groups of two. Y'know, get started on the dating game.
Before I could fully form a response to Rantaro's proposal...
MONACA: I wanna go with Big Sis Kaede.
KAEDE: B-Big sis...?
...I was saddled with Monaca.
RANTARO: Well, that's that settled. Now then, as for the rest of us...
Monaca took my hand and started walking away with me. Not wanting to fight with a child, my legs started walking along with her.
MONACA: I'm so glad I have someone nice to hang out with. Kids are easy peasy to get along with, but Monaca doesn't have much luck with older people.
KAEDE: You don't? I thought the Super High School Level Psychologist would be good with all ages of people.
MONACA: I understand them good. It's just really, really hard to get along with them. Adults never seem to like Monaca for some reason.
KAEDE: What about your family?
MONACA: Least of all my family.
KAEDE: What!?
MONACA: Yeah, everyone in my family was super jealous of Monaca's talent. I even had a wheelchair for a little while, and it didn't help things at all.
That's horrible... To think someone could be so cruel to this little girl...
KAEDE: Oh my god... They broke your legs...!?
MONACA: No, they never broke my legs. I just thought being crippled would make them feel sorry for me.
KAEDE: Huh!?
MONACA: And it worked with everyone else. Everyone felt sooooo bad for Monaca, giving her ice cream, money, free spots in line... Not big bro and Dad, though. They couldn't care less that I was permanently disabled for all they knew.
KAEDE: That's pretty sneaky... Even though what they did was wrong, I can't say I approve of that.
MONACA: It's okay. You're entitled to your opinion. But I did what I had to do in that house. My family wasn't any easier on me, but with the help I got from everyone else, they were forced to give me more power.
KAEDE: More power...?
MONACA: The Towa family has a legacy of science. After everyone saw me in a wheelchair, sobbing like a pig at a slaughterhouse, they petitioned to give me a position in the robotics field. That's when life got better for Monaca!
KAEDE: You're kidding...
MONACA: Nope~! That's the magic of psychology. I know juuuuust how to play them~
KAEDE: What a terrifying magic...
MONACA: It's like I always say! Pitiful children are the most powerful! That's Monaca's special magic, meow!
KAEDE: You certainly know what you're doing, huh...?
MONACA: Hey, I'm glad we had this talk. I feel like we bonded over this.
KAEDE: Of course. You can talk to me anytime you want, Monaca.
MONACA: Hehe~!
Both of our Monopads beeped, and I noticed I had gone up one point in Monaca's column, and she had gone up one in mine.
KAEDE: Just like that? Well, maybe this will be faster than I thought.
MONACA: You don't need to worry about Mr. Monokuma. The talking ones have always been fair, even if they can be selfish at times.
KAEDE: Are you sure? They are in control of the Exisals after all.
MONACA: The Exisals are new, but...
KAEDE: Hmm... Well, let's go meet back up with the others for now.
MONACA: Mhm. I agree.
A lot on our minds, we all met up at the dining hall. Maki came back, but the people Kokichi sent off were still out searching. Plus, Shuichi and Ryoma still seemed to be missing.
MONACA: Welcome back, my dear Maki!
True to her nature as Super High School Level Child Caregiver, Maki practically gravitated Monaca into her arms. It caused her to pout a little. It was... oddly cute for her.
MAKI: Geez...
MONACA: I sure missed you a whooooole lot, meow!
KOKICHI: Wow, Maki sure loves children! Or maybe Monaca just really loves the trustworthy ones!
GONTA: That very good. Big people should protect little people.
ANGIE: So, did you find out anything from Mr. Monokuma?
MAKI: I found out a lot, actually. This show he's forcing us to be a part of wasn't always a reality dating show. The blue one was serious about their original plan.
RANTARO: Original plan? In what way?
MAKI: This was going to be a killing game.
KAEDE: W-What!?
GONTA: But... that terrible!
KOKICHI: I see, I see... Very useful information! Great job, Maki!
ANGIE: Why go from a killing game to a dating game, though?
MAKI: He said it was his way of winding down, but I don't trust that answer.
KOKICHI: Yeah, seems like a lie to me.
MAKI: The game had very complex rules. It wasn't enough to just kill someone; you also had to successfully pin it on someone else. If the culprit gets away with it, everyone else dies and the game ends. If not, they would be executed. And apparently, the game would go on until only two students remained.
I could barely contain the contents in my stomach. The thought that we were almost in some depraved killing game... We would be forced to make friends with each other... just to turn on each other? What kind of demented person would do this!?
MAKI: There were rules in place because the killing game was being shown to someone. Rule 6 was just added to this dating game so no one got any funny ideas.
RANTARO: That doesn't make any sense, though. Whoever this audience is, they must be pretty depraved to watch a killing game. Why would someone that far gone want to see a dating game all of a sudden?
MAKI: That much, he wouldn't tell me.
MONACA: Well, the world is different now, after all.
MAKI: That's not good enough...
MONACA: But that might be why he let us all know this was just a show. If it were a killing game, knowing it was all for show would make us lose motivation.
ANGIE: Ah, how perceptive.
GONTA: That maybe why blue bear was destroyed for mentioning killing game. Not want to instill fear into our hearts.
TENKO: Nah. That was just because he was a degenerate male.
RANTARO: For once, I agree with that.
ANGIE: He was pretty degenerate.
MAKI: I certainly won't miss him.
HIMIKO: He was a pain to listen to...
KOKICHI: Well, good riddance to bad rubbish, as they say!
KAEDE: Right... But now what do we do?
MONACA: If there really is a killing game going on, maybe we should look more into it. It sounds like there's something we need to stop.
RANTARO: You think so, eh?
TENKO: Like some sort of evil scheme! When I find whoever's responsible for this, I'll pummel em with my Neo-Aikido!
KOKICHI: Nee-hee hee! Tenko sure is quick to fight! It'll be super handy having a bodyguard like you!
TENKO: Don't get the wrong idea. I'm doing it so we girls can escape. Degenerate males such as yourself are on your own.
RANTARO: Why is that?
TENKO: Like I need a reason!
HIMIKO: I'm gonna go take a nap... I need to recover my MP...
TENKO: H-Himiko, wait!
GONTA: It okay, Rantaro. Gonta will protect everyone-
RANTARO: No. I feel like we need to talk about this. We all need to get along in order to survive. Calling us degenerate males like that is pretty counterproductive.
As Rantaro casually approached Tenko, the rest of us watched Himiko leave the dining hall and head back towards the dorms. She said her "MP" was at zero, but it's hard to believe she cast any magic while we weren't looking...
RANTARO: We're all ears.
TENKO: My master already told me all about you guys. The way you eye people up in public, the way you never wash your hands after eating or peeing... and the way you just shooed away Himiko just now! It's just like you filthy degenerates to ruin everything for us girls!
RANTARO: How old is your master?
TENKO: Huh? How should I know? Why ask a pointless question like that?
RANTARO: How old did they look? Give me your best guess. 20? 30?
TENKO: Probably somewhere in his 40s.
RANTARO: I see. "Masters" in their 40s usually preside in temples.
TENKO: How did you know I went to a temple!?
RANTARO: I'm pretty well traveled. I pick up on these things.
Well traveled... I wonder if that relates to his talent...
RANTARO: So, your parents were the religious type?
TENKO: Not exactly. They sent me there to train my mind and body.
MONACA: If they weren't religious, that must mean you had anger problems.
TENKO: Whaaaa!? D-Don't just pick apart my defenses like that!
MONACA: Well, think about it. Temples are places of tranquility and spirit. There's only one reason why a non-religious family would want to send their child there. That's to quell their violent spirit.
ANGIE: Wise choice, wise choice! Evil spirits must be cleansed! Nyahahaha!
TENKO: I was not evil! I just had a lot of trouble controlling myself! That's when I met my master! And together, we developed Neo-Aikido!
RANTARO: So, he created an unofficial variant of Aikido for you to exert your energy through.
TENKO: Hmph! Very perceptive for a degenerate male!
RANTARO: Where does that part fit in?
TENKO: Huh? Which part?
RANTARO: The part where males are "degenerates".
TENKO: Geez, you can't even guess that? Even before I went to see my master, I've known all about you heartbreakers and sex offenders. Hearing it from Master firsthand just proved my suspicions. Degenerate males are evil!
RANTARO: Uh huh. I think I see the problem here. Of course, it's all well and noble to hate those kinds of people, but it's not a good idea to assume that's true for everyone.
TENKO: Of course it is! Master told me himself, and Master is never wrong! All men ever think about is sex. That's it! That's all they live for! But you're one of them, so I wouldn't expect you to understa-
RANTARO: You do realize your master is a male, too, right?
TENKO: ...
Tenko stopped and froze in uncomfortable silence. Her pupils dilated in horror, as if she'd just seen a dead body. And then, suddenly...
TENKO: AAAAAHHHHHHHH!
MAKI: Woah.
GONTA: T-Tenko!?
TENKO: H-H-How can this be!? You're right... Master is... Master is... He's a degenerate male tooooooo!
KAEDE: You just now realized this!?
She suddenly slumped over in a fugue state and walked away without a word. It was... almost frightening.
RANTARO: I think we broke her... Well, at least it'll help straighten her mind.
ANGIE: Indeed, indeed. But let us make sure not to crush her spirits.
RANTARO: Though, I have to wonder why her master told her such an aggressive lie.
MONACA: Hmm... If he was at a temple, he must have been a priest. Maybe he hated romance.
RANTARO: You think so?
MONACA: If all boys are evil, she'll never want to go out with anyone. It's fool proof. She'll be abstinent until she dies.
RANTARO: Huh. You sure know your stuff.
MONACA: Mhm! Always happy to help, meow!
ANGIE: Such a shame she went to a temple like that. If she were under the Temple of Atua, she would surely learn the error of her ways!
MONACA: Atua, huh? Can you tell me more about Mr. Atua?
ANGIE: Nyahahaha! Right away!
Without warning, Angie lunged her full body onto Monaca and pulled her in for a hug.
ANGIE: Atua is a wonderful god, you see. He watches over my island all the time, blessing us all with his favor.
MONACA: Uh huh? What kind of blessing?
ANGIE: Anything you desire. Fortune, weather, music, sweets...
MONACA: Can I have all the ice cream in the world?
ANGIE: If you are a good little girl, Atua shall grant you all the ice cream your stomach can handle.
MONACA: Yaaay! Atua sounds wonderful!
KAEDE: Wow... What a skilled preacher...
KOKICHI: I almost believed her for a second!
I suppose Monaca is just a kid, after all. Maybe it's not so much Angie. But still, a Super High School Level Psychologist falling for stuff like this...?
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Team Danganronpa Files
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Tsumugi Shirogane
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File #44
Merging...
It's been nearly a day since I showed Shuichi the truth once more. After what felt like an eternity, he finally sat up.
Merging Log...
SHUICHI: ...Huh...? What happened...?
TSUMUGI: The overflow of memories might have short-circuited your brain.
SHUICHI: Memories...? Ah... That's right. You... said you knew how to fix everything. And now we're back here.
TSUMUGI: Are you feeling drowsy? Does anything hurt?
SHUICHI: Aside from everything above my neck?
TSUMUGI: Sorry...
SHUICHI: No, it's fine... With technology like that, I suppose it's natural...
TSUMUGI: Did it work? Did you remember everything?
SHUICHI: Ah, um... I think so. It's more like I'm remembering the same thing in multiple ways. I can't say if my memory is 100% accurate.
TSUMUGI: No, that's normal. It means all your memories of the resets have been restored.
SHUICHI: Ah, that's right... You've come a long way, huh?
TSUMUGI: You're being awfully calm about it...
SHUICHI: ...I know. The first time we went through this, I was furious. I remember each muscle that vibrated in my throat with my screaming. But the killing game's been cancelled, and everyone is still alive. You can't be the same Tsumugi I fought back then.
TSUMUGI: That means a lot to me, Shuichi.
SHUICHI: But if you were planning to restore our memories to begin with, why were you so adamant on us forgiving you?
TSUMUGI: Well, I always planned to restore your memories, but I didn't know for sure if it would happen. I was worried I might fail, so I needed a boost of hope.
SHUICHI: Hope...?
TSUMUGI: Yeah. Nowadays, hope and despair are basically teams in the Danganronpa world. But they are real things, you know? Hope can be anything, even just a pat on the back. It helps people move on with the day and their lives.
SHUICHI: Ah, I see.
TSUMUGI: Of course, I understand how saying those two things over and over can devalue them for some people.
SHUICHI: That's not what I was thinking at all.
Shuichi paused for a second, still trying to get his thoughts straight. I can't blame him, with just how many versions of the same events he remembers. It looks like he realized something, though.
SHUICHI: Tsumugi, I want to know what the outside world is like. No matter how many times we beat the game, we never went outside. Please tell me what's out there.
TSUMUGI: Oh, the outside world? Well, technically there is no world outside of these walls. It's like Miu said about the simulator; everything ends there.
SHUICHI: Outside of these walls...? Well, then how do we escape?
TSUMUGI: There's nowhere to escape to. Not until the simulation turns off.
SHUICHI: Simulation?
TSUMUGI: Yep. Saishu Academy takes place in a fictional world. This world we're all walking in is purely fiction. It's a simulation of a school where the killing game can take place. How else could I bring everyone back to life? That would be a little extreme, even for the Super High School Level Real Fiction, wouldn't it?
SHUICHI: Ah, that makes much more sense. So, no one actually died?
TSUMUGI: If real people were dying, don't you think their loved ones would stop supporting the show? And then Danganronpa would be doomed. No, you all died in a simulation. That just deleted your fictional characters. Or should I say, your avatars.
SHUICHI: So, it's like the Neo World Program in that regard.
TSUMUGI: In a way, yeah. And when the killing game ends, everyone who participated will wake up with their original personalities. Everyone except the Super High School Level Survivor, that is. And me, the mastermind.
SHUICHI: Original personalities...? Wait, so... We can't stay the way we are...?
TSUMUGI: Your real family would be destroyed if their son returned as a completely different person. The you that exists right now as Super High School Level Detective will still exist in the real Shuichi Saihara's mind somewhere. Like a memory that he can learn something from.
SHUICHI: A-Ah, okay... Then, the reason we joined was...
TSUMUGI: Yeah. Some of you joined because they were unhappy with themselves. Like Kaede, for example.
I directed Shuichi's attention back to the screen and played her audition back for him.
AUDITION KAEDE: I'm perfect for a killing game. I don't have any faith in humanity.
SHUICHI: Did she... know this would happen!?
TSUMUGI: I don't think she did. But to take place in a phenomenon this big and this impactful on the soul, I think she had hope that she'd find something better to live for.
SHUICHI: ...She wanted to change...
TSUMUGI: Huh?
SHUICHI: That's why she applied. She wanted to change herself. She was tired of not having faith in people.
TSUMUGI: How do you know that? It's not like you've met the real Kaede...
SHUICHI: No, I haven't... but that's what I believe. And if that's the case... I owe you thanks, Tsumugi. You made us all better people.
TSUMUGI: I... wouldn't put it like that... It's not like I saved you guys or anything. It's more like I just transformed you all into more expressive characters that better suited this story. I'm not sure if the real Korekiyo would be happy with his sister complex... Ehehe...
Now's not the time to tell him I thought it was kinda hot...
SHUICHI: That... is fair, honestly... But I can't imagine living such a lonely, desperate life. Honestly, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that we even auditioned in the first place.
TSUMUGI: I'm glad you did, Shuichi. You guys are just the people I needed to meet.
SHUICHI: Did you not change yourself?
TSUMUGI: Very little. It would be too cruel to just make anyone the mastermind. They'd have to remember that, you know. Besides, this was all my idea, so...
Shuichi was gradually getting closer to me as we sat on the couch. We were like old roommates catching up after a while. It felt nice. I was starting to feel like I had a real chance to redeem myself and save everyone.
Of course, I knew better than to think we could be a couple. That wouldn't be fair to Kaede.
SHUICHI: Tsumugi, there's something I want to know. If this was all your idea, and you really went this far with it, how come you were so convinced people wouldn't care about us?
TSUMUGI: What do you mean by that?
SHUICHI: You said you didn't believe in the power of fiction, and that fiction could never change the real world. Now that I'm thinking about it calmly, why wouldn't you?
TSUMUGI: Well, to tell you the truth, I had my doubts... I've always loved fiction from the bottom of my heart, but it was so hard to find other people who felt the same. Do you remember what I told you? About the cosplay conventions I attended?
SHUICHI: I think so... You mentioned that the other cosplayers just wanted to promote their works, not necessarily the characters.
TSUMUGI: It's like that the whole world round. No one appreciates fiction. Everyone just wants more substance without really thinking about what they're being given. There was a time I believed in the power of fiction. I wanted to show everyone that I cared. I was always proud of the work I put out, but no one else even seemed to notice. No matter how forced or contrived it was, they always just went to the next thing the industry put out. They didn't care about message. They didn't care about soul. They didn't care about story. They just wanted more content. "We need to put the characters at this place! We need to talk about this thing and that thing! I don't care if this character was meant to die, they're my favorite!" On and on with no end in sight. What about the tired writers behind the scenes? What about the actors who fill those roles? What about the fans who are actually okay with the series as it is? Because those fans blame the producers, not the fanatics begging them for more.
SHUICHI: That does sound tiring.
TSUMUGI: In the end, I gave up hope. I decided fiction could never change the real world. That's when it turned from an escape to a life goal. I wanted to make Danganronpa a reality. If it became reality, then it could have some impact.
SHUICHI: But we're in a simulation...
TSUMUGI: Even so, a real person volunteered and became you, Shuichi. So, I was actually quite close.
SHUICHI: Do the people watching know?
TSUMUGI: I'm almost certain they do. Even as obsessed as they are, I doubt they'd be okay with watching real people die. If it's fictional characters, there's a disconnect from basic human morals and values, but there's still that attachment to the characters. That way, people can enjoy a killing game without having to think about the reality of the situation.
SHUICHI: The reality is, people are dying. And those watching just sat by and accepted it, because those people don't see us as real.
TSUMUGI: Yeah. At this point, it's not about the plot anymore. The story should have ended in Danganronpa 3. But the fans just wanted more and more.
SHUICHI: And you kept it coming, because you wanted to make this fiction a reality. Their demands for more of the killing game must have reinforced that lie you believed. The lie that fiction can't change the real world.
TSUMUGI: Maybe you're right. Maybe I dug myself into this hole.
SHUICHI: There's been fifty seasons more than there should have. And this one, the fifty-third, has been on repeat for a while. The only way to end this cycle is to let go of Danganronpa.
TSUMUGI: Yeah... You're right...
He was right. The only way to end the killing game is to conclude Danganronpa as a whole. But even if I was saying this, I was scared... Deep down, I was still afraid to let it end. It was my life. It was everything I dedicated myself to. It doesn't matter how real it is. It's real to me. It always has been.
SHUICHI: Tsumugi... I'm glad you made this choice.
I felt Shuichi put a hand on my shoulder to bring me back to my senses. To remind me that I have a friend with me.
SHUICHI: It must not have been an easy one to make. But now, with your help, we can end this tragedy together. No one will have to suffer anymore.
TSUMUGI: How do you have that much faith in me...? I mean, I am the mastermind, you know...
SHUICHI: Yeah, I know. And this doesn't erase everything you did. But you're taking a step in the right direction. And besides, I still want to fulfill Kaede's wish. To get out of here with everyone and be friends. And everyone includes you, Tsumugi.
TSUMUGI: Haha... That's so sweet of you, Shuichi. Maybe I should call you Sweetchi from now on.
SHUICHI: P-Please don't...
I had a lighthearted chuckle at his misfortune. If I can still joke like this, maybe I'm not completely insane yet. Shuichi, at least, still believes in me. Just like they all believed in me back then... Then, the reason I'm doing this is for their memories. And for my memories as well. That's what I'm honoring. That's what gives me the hope I need to go through with this...
I'll need as much as I can get...
RANTARO: So don't any of you go and do anything unnecessary, okay!?
KAEDE: I took an innocent life! I'm nothing but a horrible murderer!
RYOMA: Once I know I've got someone important to me, I'll have a reason to live...
KIRUMI: I will do anything- ANYTHING!- to survive!
ANGIE: Because Atua has already welcomed me into His kingdom!
TENKO: You made me realize some males are good people, like Master.
KOREKIYO: For Sister's sake... I've killed many! To send her 100 friends!
MIU: It's my duty as a genius inventor! S-So, I can't afford to die here-
ALTER EGO GONTA: Inside is Hell! Outside is Hell! What should Gonta and friends live for!?
KOKICHI: I had to think this game was fun to survive... I had to lie to myself!
KAITO: I... don't have time to be dying... I still haven't gone to space yet...
I've caused everyone a lot of pain... I've spun so many lies and crushed so many hopes... I don't know how they'll ever forgive me...
...I sound like Mikan right now.
SHUICHI: ...Hey, while we're here, I want to clear some things up.
TSUMUGI: What kinds of things?
SHUICHI: You said that we can't get rid of memories with Flashback Lights. But one memory I received was of Monokuma using a special Flashback Light. He called it the Blackout Light. What was that about?
TSUMUGI: Oh, that was a lie. The Blackout Light doesn't exist, not even in this fictional world. We probably could make something like that, but we never did.
SHUICHI: I see... Well, that does explain why I never found it during the investigation. What about what you said at the end, about your plan being a copy? What did you mean by... "cosplaycat criminal"?
TSUMUGI: Well, of course it was a copy. Danganronpa began with Junko Enoshima. Any subsequent killing game is bound to be a copy to at least some degree.
SHUICHI: I should have guessed that...
TSUMUGI: No, don't blame yourself. People are wrong all the time. It's not a bad thing to learn.
SHUICHI: Right.
As he spoke, I got up and continued setting up the Future Headlights. There were still a bunch of programming variables that needed to be added. This plan won't be complete unless I'm sure Danganronpa has been put to bed for good. That means everyone has to survive. That means no killing game. But more than that, I need to make sure I don't have any regrets leaving this world behind. So, I want to see them one last time. I want to bring them with me. I know I can't bring their worlds with me... but they were never real anyway. But by what token are we real? Just because we have physical bodies? They aren't present here, but Monokuma is... Is Monokuma "real"? Monokuma will never get to escape, but he'll still exist in this program until he is deleted... Does he cease to be real? Can you wipe someone from existence? And if so, are they even a person?
All of those questions are swamped by Shuichi remembering something that caught me off guard.
SHUICHI: Oh, I nearly forgot. Tsumugi, what is Monaca doing here? In every previous timeline, it's just been us 16, but now we have Monaca with us. But isn't she a fictional character as well?
TSUMUGI: Oh, her. I created her using this.
SHUICHI: C-Created...?
TSUMUGI: Watch and learn.
It's true. I did create Monaca using this machine. I took the entire library of Danganronpa knowledge in the system and encoded it into a machine that let me spawn anything I wanted. Combined, they created the Future Headlights. I can search for anything I want in this computer, and these cameras will bring it to life. All I had to do was retrieve Monaca's data and tweak a Flashback Light to change her personality. Of course, the Flashback Lights are useless to me now. I didn't need it for the demonstration.
Makoto Naegi
Retrieving Data
Would you like to create Makoto Naegi?
Yes No
And with that, I stepped back to the couch and joined Shuichi on it, watching the marvel at work. The lights flared up, somewhat glitching the simulated space directly in front of it, and beamed the outline of Makoto Naegi into the world. And with a scan-like process, it added more and more details until he was complete.
Complete and sentient.
MAKOTO: ...Huh? W-Where am I? What just-
TSUMUGI: Hey, luck boy.
SHUICHI: I... I can't believe what I'm seeing...
TSUMUGI: Welcome to the next reality.
Shuichi was in shock. So was I when it first worked. Makoto more so. The machine took data from each character's appearance at the end of their debut game. Edit: Except for Toko, but I didn't know that yet. In Makoto's head, he stepped out of Hope's Peak Academy, only for the other five to be missing.
MAKOTO: What's going on? Is this the outside world?
TSUMUGI: You're not out yet, I'm afraid. But we're all one step closer. It's nice to meet you. I'm Tsumugi Shirogane, Super High School Level Cosplayer.
MAKOTO: Are you another student?
TSUMUGI: You could say that...
SHUICHI: You created sentient life!?
TSUMUGI: Pretty neat, isn't it? With the Future Headlights, this fiction will turn to fact in no time!
MAKOTO: Fiction? What are you talking about?
SHUICHI: I can't believe it... You're... You're Makoto Naegi! You're the first season's surrogate!
MAKOTO: S-Season? What the heck is going on!?
TSUMUGI: This is the plan I've set in motion. I'll bring everyone to life within this simulation, and then transfer their information to more robotic bodies in the real world.
SHUICHI: R-Robotic bodies...?
TSUMUGI: Of course. How else do you think Kiibo got here? He is the Super High School Level Robot, after all. That's not something you can just lie about.
SHUICHI: What on Earth is the real world like...?
MAKOTO: H-Hold on! What on Earth is everyone talking about!?
I had a long night of explaining ahead of me...
TSUMUGI: Ah, Makoto. You're in the dark as usual. How much do you know about Danganronpa?
Makoto: ...Danganronpa?
MERGE FILE
Monopad #13
Audio
Journal
Monaca Towa
File #3
Loading...
"Tsumugi Shirogane"
That's an interesting name. I wonder why it's here. I never met anyone with that name here. And my body looks different, too. I look younger. I look like I did in the Demon Hunting game. My hair should be longer, and I should be taller and with a bigger chest. I think there's more to this dating game than some mystery about a killing game. Heck, I know the answer to that mystery already. The killing games ended when Big Sis Junko and Mr. Tengan died. And without me at Towa Group, Monokuma should have halted production. And I was in space. Maybe we're in space right now...?
As if the universe is reading my mind, there's a knock at the door.
MONACA: Who is it?
KOKICHI: It's the pizza man!
Kokichi's fun. He always likes to play pretend with me.
MONACA: Do you have Hawaiian?
RANTARO: Monaca, we wanna talk to you about some things.
I let out a giggle, the joke now prematurely finished thanks to party pooper Rantaro.
MONACA: Of course. Monaca can talk.
Kokichi opens the door and lets himself and Rantaro in. Kokichi seems as relaxed as ever, but Rantaro looks serious.
MONACA: What's with the face?
KOKICHI: Rantaro here just came up with the craziest idea, and we wanted to hear your input on it! Y'know, since you're such a valuable and trusted asset to us!
MONACA: You have an idea, Mr. Amami?
RANTARO: What I'm about to say might sound strange at first, but just hear me out.
Rantaro and Kokichi sat down on the bed at opposite sides of me.
RANTARO: Do you remember anything about something called the Super High School Level Hunt?
MONACA: Hmm... Nope. Monaca doesn't know anything like that.
KOKICHI: Rantaro here says the 16 of us were being chased and hunted by these big name government scaries. Pretty exciting, huh?
RANTARO: Exciting's one word... I'm more confused. Why am I the only one who remembers that? And how come Monaca was missing from the funeral?
MONACA: Missing from the funeral? What funeral?
RANTARO: We held a false funeral to spread misinformation that we were all dead. But when I remember this funeral, your picture wasn't there, Monaca. Everyone else we've met was represented, but you weren't.
Somehow, I feel like now is a bad time to tell them I've been a space NEET for who knows how long.
MONACA: Were there still 16 portraits?
RANTARO: There were. And in your place was some blue-haired woman with round glasses. But I don't know her name or her talent.
MONACA: Was it Tsumugi Shirogane?
That name caught them both off guard. Maybe I struck a nerve, or maybe I blew this case wide open.
RANTARO: You know someone like that?
MONACA: No, but it did pop up on my Monopad. And you did say Monaca was the only one the funeral wasn't for.
KOKICHI: Maybe this Tsumugi girl swapped places with Monaca for some reason! Or maybe she has some sorta disguising talent and Monaca is just a facade!
RANTARO: They're both possibilities, I won't deny that...
MONACA: Tsumugi Shirogane, huh...? Maybe she's the one behind the killing games.
KOKICHI: Nee-hee hee! For all we know, she could be! Let's gather some more clues!
RANTARO: No, I think this should be enough. There's obviously a hiding spot somewhere in the school. She'll probably be there. We need to build up morale so we're ready for that moment.
KOKICHI: Ooh, sneaky! I like it!
MONACA: But how come no one else hid? And how come no one remembers her?
KOKICHI: Better yet, why would she need a cover for some silly dating game? It would be much more understandable if this were one of those killing games Monokuma mentioned.
RANTARO: That concerns me, too...
Rantaro looks like he's hiding something...
RANTARO: Tsumugi... Why is that name so familiar to me?
END