This fic is a sequel to Layers and a rewrite of Distrust that's up on Ao3. There's a lot I wanted to add, so there'll be some major changes to the plot.

-?-

"Summer Vacation's nearly over, and you've been awol the whole time. I was starting to think something happened." Makoto spoke over the shots of gunfire. He dug into the bowl of popcorn and tossed a piece into his mouth.

He sat upright on the soft couch. The furniture was bigger, more comfortable and probably more expensive than anything Makoto owned in his dorm. Pinker too. The color suited the owner, but at the same time, black was more appropriate.

He maneuvers over the pair of model-like legs resting on his lap, reaching for the group of stuffed animals surrounding the bowl. They were mostly white and pink, matching the décor.

However, it's the bear's unusual design that steals the brunet's attention; a monochrome design split down the middle, with a jagged red eye on the dark half. He grabs the plushie and sets it near his chest. "I'm not sure if I get this despair stuff, but glad to have you back. Junko."

Contrasting Makoto's position, Junko Enoshima lies on the sofa, legs sprawled out over his. Her head sinks into the texture of the arm rest while strawberry-gold locks cascade off the edge. "Shhh. We're almost at the good part!" The fashionista grins, eyes glued to the excess violence depicted behind the flat screen. "If you really want my attention. Tell me how you really feel next time."

It's amazing how neglectful Junko can be to a guest when she's the one who invited him to a movie night. "That's awful. We're friends, aren't we?" He chuckles.

"Jog my memory on when I signed up for that subscription again?"

Unperturbed by rejection, Makoto gently pets the Monokuma doll's head. "I think of everyone as a friend. I'm aware my affections can be one-sided though."

Junko turns her head, analyzing him in a very literal sense. "Even after I gave you the whole despair spiel, this is all you have to say?"

"More or less. I don't really get the concept." He shrugged, half-attending to the movie.

"Haaa. You're killing me here, Big Mac." Junko faux sighs, her hand reaches behind the couch. "If I can't explain it in words…" A twisted, feral grin is his only warning "Maybe you need a demonstration!" A dagger finds its way into her hands, brought to the boy's face.

The blade tip halts inches from Makoto's eye.

"I don't need it. I already talked to the seniors. They were really obsessed with you." His hand latched onto Junko's wrist. That Ultimate Lucky Student was a title awarded to one of the masses who happened to win a lottery. However, the fact that class 78's luckster smiled at the unprovoked attempt on his life proved he was a rare breed of person.

"Past-tense. Like I said, you've been gone for a long time." The blade trembles. Junko tries to force it through. Makoto's vice-like grip tightens, sealing any further movement. "You weren't playing with them, so...I hope you don't mind if I took them off your hands."

The despair deva smirks. With a flick of her hand, she whips the weapon off to the side. The knife falls onto the floor and Makoto unhands her. "You think it's that easy for them to let go of despair once they've tasted it?" She teases and rubs her reddened wrist.

He cocks his head, slowly. "Why not? Nobody's going to deny happiness when it's thrust in their face. They'll latch onto it, even when it blinds them to the important things. That's why a lot of us don't think twice about stealing others' happiness, if it nets us a happy ending." The logic sounded common enough to the luckster, and yet… "I don't like it myself. I think there should be a way for everyone to achieve their own happiness."

"That's impossible. Thankfully." A world of sunshine and rainbows sounded like a nightmare.

"Maybe." Makoto propositions. One he's certain will end in failure. He could already see Junko scrunched face in disgust when he outstretched his hand. Still that didn't mean he couldn't try. "What do you say about me talking you out of this despair business, and we can work together making the impossible, possible?"

Junko blinked slowly. Then returned her gaze to the film, wordlessly rejecting his proposal.

Makoto scratches his chin awkwardly, then does the same. As he gets sucked into the movie, Junko observes him from the corner of her eye. Judging by appearances, there was nothing outstanding about Makoto. Well, he was cute at least, if a bit plain but Junko hardly cared. No man alive could match up to her aesthetics. What's on the inside mattered so much more.

This hope-spewing drone, who'd even converted her despairs, should be her complete opposite...and yet...

The movie continues. She'd chosen a horror flick that was trending lately, then (not so legally) modified it to her specifications. Compared to the original, her rendition was so much more vibrant and engaging that even the creators would have shed tears of awe and envy.

In the middle of killing one another - For her alterations were designed to brainwash the viewers to experiencing despair the same destructive way Junko did.

And yet...

Makoto watches it all, un-phased.

"And what'll you get out of this perfectly happy world of yours?" Junko asked.

He smiled, enraptured by the despair video. "My happy ending."

We are the same.

Howdy, everyone. This is your lovable headmaster, Monokuma speaking - narrating, whatever floats your boat!

Now as the saying goes, 'every good murder story has an origin that goes waaaay back'. Huh? Who said it? I just did, ya dingbat. Pay attention.

Ahem, like I was saying. It could've started cuz of some chump's huge screw up, like pressing that big red button they should have left alone. Or maybe...it could have been one teeny mistake that led to snowballed into disaster. After all, there are moments when a single snail can make the world go extinct - Huh, did something like that happen already? I don't remember. Old Mono's getting in on in the years.

...

Anywaaay, in this case, our little problem child was - here's a shocker - Hope's Peak Academy! See, a storm was brewing inside those academy walls.

Or maybe a bomb's the better analogy. Yeah, yeah. Cuz' you can't stop a natural disaster, right? Okay, let's go with that - A time-bomb placed in plain sight, counting down to the end.

So…what to do if you spotted one? I say you've got a few options, depending on your personality.

I group people in two categories: The ones with sight, and the blind.

Not literally blind, but like how seeing is different from acknowledging. Take for example, the old men trying to obscure the bomb under all those pesky rumors. Or the others who preferred to ignore the bomb outright and continue their daily lives. Slight, differences aside, these guys were blind as bats, willingly. Not to say ignorance was a crime. You wouldn't get jailed after all! And sometimes, truths really are better left in the dark. Like, say you're on a crash course for a disaster with no hope for escape. Wouldn't everyone prefer peace of mind over worrying about what you couldn't stop anyway?

What I'm saying...is that I won't judge. I do admit to thinking differently though, because ignorance was scary! Following the earlier example; even if survival was 0%, you could still do a whole lot with that info outside of surviving. As for what? That also depends on who you're asking.

Oh, you want to know what I'd do? Ain't it obvious? If you've got a bomb ticking down, you've only got three options:

Run.

Diffuse it.

Or…

Time's up. I'll take a rain check on that question. Now to introduce one of the major contestants of this game, in a manner of speaking.

That forgetful girl running for dear life.

*pants* *pants*

"Finally got away…" An exhausted, auburn-haired girl leaned back against the wall, scanning the halls. No sign of her pursuer. Only odd stares the students passing by.

Bunch of snobs!

Today started off just fine before He showed up! That might not have meant much from someone with chronic amnesia, but common sense said that giant scary men shouldn't be chasing her! "Too scary, too persistent! what's that freakshow want from me?"

No no no no, it wouldn't matter even then. Even if he had business with her, Ryoko didn't want anything to do with him. She had enough problems with this "Junko Enoshima" broad who was totally on her case.

Ryoko didn't know when, but Junko had sent her a letter, claiming to hold Ryoko's memories hostage.

Beyond that, the amnesiac didn't know a thing about Junko…besides the fact that the illusive woman was off her rocker...but the part about her memories couldn't be ignored. She needed to talk to Yasuke (whoever he was. She'd remember after meeting him!) and figure out a plan of action

But that was increasingly difficult to do thanks to her chaser. Whatever his deal was, it had nothing to do with Ryoko Otonashi. That was her name, and the one of the two things she remembered. The other being Yasuke! Who needed finding, ASAP.

With narrow-minded objectives, Ryoko bolted down the hallway, lead by the notebook containing her thoughts.

"Matsuda-kuuuun!" Ryoko stormed into what was assuredly the correct room, her attention drawn to its sole occupant prior to her arrival. He'd jumped a bit into the air, doe eyes widened in surprise. He panicked as the laptop in his possession nearly fell out of his grip.

Not very coordinated…and the picture of average. Not a distinct feature on him.

Hmm, she wasn't getting a fuzzy feeling. He was short, taking his appearance into account. The image of Yasuke in her head wasn't so…mousey. "Hey, are you really Matsuda-kun?" She asked.

"Mhm" He replied

"Speak up. Which 'mhm' is that?"

"Erm…I'm not him?" He said in this half high pitched half husky voice. "Matsuda-senpai is out right now…I think."

He's not here!? Where else could she look!? "He has to be here! You're not looking hard enough." She whined gripping the boy by his shoulders.

"Uh, I don't think searching around here will change anything. It's not like there's anywhere to hide…except the closet." He pointed to the closed cabinet. "…Matsuda-senpai doesn't strike me as the type to play hide and seek." He sounded familiar with the place…and he was technically right. "You don't have to get so down about it. I'm sure he'll show up in no time."

He was awfully considerate, with that worried expression of his. "Suspiciously so." She unintentionally blurted out, letting go of him.

"Suspicious?" He blinked

Might as well roll with it. "Yeah, it's weird. You're weird. Why care so much about someone you don't know…unless." He was interested in her for other reasons reason. "S-Stay back, pervert!" Ryoko distanced herself from the impure fiend.

"H-huh? You've got that wrong. I was just worried." The boy raised his hands defensively, the chain of events occurring too fast.

Ryoko squinted her eyes. "No ulterior motives?"

He shook his head. "But um…could I ask you something?"

"Spit it out." Ryoko said harshly. She wasn't in a hurry since there was nowhere else to look and this was the only place, she knew Yasuke would come to. Pressuring this guy was oddly fun. That's the feeling she got from him.

"Did you, perhaps, forget me?"

...

"Am I supposed to know you?"

"I…think so." What an indecisive person. "There's a rumor about a student who…has amnesia."

"That's me! I'm Ryoko Otonashi."

"Oh, then, I'm Makoto Naegi. Did that jog your memory a little?" The boy said.

Ryoko skimmed through her notebook in search of his name…and she found it, in bold letters and underneath was a warning:

Danger. Omnivore man.

That meant…he was dangerous after all.

She closed the notebook, glaring with immense suspicion. "Okay, Naegi, if that is your real name!"

"It is." He said with surety.

"Don't interrupt me!" Ryoko yelled at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I…came to return this to Matsuda-senpai. He dropped it in the halls." Makoto showed her a black e-handbook.

"What is it?"

"You…don't have one? It's the school handbook, our identification's on here." He was right. The screen showed Yasuke's name and talent in full.

That was weirdly nice of him… "Show me your handbook."

"Eh?" He was reluctant. Suspiciooooous.

"O-Okay, n-no need to glare at me." He handed her one from his pocket.

Makoto Naegi, Ultimate Lucky Student – is what the book had written down.

"…You're a luck magnet? What the heck?" Was that a talent?

"T-That's the usual reaction. I…won a lottery ticket to get in the main course." His speech pattern was way too timid. He's a total herbivore!

She read more of the contents in the handbook. Nothing stuck out above the mundane. It was kind of a letdown.

"Your talent's kind of a rip-off, but you sound like a nice guy, Naegi." Yup her notebook's way off. Maybe Junko tampered with it at some point. It's not very reliable now.

"Hey." She heard Makoto's squeamish voice but didn't pay it any mind. She had a more pressing dilemma.

"Hey…."

Not now. She was thinking. If she couldn't trust this notebook then she was in big trouble.

"Hey!"

"What!?" Ryoko snapped…and froze when she was exactly why Makoto had been pestering her. He was presently in a very uncomfortable situation. Someone else had entered the room during her ruminating. Long black hair, corpse-white skin, a snake-like disposition and unbelievably tall.

"Eeek!"

"Do you know this guy?" Makoto shivered in place, rendered immobile by the giant's (who stood behind him and leered over ominously) hands planted on his shoulders.

"Nope. Not even his name." Ryoko said.

"Bastard…you've forgotten me already." Their assailant snarled in this oddly dignified way.

"I forgot." She admitted, sifting through her notebook "Who are you again?"

"…Isshiki Madarai." He snarled…and wow, he pulled off that fodder goon aesthetic well. The name struck a chord with the small high-school student who lifted his head to get a better look at his attacker.

"Madarai-san? Aren't you part of the student council?"

What? This guy's a student!?

The man chuckled in self-derision. "The student council…I wonder myself. After all, I am still alive."

Ryoko blinked. "What's with that phrasing?"

"You should know better than anyone else." He threw her a murderous gaze.

20 unproductive seconds later

"…Was that s'posed to be a cool line? It doesn't really work when there's actually a gap in communication. It's pretty awkward until you explain."

"Are you mocking me?"

"T-The student council…there's a rumor that something happened to them over Summer break. T-The culprit hasn't been found, if the rumor's true. The school says they're all on vacation overseas." Makoto's face paled in fear of the older man's applying any more pressure in his vice-like grip.

Well it can't be a rumor if Snakey's trying to kill me! "That's why? I haven't killed anyone! And if you're in the student council, shouldn't you have seen the culprit?"

"I…was not present. My comrades were lured and slaughtered. Perhaps those criminals did not consider me a genuine member…and merely the bodyguard." He scoffed. "I, the Ultimate bodyguard…lost my chance to exercise my talent when it mattered most. Can you even understand the humiliation I feel? You'd better be able to relate!"

Makoto yelped at the intense pain from Isshiki's fingers digging into his flesh.

"Hm. Yeah, that kind of sucks. But at least you're alive?" She said, half-heartedly.

"Yes…and I will use this immortal life of mine to repay this humiliation 100-fold. But first, I must find them."

Ryoko singled out a word that stuck out. "Immortal?"

Isshiki's eyes narrowed. "Have you forgotten what you did to me earlier?"

That went without saying at this point. Not quick on the uptake, this guy.

"You dumped a shelve on me in the shed out back. Then escaped." He said.

Ryoko's eyebrows raised. "H-How are you fine after that?"

"As I said, I'm immortal."

"Can I interrupt?" The hostage said boldly. "What's this about revenge?"

"What else would act as my motive?" Isshiki explained in a voice that made it seem like he was speaking to a dullard. Ryoko shared the sentiment, it was a stupid question, even if it had nothing to do with her.

"…The student council is gone. There's nothing productive about revenge. Instead, you should be trying to rebuild the council." Makoto said.

Isshiki sighed. "Why are you guys making me repeat myself? I'm a bodyguard, that was the only reason I was chosen to be among the council, and that reason has been smeared by the perpetrator of their deaths." His grip tightened. "And even if I wasn't their protector, the council were my comrades and classmates. Why wouldn't I avenge their suffering?"

"Revenge won't correct your failure. You're just lashing out at whatever you can." Makoto stared down the man who'd scared him to death moments earlier. "And…you could also just call the police. Seriously, does nobody ever think of that option?"

"Only personal revenge will preserve their dignity; that is the greatest gift the living can offer the dead."

They're fighting. This is my chance to run - Ryoko plotted, already twisting her body to run for the exit.

"Oy, you better not be thinking of escaping again, girl!" Isshiki caught her.

Ryoko groaned. "Leave me out of this, I'm just an innocent bystander! The student council, killings, all that junk has nooooothing to do with me!"

"…So it's come to this." Isshiki said strangely, then looked down at Makoto. "Boy, I don't think I've heard your name." He said in a friendly tone.

That was a red flag if Ryoko ever saw one.

"Um…I'm Makoto Naegi. A first-year." Aaaand Makoto tripped it.

"Well then, Naegi-kun. For what is about to happen, I am sorry." Isshiki's snake like arms motioned upwards, shifting from the lucky student's shoulders to clamping on his head from both sides.

"E-Eh?" Makoto squeaked, his face turning blue.

It was kind of funny, in Ryoko's opinion. He had so many expressions!

"Let us just say you have quite bad luck." Isshiki's threat was obvious. Even a mule would realize that Makoto's head would pop like a balloon if Isshiki didn't get what he was after. "Will you talk?" He posed the question to Ryoko.

"It has nothing to do with me." Ryoko repeated.

"I will absolutely get my revenge, and I will do anything for it. Will you allow me to test my resolve on poor Naegi-kun here?" His voice oozed malice.

"It has nothing to do with me."

"I-I think he's serious." Makoto was utterly terrified….and to be honest, so was she. All the more reason to bail and distance herself from any further involvement

"You…are you really going to leave him? When he's in this mess because of you? How heartless can you be?" Her decision to flee had only hardened Isshiki's negative opinion of her.

"It's Naegi's fault for being so unlucky. It has nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me-…" She recited her mantra as if already mentally distancing herself from the chaos before her body had caught up.

Isshiki and Makoto stared at her with bizarre expressions. The former settling into cold indifference first. "I see. Then witness the extent of my resolve." He clasped at Makoto's head.

A moment. In what could be called the blink of an eye, Ryoko saw the fear slip off Makoto's face. His elbow jutted out and-

"That's enough!" A figure ran into the room, dashing towards Isshiki. Before the bodyguard could respond, the intruder's fist was already planted into his face. Isshiki staggered back, covering his reddened nose with his hands.

Another blow came in the form of a roundhouse kick to the dome, and before you knew it, the pain in her butt was knocked flat out.

Naturally, this meant Makoto was free.

Meh

"Mukuro..." Makoto remarked.

Mukuro? Who was this? "Oh it's a girl." Ryoko noticed by the skirt. Mukuro's short hair, super flat chest and muscular arms made it hard to tell otherwise.

Makoto thanked the girl with fervor one would expect to give their savior. Mukuro on the other hand returned the gesture with an embarrassed smile.

"I'm Mukuro Ikusaba. The Ultimate Soldier." The freckled girl, who Ryoko had never met before, said.

"Ryoko Otonashi." She replied. But soldier huh…you'd think Mukuro would be a lot less…friendly. Stiffer. Well, not that she'd ever a person in the military to be sure. It's just a feeling she had.

"What were you doing here?" Makoto asked.

"I was passing by and heard all the noise." Mukuro gave a straight and direct answer.

How convenient. Was it his luck?

…

The three engaged in an awkward and disconcerted conversation about what just happened, before another visitor appeared out of nowhere. This time almost literally. A small baby-faced boy, who looked like he belonged in elementary school was suddenly right next to her as if he'd teleported. Turns out his name was Yuuto Kamishiro, a student with no distinctive traits whatsoever; an attribute he weaponized into a talent.

He was The Ultimate Spy.

Apparently, he knew Ryoko from before, but she forgot about him too. He didn't take it too harshly and was aware of her condition beforehand. With some protests from Makoto, Ryoko absconded with Yuuto with the promise of reclaiming her normal life and leaving behind the mess with Isshiki, which meant Makoto and Mukuro would be left with clean-up duty.

All as well. It seemed Yasuke wasn't coming here anyway. If this guy was a spy, he might be able to lead her to him.

She stared back at Makoto just before leaving. There was something about that guy that seemed…off. Ryoko was predisposed to dissecting and analyzing her environment. Usually, she reminded herself that most of her surroundings were irrelevant and she should stop attending to them. Could it be that she was inquisitive by nature?

If so, it would explain why she was curious about this boy she'd never met before and most importantly, was not Yasuke. Makoto was eerie. Her preconception was of an unreliable, meek boy, however, the look in his eyes had blown them away.

Maybe he was kind of suspicious, after all.

-Makoto Naegi-

Makoto and Mukuro were left to themselves. The latter girl who'd improved in the art of emotional expression staring anxiously in the direction of their new acquaintances.

"You should go after her. I'll take care of things here." Makoto said, surprising Ikusaba.

"Why? She looked fine to me." Mukuro replied.

"Ryoko-san has amnesia apparently and I'm not too comfortable leaving her with Yuuto. Um…I guess I'm a little worried." And she was too.

"What will you do about him?" Mukuro's gaze fell on Isshiki's unconscious form.

"I'll call security and explain. No need to worry about me." His words that couldn't be any more inappropriate. A potential victim asking to be left alone with their assailant.

Mukuro looked like she was having an internal conflict between two equal and opposing decisions. "A-Alright, if you're sure." She settled on heeding his advice.

"I am." He waved and showed Ikusaba a charming smile "Hurry before you lose them."

Mukuro (reluctantly) took off, leaving only two in the room.

Makoto's warm smile thinned, as he placed one hand on his hip.

"Why do I have to be the one to say it if she's that concerned in the first place?" Makoto chucked affectionately. If Mukuro wanted to protect her sister, she should go for it. He won't stop her.

He phoned security, telling them about Isshiki crazed actions. Of course, leaving out details involving Junko- uh Ryoko now, I guess. One would think calling Junko by a different name would take some getting used to, but he was aright with it after a second. It wasn't like he knew the fashionista all that well to begin with.

"What's she up to anyway? First, she ditches class, disappears for most of summer vacation and now she's lost her memory? I don't get her at all." Makoto mused to himself.

Yet someone answered anyway "Enoshima's motivations – illogical they are – all begin and end with despair."

The monotonous voice sent a shiver down Makoto's back as he turned around in shock. His surprise quickly dying down upon taking in that absurdly long hair. A tall male standing behind him with a face that looked like it had never worn a smile in his life. "…H-how'd you get in here?"

"What is the meaning of this?" Izuru Kamukura, The Ultimate Hope, said in a no-nonsense tone. Makoto could tell he wasn't referring to Isshiki Madarai. He hadn't spared a glance at the fallen bodyguard's way.

"That's his normal reaction, and I usually take the backseat in conversation so…force of habit?"

"I presumed you had more self-control." Izuru said. "How inconvenient."

"Not really, when you're one of the only two people in the world who knows about me. He's better at conversation anyway." Makoto said fondly, as if praising the younger sibling who surpassed him. A gesture bordering on narcissism if taken in a certain context. Makoto had no brothers/ He was referring to the other personality he'd cultivated at a young age. One that had taken on an adorable life of its own.

"You know, when you told me Junko had messed with her own memory, I thought you were pulling my leg. Isn't she planning something with the 77th class? Giving herself amnesia sounds like a huge self-imposed roadblock." The baffled Luckster held the laptop to his chest.

Izuru stared intensely at the pc. "What is that?"

"Nothing much. I'm holding onto it for a friend. Now what about Junko?"

"…Enoshima's actions often lack sense. If life was a chess-game, she takes needless and disadvantageous risks to keep the game going. For this reason, anticipating her next move with logic is next to impossible. It is both her strength and weakness."

"No idea how sabotaging yourself could prove to be a strength, but I won't complain." Makoto shook his head.

"...you are letting her run free?"

"You mean Ryoko? Mukuro went after her, she's probably safe."

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Makoto stared at his senior with bewildered eyes. What'd Izuru think he was? "I'm not a kidnapper, and Ryoko hasn't even done anything wrong, technically speaking."

"I see. So you do not even perceive her as Enoshima."

"We talked a bit and she seemed like her own person. A bit goofy but a good person, I say let her have fun." He nodded, dismissing Ryoko's predicament like it were no problem of his own.

"A good-natured person that would leave you to your death." Izuru disagreed.

No seriously, when did he get here? Makoto thought but chose not to voice. "You saw that huh? Everyone makes mistakes. Self-preservation is hardly a crime." And with Junko out of the way, he had an easier time bringing the remainder of class 77 to his side.

In turn Izuru chose not to voice Makoto's hypocrisy.

"That said, if Junko was going to erase her memory in a spur of the moment, I really wish she'd have done it before killing off the student council." And sending the whole school into a frenzy after uploading a video. Some doubted it was real at first, but well, the council kind of up and vanished when the semester began. Hard to disprove, in his humble opinion. But the school was damn sure trying their hardest to cover it up...even with all those protests from the reserve course.

What'd they call it again...oh right, the "parades".

He turned to Izuru with a weak glare. "And you shouldn't have helped her."

"The student council murdered one another. I killed but a single man, who initiated the confrontation." Izuru Kamukura made no excuses for himself.

"Self-defense huh. Even so, you could at least have disabled him without killing him." Makoto pouted. "I'm mad."

Izuru arched an eyebrow.

"I...can try to be mad." Makoto gave him a toothy smile. "Oh well, it's all in the past now and you seem to have gotten a cool souvenir from it." He pointed to the very noticeable scratch on Izuru's cheek. A baiting remark that received no reply. "That was a joke. Please don't hurt me."

"Assuming Enoshima hadn't interrupted by trying to flee…how would you have answered Madarai's resolve?" Izuru replied.

"Oh, you mean that stuff about the student council's dignity?" Makoto reflected on the humiliated man's hardened determination to protect the memory of the council and seek retribution against their murderers. Many could call Isshiki's fervor to see his friends avenged, an admirable goal…but honestly... "I don't care."

The dead are dead. No need to tie down the living with their problems.

Satisfied...or unsatisfied (he couldn't tell), Izuru turned around and walked out of the room.

"Wait up!" Makoto tailed him, finding it difficult to keep up with the older boy.

-Isshiki Madarai-

Isshiki Madarai recovered 46 seconds into Makoto and Izuru's conversation but feigned unconsciousness. He'd heard every relevant word before their departure, his assumptions and excessive methods vindicated.

"I must tell…my brothers." He struggled to stand after the defeat Mukuro Ikusaba handed to him. The information he now possessed was too vital. Ryoko Otonashi and Junko Enoshima were one in the same. Thus, that woman who fought them earlier was a fake. Actually, it was likely Mukuro herself. The fighting style gave it away, and furthermore, they were sisters.

Izuru Kamukura had killed at least one of their members.

Makoto Naegi was somehow involved. The hit list grew, and he would make sure they would be narrowed to none/ Once he and his brothers recovered, they would avenge the student council, that was their only reason for living. A task not given but set of their own will as the only way to atone.

Or so he thought.

Isshiki Madarai limped out of the room, completely unaware that he acted not his will but the machinations of another. An unwitting pawn in a sense, outwitted into believing nobody in the room had seen through his feint.

-Izuru Kamukura-

The steps of the Ultimate Hope echoed throughout the empty hallway after separating from Makoto Naegi. He had noticed from the very beginning and intentionally directed the discussion with the lucky student, revealing intricate details about the tragedy that befell the council.

Why?

Because it would be interesting. Why else? Izuru, already having mapped out multiple uses for the bodyguard…among other potential pieces. "Time to pay my teacher a visit." Yasuke Matsuda – The Ultimate Neurologist and the man responsible for rewiring Izuru's brain – was his target. His little experiment was well underway.

…

Hm…there was also that one member of the council that should have survived – Soshun Murasame. He could be useful as well, supposing he still lived. Even Izuru couldn't tell what fate would befall the sole survivor of the killing game. Despair was simply that unpredictable.

2 minutes after Isshiki departed, the seemingly empty room spits out one more occupant. Out from the closet, stumbles a girl with messy, dark tresses and bandages wrapped around her arms and legs. In her clumsiness, she fumbles with the device in hand and presses down on one of the side panels.

"Assuming Enoshima hadn't interrupted by trying to flee…how would you have answered to Madarai's resolve?"

"Oh, you mean that stuff about the student council's dignity? I don't care."

Both Izuru and Makoto's voice sound out from the recorder.

"I-I did it! And without getting caught. I knew they w-wouldn't pay attention to a disgusting pig like me…" Mikan Tsumiki gleefully debased herself.

The nurse performed a short twirl. The revolution was mimicked in her eyes.

A spiral of black and white.