Six Years Ago
"You little bastard! You know I only drink Asashi, why did you buy this shit?!" Masaru could hear his father's hand making contact with his face before he could feel it. Usually he was quick enough to dodge it, but this time he never even saw it coming. The six year old's body hit the floor, making a small thud noise. Masaru quickly took a quick breath and sucked in his teeth as he slowly got up, he knew better than to start crying in front of his dad.
"They didn't have Asashi, they only had Kirin Ichiban" the redhead replied quietly to the man who was supposed to protect him from harm, but these days it felt like he was the only one who caused it.
"I bet you only checked the store down the store, lazy good for nothing. I refuse to believe nobody's got my favorite beer" the large man retorted, getting up from his hair. Mr. Kuwata, even when he was seated in his usual red chair, was a large man. The brunette picked up his bottle and slowly approached his terrified son.
"If you think it's so great, then why don't you have it!" Mr. Kuwata arched his right arm back and threw his beer at the young child. Masaru, while he may not have been as intelligent as other children his age, he knew it was best if he got out of the way. The glass bottle shattered against the wall as Masaru raced to his room, amber liquid staining the wall. Once Masaru reached his room, he heard the front door open.
"I'm hom… Dad! What are you doing!" the 12 year old exclaimed, his bat hitting the ground as he stood in horror at the mess his father had made.
"Ask your brother, he should have known better than to come home without what I asked for" he answered in a matter of factly manner.
"He's SIX! Why the hell are you having him buy beer for you! If you want to be a drunk, don't force your kids to do your dirty work!" the preteen shouted, his face as red as his hair. Meanwhile, down the hall, a young Masaru cracked a small smile as his brother defended him against their father. He was the only one who could talk to him like that. He said it was because he loved his lil bro more than he feared their father's wrath. While his mom may have been dead, his dad an alcoholic, and his classmates and sometimes his teachers treated him like an idiot, there was always one person he could count on, his brother.
Current Day
"Ah man, that really sucked" a heavily bruised teen muttered as he hid in an alley, avoiding being detected from the Monokumas roaming the streets. It was a miracle that he was still alive in the first place. The redhead seriously thought he would die after he had a 1,000 baseballs thrown at him at top speed and so did Junko, but that was her mistake since Leon was only badly injured. When Leon had tried to dispose of the evidence from his crime, he backed up the furnace and so she was restored to use the garbage chute instead, that was her second mistake. The blonde's decision to throw him down into the pit instead of the furnace ended up saving his life because he was able to survive off of scraps and wait until the swelling diminished before he was able to escape. Once he healed enough to walk, imagine the former baseball star's surprise when Junko was dead, everyone was gone, and the school's exit was wide open! Nowadays, he was just trying to survive from evil bears and kids, seriously a guy can't catch a break!
"Leon" an anxious voice echoed down the alley, a familiar voice.
"Toko, is it you?" the teen struggled to get the words, even though it had been three months since his "execution" his lips were still heavily scarred and he was missing a few teeth. The redead heard two sets of footsteps and then he saw the scrawny author and another unknown teen girl.
"Who cares about that?! How are you alive?! We saw you die!" Toko shrieked, her face looking horrified like she was seeing a ghost. In a way, she was.
"Um, I'm sorry, Toko who is this exactly?" the brunette inquired as she glanced back and forth between the two older former students confused.
"You dunce! He used to go to school with your brother and I. We were all trapped inside Hope Peak's Academy and he was executed after he killed Sayaka Maizono! The point is he should not be alive!" Toko shaked back and forth, hyperventilating while Leon ignored her and decided to question the mysterious girl.
"Who's your brother?" Leon asked. The younger girl nervously stared off into space as she quietly mumbled "I'm Komaru, Makoto Naegi's sister."
"Oh yeah, I remember Makoto" replied in a friendly manner. That bastard's the reason I almost died, he thought quietly.
"Well, I'm sorry to cut this short, but we really have to get going" Komaru stated as she grabbed Toko's arm, the paranoid teen still freaking out over her classmate's failed attempt on his life.
"Wait, before you go… can I ask you a question!" Leon frantically called, raising his sore left arm towards the two.
FREEZE!
Leon dropped his arms and both him and the girls starred in the general direction of the unknown speakers. A Monokuma robot ran towards them, claws out and teeth bared, all the way laughing in his signature "upupupu."
"Run!" Komaru shouted as she and the rest of the group began to run, it was hard for Leon since he was still very injured.
"I think we lost him," Leon whispered from beneath the front desk of an abandoned diner, dead bodies and dried blood covering the floor.
"I think so too" Komaru concurred, all three of them standing up.
"Alright, start talking! How are you alive?" Toko's face began to turn pink and sweat from anxiety. "I swear if you don't answer me, you will answer to Genocider Jack" Toko said in a menacing manner.
"Look, I don't know who that is but I will tell you, the execution didn't kill me and I survived in the garbage chute, okay? Now, will you two answer me this, have you seen my brother?"
"Your brother?" Komaru asked, "who is your brother?"
"His name is Masaru, he's 12 years old and he looks just like me."
"Look Leon, we can't even find Byakuya sama. What makes you think we know where a lousy kid is-"
"I know where he is," Komaru answered very quietly, her lips pressed tightly together.
"What are you talking about Komaru?" Toko asked, her face scrunched up.
"When I got captured by those kids, there was this one boy who called himself the leader of the group. Actually you look almost exactly like him, except your features are a bit lighter. He was very cocky and confident."
"Where is he? Can you please take me to him?!" Leon asked in a manner that was closer to begging. "I have to know he's okay."
"Um, that's the thing. Masaru and all the other kids in this town are actually trying to kill us. Junko brainwashed them and convinced them that adults are "demons" and that in order to live in peace they have to kill all the adults."
Leon let go of Komaru's shoulders which until then he didn't realize he grabbed. No way, Masaru couldn't have done all this. The cheerful little boy who just wanted to be loved couldn't have caused all this misery. No wait, despair.
"I mean, if what you are saying is true and that you really are his brother then maybe you can talk some sense into him. You can get him to stop this madness."
"Komaru, you're talking about the same kids who killed their parents! I doubt talking to his "demon" brother is going to make a difference" Toko huffed, annoyed by her friend's stupidity.
"Masaru killed our dad? I don't know how to process all of this..."
"See look, across the street are those kids with Monokuma helmets who probably work for your brother and his friends, maybe we can convince them to let us talk to Masaru." Before anyone could object to her plan, she raced out the front door and jogged over to the kids.
"Komaru, wait" Toko called after her while Leon followed right behind Komaru. Leon's vision was blinded by pain as he dragged his broken body after his classmate's sister.
"Hey kids, I want to talk to your leader, Masaru. I want to make a deal with him." The boy and girl glanced at one another through their bear masks as they considered what the demon was saying. Should they kill her like their leaders wanted or should they permit them to speak to their boss? The girl decided there would be no harm in obliging them in their request, if the head honcho refused their offer, then they could just kill the demons! The girl pulled a walkie talkie out of her dress pocket and requested to speak to Masaru.
"Masaru, some scouts want to talk to you about some Demon" a blue haired boy in a plaid outfit informed the "leader".
"Oh yeah" the rambunctious kid chirped. Nagisa handed the redhead the walkie talkie and walked away. "What do you want, demon! I have better things to do, you know.
"Listen, I want to make a deal. There is something that I have that you want and there is something I want that you can give me. Why don't we help each other out" Komaru said in her most convincing voice, trying to sound confident like Makoto taught her to be. The girl held her breath and glanced back at the anxious Leon. This was a huge risk she was taking, if she was wrong, then they all would die.
"Help you out?" Masaru scoffed as he leaned back in his chair, "huh, there is nothing you have that I could possibly want and even if there was, there is no way I would ever help an evil demon like you."
"Oh really, even if it's your brother?" Masaru's chair fell forward along with his stomach when he heard that word, brother.
"What did you say?" the preteen voice changing from one of arrogance and control to that of a scared child.
"You heard me, your brother is right next to me right now" Komaru said, looking at the battered Leon.
"You're lying" Masaru slowly hissed into the radio, tears welling into his eyes at the thought of his big brother. There was no way that he was still alive, not after everything that has happened. Masaru was convinced up until this point that he had no more living family left.
"Hmmph, red hair, blue eyes, he's got a goatee and some piercings, are you sure I'm still lying?" the Ultimate Hope's sister continued, unfettered by the boy's accusation. Komaru knew how to deal with boys, she had a brother after all.
"I want to talk to him!" Masaru commanded, standing up from his chair with the radio in one hand.
"Uh-uh, only if you let me and my friend go. After that, I will consider letting you speak to him" Komaru replied cool as ice.
"No, I want to speak to him, NOW!" Masaru roared furious by the power this wimpy demon had over him. How dare she taunted him with HIS brother.
"You have ten seconds to make up your mind, otherwise I hang up and you'll never speak to him again" Komaru sternly stated while Leon looked on in horror at her. The teen knew that she had to be more intimidating than this narcissistic kid in order to get what she wanted.
"WHAT!" Masaru cried, fear completely engulfing him. The last time he had felt this scared was when his father was still alive.
"10 seconds" Komaru coldly stated. Masaru snapped out of his panic and angrily replied "you're totally lying."
"7 seconds" she coldly counted.
"Do you really think you're going to scare me?" Masaru nervously rebutted.
"5 seconds" she continued, Komaru was determined to get out alive, any means necessary.
"Stop it!" demanded over the radio.
"3 seconds" Komaru counted on, getting more nervous as the number got lower and lower.
"Komaru, let me talk to him" Leon began to reach for the radio.
"You have to trust me Leon" Komaru pleaded with him, her eyes filled with absolute terror. Leon stepped back.
"Okay, okay! Scouts bring these demons to me" Masaru gasped for air. Angrily, Masaru stared at the walkie talkie. He would make sure this demon paid for what she did to him!
"Thank you" Komaru replied, taking a sigh of relief.
"But let me warn you, if you are lying, you can forget about the game. I will make sure to personally kill you myself" the child killer threatened. Unaware of the boy's surroundings, a blue haired child lingered nearby, overhearing everything that had just transpired.
Three Years Ago
"Why do you have to live there Leon?" Masaru whined to his brother one evening in the park. Leon was practicing pitching balls for his baseball game throw while Masaru caught them with his mitt. Thankfully for Leon, Masaru liked sports and exercise, so he didn't have to drag him to come to the park with him. It was also an excuse to get away from their dad.
"Aw, are you going to miss me?" Leon teased as he threw a curve ball at his brother.
"Ugh, you wish dweeb" Masaru scoffed as he caught the ball, the force of the ball causing him to fall backwards. "Oof."
"Hahaha" the 15 year old laughed at Masaru, who shot him a look of pure contempt.
"Oh you just laugh now because one day I will be big enough to kick your big, stupid butt!" Masaru shouted with his arms crossed.
"Bro, don't be like that. Look, I'm sorry I laughed" Leon walked over to his brother and offered his hand to him. Masaru looked over to his side, pretending to ignore Leon. "Come on, you look much better when you smile" Leon smiled. Masaru tried to maintain his scowl for as long as he could, but it was hard for him to stay mad at his brother. A small smile cracked across Masaru's face as he took Leon's hand and he pulled him into a hug. In Leon's arms, Masaru finally relaxed. It was only in his brother's embrace that he felt truly safe. Unfortunately, this would be the last memory that Masaru had of his brother.
Current Day
Inside of the "Killesseum", Masaru waited for his brother and that demon girl. The "Lil Ultimate P.E." didn't bother to tell any of his friends about the news because he didn't know how they would react. Leon wasn't a kid anymore, he was 18, an "almost demon" in their eyes. Even though Masaru knew that all adults were evil demons who deserved to die a horrible death, he couldn't help the weird feelings that were inside of him. Why did he have no problem killing hundreds of people including his own father, yet when it came to his brother he couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting him.
"Ugh, where are they" Masaru moaned, impatient over having to wait. They better hurry up, the others could show up any minute and if they find out about what I'm doing. I'm done for-. Masaru's thoughts were interrupted as the wooden doors opened and two demon girls walked through the doors. "Well, where is he!?" Masaru barked from up on his balcony.
"Leon, come in" the short haired demon called toward the doors. Masaru looked in the direction that the girls had come from and his jaw dropped. Limping behind the teenage girls was a badly bruised and beaten redhead, a few of his teeth were missing and his clothes were torn. While large welts and scars covered his face, a pair of light blue eyes starred up into his and he knew this was his brother. Dropping to his knees, the brave, fearless leader of the "Warriors of Hope" who had slain many a number of demons wept. Filthy demons are the enemy of children and justice Masaru's brain told him, but his heart didn't listen.
"Masaru, why are you crying? Aren't you happy to see me?" Leon teased his brother. Wow, he's grown so much since I last saw him.
"Wh-wh-why did you leave me?" Masaru tearfully asked.
"Komaru, I told you this was going to not end well" Toko reminded her friend, being ever the pessimist.
"It will work, he's just emotional right now" Komaru reassured her friend.
"Right, keep saying that and you might believe it" the purple haired teen responded, rolling her eyes.
"Why did you abandon me with him?" Masaru sobbed, his hands covering his face.
"After I went away to school, I called CPS on Dad. When they went to take you away, you guys were gone. Dad changed your last name and moved you to a different area so CPS couldn't take you away and arrest him. I didn't know where you were and I didn't have the money to find you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect Masaru" Leon sadly stared at his younger brother, for once it was he that was looking up to him.
"Of course only a demon could come up with such a detailed story" came a calculated voice from behind Masaru. Oh no. The athlete prodigy slowly turned his head and saw Nagisa behind him. "Masaru, have you forgotten that this is a demon you're talking to?" the boy genius inquired as he put his arm across his shoulder.
"He's my brother," Masaru said in an almost inaudible voice.
"Yeah, but he's a demon, just like the rest of them. What, do you think he loves you or something? Masaru, even for you you're too smart to believe that crap?"
"HEY!" a voice bellowed from the bottom of the killesum, stopping Nagisa in his tracks. "You can call me all sorts of things. You can say I'm dirty, evil, a demon, but don't ever say that I don't love my brother or judge him for how he feels! You don't have the right to judge him because you don't even know him. You don't know how I used to take beatings for him or how we would sleep in the park because we didn't want to go home to our abusive father. Do you know that he used to smile when he got hit because he didn't want our father to hate him? Imagine that, someone hurting and humiliating him and yet he never thought of himself."
Toko, Komaru and Nagisa stood in amazement at the strength in such a broken man's voice. The only thing Masaru could do was cry because of how pathetic he looked in front of Leon.
"Hmph okay, why don't we let Masaru decide who he chooses?" The young athlete raised his head toward Nagisa and stared at the cold expression on his face. "If you choose the side of kids, then kill him." Masaru's mouth went dry as he seriously thought about it, he didn't want to lose his friends and everything that he had worked for… and yet.
"I can't," the boy said, unable to look Nagisa in the face. An audible sigh left Nagisa's mouth and the grip on his shoulder got firmer.
"That's too bad. I guess that makes me the leader now? Let's just see if he can protect you now" and before Masaru could respond, Nagisa pushed Masaru over the edge.
"Masaru" Komaru screamed as she watched the boy hurdle towards the ground, "Toko, do something?"
"What do you want me to do, I can't run that fast." While the two teens argued with one another the crippled former baseball all star ran to catch his brother. The worst pain that the teen had ever felt in his life, second only to the actual pelting of baseballs, struck every inch of his body. However, Leon knew that he would be in so much more pain if he didn't catch Masaru. From five feet away, Masary's head was only inches away from hitting the ground, Leon had to do something. In a split second, he slid toward his brother the same way he used to slide into home plate. Old cuts opened up as Leon's stomach rubbed against the ground and he definitely felt his back crack as his little brother landed on top of him.
"Leon, are you okay?" Komaru concernedly yelled as she and Toko raced toward the duo.
"Yeah I'm fine, I just won't be able to play baseball for a while" the carefree teen chuckled at his own joke as he hugged the only family he had left."
"You caught me?" Masaru said, amazed by what his brother was capable of even in the state that he was in.
"Of course I did. As long as I'm around, I will always be there to catch you when you fall. Now, can you help me up, please?" The older boy reached his arm up to Masaru and Masaru grabbed it. While the chaos around them continued with Nagisa, Toko and Komaru yelling at each other, the Masaru couldn't care less. They didn't care about the past, the present or even the future because as long as he had his brother, he was okay.