Chapter 29: Unity

5:33 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

First Floor (Dining Room)

The Ultimate Shogi Player brushed a damp lock of hair out of her face before letting her gaze flit across the dining table. "Look, I know some of us just want to shower the filth off and turn in after what we've been through. However, I'll be blunt; we need to discuss what's happened. Otherwise, I'm afraid it'll come back to bite us in the future."

"Tch. You wanna discuss something, do you? We've lost two more schmucks and still have a former mole among us. Things ain't looking so hot for us, sweetheart," Becky snarked as she crossed her tiny limbs.

Seikatsu did the same with a nod. "We were foolish for treating these events as if nothing would come back to bite us. I intend to prepare for the next catastrophe with all the Strength this body can muster."

The Ultimate Knight stared vacantly at the far wall. As she spoke, her voice was almost devoid of emotion. "We should have never tried to cheat the system. It's become clear that there is no way to get anything past our captor, not with how closely we're being watched."

"I-It wouldn't have mattered, anyways," Shiho murmured in a shaky voice. She had her knees pulled against her chest. "We're not just on some island in the ocean. We're a few miles above sea level. This entire park is being suspended like a massive ship. Even if we had escaped, we would have never made it off."

"We're what?! How the fuck is that even possible?" Lachlan asked incredulously. He shook his head and leaned back in his seat. "Dammit. That bastard Yoshi was just stringing us along the whole way."

Naruhiko ran a hand through his hair. "Shit, that sounds crazy… but hell, what hasn't been crazy here recently?"

"...So, the reason why you were trying to warn us to not go... You knew it was in vain, didn't you?" Haruto asked with a pained smile as he laced his hands. "You couldn't reveal why because you were being blackmailed, but you still tried to stop us."

The Runner bit the inside of her cheek. "It doesn't matter what I was trying to do. I failed… and their blood is on my hands now."

"I don't think it's time to play the blame game. We've all been through enough as it is today. Squabbling over that isn't going to help anyone," Tiana said. "Tomoko, you had a reason for gathering us, did you not?"

"Of course. This isn't just some social call. Whether we're two feet from safety or somehow suspended in the sky, we have to be nearing the end of this game. Only one district remains, so our best bet is to simply play the game from now on. It's unlikely all of us will make it to that point, but it's clear we have no better options," Tomoko stated before her attention shifted to Kaizoku. "If we are somehow aboard some sort of vessel, you might be the only one with the mechanical know-how to make heads or tails of it. Logically, there must be some sort of control room, somewhere in this park."

"Aye, though the engines would have to be massive to get the kind of thrust needed to lift a landmass. Given that I haven't felt any turbulence or shaking, it has got to be very powerful," the Sailor explained as he scratched his chin.

"This whole thing is starting to sound too crazy to be real. Do you think you can control something like that, Captain?" Annabelle looked over towards the man.

"That is the most important question, isn't it? I highly doubt you've had much experience dealing with these kinds of ships," Chloe mused. Her expression was serious.

Kaizoku sighed as he leaned forward in his seat. "Heh. I can't say I have. However, to make something like this, they most likely used some kind of preexisting design. I've learned to sail every kind of ship I could find, so I'm sure I'll figure it out."

Tomoko spoke up once more. "There's no reason to concern ourselves too much with it for now. I know I, for one, would like to know more about what makes Shirokuma and Kurokuma different than these other monstrosities. However, at this point, we merely need to focus on surviving day-to-day. I suggest we all take the evening from here on out to recover and regain our sanity. Tomorrow, we should begin our search in the new district together. There's no telling what they have in store for us next, so I suggest you all get a good night sleep. If you can, that is."

6:20 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Fourth Floor (Room 411)

Naruhiko offered a small grin as he listened to the twang of guitar strings that filled the bedroom. He shook his head when his gaze shifted to Kaizoku's hands. "Zoku, you gotta loosen up. You're back to square one again; you're too tense. You're gonna cause your hands to cramp up."

The Sailor chuckled dryly and stretched out his hand. "Sorry, lad, can't get Soo Yeong off my mind. I should have stayed with him, and could have saved him."

"Maybe you could have saved him, but you can't punish yourself for shit like that. Whether he had a good reason or not, Sigmund is to blame," Naruhiko said as he rested a hand on Kaizoku's shoulder. "We can take a break if you want. I just figured this would be a great distraction, is all."

"No, you're right, Naru. I need to stop carrying so much guilt all of the time. Besides, if I didn't leave, I don't even want to think about what might have happened to Tiana and Haruto." Kaizoku adjusted his finger placement on his bass. His shoulders relaxed as he began plucking at the chords.

The Punk Musician watched him intently for several seconds. "...I don't know if I said this earlier, but shit, I'm glad you're alright. You and Shiho. I'd have lost my shit if something bad had happened to you guys down there."

Kaizoku grinned as the two played for a few moments. "Yeah, man, it's like what I said in the trial. You and her were the first people I worried about leaving down there, especially since that scallywag Kurokuma painted a target on her back."

"Yeah, I don't give two shits about what anyone says. It's not like she had a good choice. She had to let someone she loves die or play ball. You know, she probably doesn't know that we still have her back," Naruhiko said with a frown. "Shit must be eating at her."

Kaizoku sighed and stopped playing once again. "Well, we can let her know next time we see her. Pretty sure she already turned in for the night. Might be good to give her some time."

"Yeah, I reckon you're right. We ca-" the Musician stopped mid-sentence as the room's bell suddenly chimed. "Huh, maybe her ears were burning," Naruhiko said with a low chuckle. He slowly rose to his feet and headed towards the door. He then unlocked it and offered a wide grin at Shiho. "Hah, just the girl we were talking about!"

The Runner gave a nervous expression as she rubbed her forearm self-consciously. She slowly tilted her head, revealing a look of uncertainty all over her face. "I-Is it alright if I come in? I would understand if either of you didn't want to speak to me."

"Shiho, I think both of us would like nothing more than to have you join us," Kaizoku said. "Got an empty couch with your name on it."

"Hell yeah! Promise we weren't dogging you, Shi. Heck, we wanted to talk to you, anyways, so take a seat. Zoku and I have something we'd like to say," Naruhiko said while playfully tousling her mop of hair.

"...A-Alright, if you're sure," Shiho responded timidly as she slowly walked further into the room. Using her sensors, she stopped beside the couch and felt it with her hands. Then she slowly took a seat, at which point she began to wring her hands together. "I'm so sorry for betraying your trust. I know there's nothing I can say that will make it better. I just didn't know what to do."

Kaizoku set the bass down to the side of the chair as he stood up. He walked over and gently grabbed ahold of the Runner's hands. "Lass, please, you don't have to justify anything to us. We aren't going to hold anything against you, so just take a breath."

The Runner bit her lower lip as she tried to strangle a sob in her throat. "H-How... How can you both be so understanding? Either of you could have been hurt or killed, and it would have been my fault!"

"Fuck that. Only one to blame is the asshole who had you by the balls!" Naruhiko exclaimed. "Look, we would have probably done the same in your situation. Hell, if my bandmates were threatened, I would have probably fed him information, too."

Kaizoku rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I've been worried lately because it seems like they don't have my sister as my hostage. Makes me worry about what could have happened for her not to be."

"Maybe they couldn't get her," Shiho suggested in a strained voice as she rubbed at her eyes. "They can't be everywhere, right?"

The Musician nodded and collapsed onto the couch next to the Runner. "Damn right. They might be crafty, but even these losers aren't perfect. Look, I'm gonna level with you two. There's an elephant in the room that needs addressing."

"I was wondering if we were going to keep dancing around it. I think we all know the real reason why we still have your back, right, Shiho?" Kaizoku dropped into the opposite seat and rested his arm along the back of the couch.

The blind girl pivoted her head back and forth as she felt heat rushing to her face. "W-What are you both suggesting?" she stammered out.

"Alright, I'll just get to the point. I think you're fucking adorable and that Kaizoku is hot as shit. I got it on good authority you're into us too, right? Well, I know Zoku feels the same. With the way shit has been going lately, I don't see any reason to dance around it, either, so let's just be honest with what we want, alright? If tomorrow never comes, I'd rather leave everything out in the open. You digging what I'm saying, Zoku?" Naruhiko asked with a grin.

Kaizoku pulled his bandana off before smirking. "Oh, I agree. I know I've been feeling the same way for a while now. Hell, I realized it after talking with Churi, the poor dear. She helped me figure out just how I felt about you two."

Shiho pressed her hands against either side of her face. "Th-This is so sudden. H-How would it even work?! I-I haven't even had my first kiss," she stuttered.

A mischievous grin played upon Naruhiko's face as he wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulder. "Hey, don't sweat it. We'll take it slow for ya, and if it doesn't work out, then no hard feelings. Since we're all into each other, though, I think we can make it work."

"I've never dated anyone. After all, my first kiss was when Seikatsu went crazy on me. We can just find a pace we're all comfortable with." Kaizoku laughed as he took hold of her hand again.

"Hah, I would be lying if I said I didn't have a bit more experience, but I'm willing to throttle back and take it slow." Naruhiko lowered his hand to take the girl's free hand. "So, what do you say? Shall we give it a go?"

The Ultimate Runner felt her face burn a bright crimson. She silently nodded her head in an empathic manner. "I-I'd like to try, so long as you both don't mind dating a ditzy blind girl."

"Mind it? Heh, it's part of your charm. Feel free to go for a jog without a shirt whenever you like. I doubt Zoku or I'll mind one bit!" Naruhiko howled in laughter as he flashed the other boy a wink.

The Sailor nodded and squeezed the girl's hand. "You've been a ball of sunshine in this game for quite a few of us, so of course I'd like to get more time with you."

"Great. Shall we christen this new relationship with a nice threesome on the bed?" Naruhiko bit back a laugh.

"Th-Th-Threesome?!" the Runner squeaked. Her mouth fumbled for a few seconds before she promptly went limp like a sack of potatoes.

The Punk Musician snorted. Then he leaned over and kissed the Sailor on the cheek. "Hah, this was a great idea. I'm gonna have a blast teasing her!"

Kaizoku was also flushed as he patted Shiho's head. "Jeez, lad. For a second there, I wasn't really sure if you were serious or not."

"Heh, I figured I'd bring it up and sort of go from there. Obviously, we've got learn to walk before running," the Musician laughed as he gently lowered Shiho's head onto the Sailor's lap. His expression sobered a bit when he stared down at the unconscious girl. "We have to look out for her, Zoku. If another motive comes along, she could be seen as a prime target. You can tell me I'm wrong, but I think we should start sharing a room. That way, nothing like what happened with Patrick and Otto can happen again."

"No, you're definitely right. Once that bear gets bored, he's going to throw another motive our way. That we can count on, so that might be for the best." Kaizoku looked down at the girl with a soft smile.

Naruhiko nodded as he gently touched her cheek with his hand. "We're stronger together than alone. When sleeping beauty wakes up, we can talk to her about that. It might help her get over her nerves if she's sharing space with two guys for a while."

7:04 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

First Floor (Kitchen)

The Ultimate Shogi Player sat at the island bar as she watched the Journalist slaving over the stove. She rested a hand against her chin with a look of impatience. "Christ, how much longer is it going to take? I'm going to die of starvation before you finish at this rate."

"It's a damn shame you can't eat your complaints. You'd never go hungry again," Lachlan said over his shoulder. He winked at her before turning his attention back to the food.

"God, you're lucky you've got such a pretty face or I would have already slapped the shit out of you," Tomoko snarked with a hint of a smirk on her face. "You know, if you survive this, you'll make a decent housewife."

The Journalist chuckled as he loaded the food onto a plate and walked over to the bar. He then set the curry down and took his seat opposite the Shogi Player. "You're certainly quite cute yourself, Tomo, but maybe I should try to find a husband who's less abusive."

Tomoko eyed the curry as she reached for her utensils. "Let me know how that goes, though I'd wager that not just anyone has what it takes to put up with your attitude. Not everyone is uniquely qualified for that."

"I suppose that's true. Just means I need a higher caliber person. Now, you wouldn't be nominating yourself for something like that, would ya?" Lachlan asked with a grin. He rested his chin in his hand as he waited for the girl to start eating.

"No, of course not. I'm not patient enough to deal with a male version of myself." A chuckle escaped her before she took a small bite of her food. She chewed the contents and let out an appreciative sound when she swallowed. "On the other hand, if you keep cooking like this, I might have to make an exception."

"I'm sure whoever has the honor of being with you, your highness, will have their work cut out for them. After that damn game, I had trouble even looking at the food to make it. Must have an iron stomach in you to still be hungry," Lachlan said while shaking his head.

Tomoko offered a shrug. "After smelling feces, urine, and God knows what else for so damn long, I'm pretty numb to the shock of it all. That, and I refrained from watching it after I got a sense of what was going to happen."

Lachlan leaned back in his seat with a sigh. "I've seen some shit doing my journalism, but this game takes the fuckin' cake. I'd hoped I would have gotten callous by now, but this place just keeps pushing it."

"Be that as it may, if I'm not mistaken, we were told only six districts are in this park. If we count the Amusement Park, Resort, Carnival, Waterworld, and Spookyland, which is opening tomorrow, we only have one district left beyond that. If that's the case, there must be some sort of logical end to this game. We just have to survive a bit longer," the Shogi Player said before taking another healthy bite of curry.

"Makes sense, but the questions are still going to be out there. We can only assume that any real answers will be in the last one." The Journalist scratched his chin. "Maybe we should just lay low and wait for Kurokuma to force our hand again. It's not a great option, but there's not much else we can do."

Tomoko's shoulders slumped slightly. "...Considering my track record as of late, who am I to argue? I loathe admitting this, but I've been outplayed at every turn. Cheating or finding a loophole just isn't feasible. It's difficult to win a game when you can't even look the other opponent in the face."

Lachlan closed his eyes and nodded lightly in thought. "Agreed. We would need to get some kinda leg up. I doubt Shiho actually has anything useful if she was only meeting with Kurokuma. There's gotta be something we missed."

"That's undoubtedly true. However, as I see it, we have but a few courses left. We either play this game and hope for the best, or find some way of exposing the individual behind it and hope that brings about an end as well..." the Shogi Player said as she stared down at her plate.

"Heh, that's not a bad idea, really. Maybe I should start making use out of my damn talent by looking into the asshole behind all of this," Lachlan mused.

Tomoko smiled as she lifted her gaze to stare at the boy. "Well, it would be the first time outside of cooking where you were useful."

"Guess I need to get to work, then, though I think I'll be taking it slow to start," the Journalist explained as he stood up and walked around the bar. He learned over and planted a quick kiss onto the girl's cheek. After that, he straightened up and began walking off. He glanced back at her with a smirk. "And don't worry, I won't leave you high and dry. God knows you can't be expected to take care of yourself."

"Fuck you!" She barked as she gave him the middle finger, though a hint of a blush still rested on her face. To be such a jackass, he wasn't so bad...

8:41 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Outside (Courtyard)

The night was unseasonably cool. The breeze brought shivers to Haruto's skin as he sat at the edge of the fountain with a faraway look in his eyes.

The sound of the Ultimate Knight emerging into the courtyard broke his reverie. She tilted her head in his direction before slowly walking towards him, then buried an unsettled expression beneath a forced smile when she came within earshot. "Seems that I'm not the only one incapable of sitting in place. Somehow, the idea of moving seemed marginally better than sitting in a room and staring at the wall for hours. Would you say that you felt the same?"

"Laris... Yes, you're right. Everything after the trial was too much for me," he said softly. He then sprang to his feet. "There's something I really need to say to you."

"I don't think any of us were prepared for that. To be honest, I think we're all trying to handle this in different ways. Some of us are hiding from it, and some are trying to use it as motivation to do better, while others have been left completely shaken," Laris said before offering a weary sigh. "Please, speak your mind. I'm not very good at subtlety. For better or worse, I appreciate your straightforward nature."

The boy nodded, before getting on both knees and bowing. "I'm so, so sorry for snapping at you! Back when we found Nagito's body, I mean. What I said to you was hurtful and uncalled for. I've felt guilty about it ever since." A few tears had broken free from his eyes.

The Ultimate Knight stared at Haruto with a mixture of shock and embarrassment. She quickly waved a hand through the air. "Such apologies are not necessary! Please, rise. I feel uncomfortable having anyone bow before me. Besides, you might have been fueled by anger, but what you said back then was true. A real knight would never jeopardize an innocent, let alone a child. To make matters worse, I now have the blood of a child on my hands. I do not deserve to be known as a knight, let alone an ultimate..."

Haruto quickly got up and moved closer to Laris. His face was panic-stricken. "Nononono! As Kaizoku had said, you didn't know he was a kid. Nobody did." He hesitantly held both of her hands. "You were tricked. If you were not a knight, you wouldn't feel regret as you are now. What I mean is... the fact that you care about that child's life shows how amazing of a knight, and a person, you are... And-"

"But even if I do care, it doesn't change the reality, does it? The little boy, regardless of what he may have done, is dead - or gone entirely - because of me. I-I have to be responsible for my actions."

"Well... I... Um..." His breathing became more labored. His eyes darted all over the place, as if there was something around that could help him. He didn't find anything, so he closed them and spoke slowly. "I have blood on my hands, too."

Laris stared at the boy with a look of surprise. "...It's obvious whatever it is, that it's deeply troubling. Haruto, you don't have to go into detail, if you're not comfortable. Despite my current demeanor, I'm fairly resilient. I'd prefer to not drag you through something that is clearly painful to you."

"I appreciate that, Laris, but I've made up my mind. I'm going to share it with everyone. You, Tia, Kaizoku, Anna. Everybody. I plan to gather everyone in one spot and tell them my story. I'll be in agony over it, but it needs to come out at this point." He let out a heavy sigh. "I've always thought that it's easier to help somebody if you can relate with them. It lets them know that they're not suffering alone. I feel that I can relate to all of you, so that's why I'm bringing this up."

"It's the difference between empathy and sympathy. Knowing that you connect to others through your own experiences, it runs much deeper than simple condolences," the Knight mused as she reached out and patted the boy's shoulder. "You have every merit a Knight should possess. I hope your message reaches everyone, now more than ever. We need that."

"I-I hope so, too." After a brief silence, Haruto suddenly wrapped Laris in a hug. "I'm sorry. I usually ask people if they want hugs before giving them, but this time, I just can't help myself."

Laris stiffened a moment before slowly returning the gesture. "Has anyone told you that you apologize far too much?" she asked before chuckling weakly. "Just save some of those for Lady Tiana. It is not my place to intrude, but I do encourage you to treasure her. Every moment we have with the ones we care about is fleeting. For once, perhaps think about what you want, rather than everyone else's needs."

He gave an equally weak laugh in response. "I've already begun to think about that." He then ended the hug and pulled something out of his pocket. They looked like two tickets.

The Knight stared at them for a moment and tried to wrack her brain for an appropriate response."Knock her dead, tiger!" Laris said with a reassuring smile before wincing slightly. "That is a poor saying in this situation, I'll just wish you both the best and if you need any help planning it, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Laris, and if you need any help with anything, I'll certainly be there."

9:22 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Fifth Floor (Room 503)

Tiana panted as she doubled over, resting her hands against her knees. "D-Didn't you say that hand-to-hand wasn't your strong suit? It's hard to tell, right now..."

"That is most kind of you to say, Tia, but I'm afraid it is true. Of all the skills I've been trained in, hand-to-hand is easily my weak point," Chloe explained while standing over the Dominatrix. "Are you going to be alright to continue, dear, or should we take a break?"

"No! I refuse to remain as I am," the Dominatrix said as she shakily staggered to her feet. "I'm not trained in the art of deduction, and I can admit that I'm not as smart as some of the others, but I can learn combat so that I can I protect others and myself. If it weren't for Kaizoku, Haruto and I probably wouldn't be here now."

The Femme Fatale smirked as she began circling around the other girl. "It's certainly admirable that you're taking steps to fix your faults. However, it will all be for naught if you take unnecessary risks. Should you need to take that break, do so. I'm sure your talent has made you well aware of how safe words work."

Tiana's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Yes, I'm well aware of when an individual, including myself, has been subjected to excessive pain. I won't put my life in danger for the sake of self-improvement," she said as she shifted her stance slightly. However, her feet were still sloppily-placed, leaving her in a vulnerable state.

Without uttering a word, Chloe sprang forward, swept Tiana's legs and pinned her to the ground. Her hand was firmly fixed around her neck. "You have a lot of heart, but tenacity alone won't be enough. If you want to get stronger, it will require a dedicated effort. Right now, I could break your neck in multiple ways."

The Dominatrix kicked in an attempt to worm free of the Fashion Designer's grip, but she shifted and planted a knee against her chest.

"Do you truly want to to learn? Or is this merely an outlet for your frustrations? If it's the latter, I won't waste my time," Chloe said with narrowed eyes.

"...I-I am pissed off, I won't deny that, but everyone else has gone out of their way to help. Annabelle and Lachlan are the reasons why we've solved so many cases. So many of you shined during the second motive and protected one another, while I was just dead-weight. If it weren't for Tomoko, we would have never made it out of that death game alive. Even those who haven't solved many cases have kept our morale high… I've simply coasted off of everyone else's hard work!" Tiana snapped. She tried to keep her voice even as she ceased her struggle.

Chloe loosened her grip with a sigh. "You feel powerless and want to remedy that. Everyone feels that way at some point."

The Ultimate Dominatrix shook her head. "You don't understand. I think part of the reason why I enjoy being a Dominatrix… is that it gives me control over something. Someone puts their trust in me. I grew up with so many responsibilities that I often felt like nothing was in my control."

"I wish I could say I relate, but I never felt powerless in my line of work, sot even when taking orders from others. Though it was lethal work, it gave me immense freedom." Chloe extended a hand towards the other girl. "Still, I'm willing to hear you out. Depending on what your response is, I'll decide whether or not it's worth my time to train you."

Tiana wordlessly took the extended hand before rising to her feet. "After my parents and adoptive parents died, I was left in charge of looking after my brother, Michael. I love him dearly, but there were times when I felt as if I was drowning. Nothing was enough, and it took almost everything to keep us out of an orphanage or from being homeless. At my lowest point, I nearly jumped off my previous school's roof. I know it was selfish, but I felt as if there was no hope. That's when I met my best friend, Jacob Kwan. He talked me off that ledge, and just being able to open up… it helped me when I saw no way out. I-I guess, at times, I feel like I'm back on the ledge... and I think about Haruto, Annabelle, Jacob, and Michael to talk me down. But I want more than that. I want to be able to keep the ones I care about safe. I never want to be a damsel in distress ever again."

"Non, you won't with my guidance. Who knows, you might even become a butterfly," Chloe responded with a trill of laughter.

"Then you'll help me?" the Dominatrix asked with surprise creeping into her voice.

"Oui, but don't think for a moment that I'll go easy on you. I have high expectations, and I'll only accept the very best," the Femme Fatale said with a smirk.

10:03 P.M Day Eleven

Carnival District

Shooting Gallery

"Uh, I don't mean to complain - I really have enjoyed these games, they've been nice distractions - but I don't know how I feel with you having a gun. What if that scary version of you pops up?" Dolly asked with a worried expression. "Are you sure those aren't real bullets?"

"Yup yup! You don't have to worry, Dolly, Justice will make sure that mean old Death won't spoil our fun!" Seikatsu exclaimed, happily pumping her fist in the air. She held her gun up and carefully aimed the sights towards the cans stacked on a pedestal. When she squeezed the trigger, a bullet flew out and hit the wall just besides the grey Kuma running the game. "Oh, sorry! I'll do better with this next one."

The small bear rubbed the bead of sweat off its forehead, then slowly inched to the side to give the girl more room.

The Ventriloquist folded her arms anxiously. It was clear she was unsure of what to do with them without Becky attached to her. "I guess it's a good thing we don't have to fork over real money for all of this," she mused before eying Seikatsu. "If you don't mind me asking, who am I talking to right now? It's hard to keep up with all of your sides."

"I'm the Sun. It's nice to finally meet you! Hee hee, there sure are a bunch of us in here, but I like to think of it as always having all my friends with me!" Seikatsu sent a large grin towards the Ventriloquist. "Well, until I started making new friends, of course!"

Dolly nodded slightly. "They aren't so bad, are they? It makes it worse to see them go. Before all of this, Becky was the only friend I had in the world. It hurts, though. Getting close to someone… just to lose them."

The Tarotologist's entire mood dramatically shifted. Her smile turned into a frown and her shoulders slacked. "Yes, but such feelings are natural. It's the risk we live with when we get close to others. However, one can't be expected to live alone forever, either."

"I… guess that's true. This has to end eventually, right? There has to be an ending to all of this," the Ventriloquist mused with a sad expression. "Great or terrible, nothing can last forever. In this case, I guess it ends if this park comes crashing down."

Seikatsu nodded as she set the gun down on the counter. "That is correct. No matter how mighty the empire, its fall will come eventually. It may seem dangerous to do so, but we cannot shy away from the inevitable. We must face it so that we are prepared for what could lay beyond."

Dolly stifled a giggle at the girl's dramatic response. "You sound a lot more optimistic than I feel. I wonder if we'll even be able to go back to the way things were before this."

"We won't, and that may just be for the best. The way things were lead to this, after all," Seikatsu explained.

"That's true, I suppose. The world did this to itself, ultimately. Maybe something like this will change things for the better," Dolly suggested with a timid smile. "Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking," she admitted as a silence fell between the pair. "Goodness, we were supposed to be using this outing as a distraction… and here we are droning on about such heavy subjects."

"Do not fret about it, deary. Sometimes, it's best to get things off your shoulders. Now, enough with this dour mood. We have many more booths to visit. Then again, it is awfully late. Perhaps we should consider turning in for the night." Seikatsu checked the time on her phone.

Dolly fidgeted a moment before reaching out to take the other girl's hand. "Can we play just a bit longer? Becky will be upset when I get back. She doesn't like being left alone."

Seikatsu smiled as she patted the Ventriloquist's head with her free hand. "Of course, sweetie. Let's see all that this place has to offer us."

11:15 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Fourth Floor (Room 406)

The Ultimate Forensic Investigator gripped at her blankets as she continued to toss and turn restlessly. The imagery of Soo Yeong's body and the entirety of Sigmund's death game continued to play over and over in her head. She had tried her best to not panic, but being left to her own imagination and thoughts had done little to comfort her.

She let out an audible whimper as the small lamp on her end-table suddenly shut off, casting her in near darkness. Only the hallway light offered any comfort from beneath the bottom of the door. Before she could bolt out of bed, she was stopped as something covered her mouth. Her eyes widened in horror at the silhouette of a bear standing next to her.

"Shhh, don't scream. I'm not here to hurt you," the familiar voice said in a solemn tone.

"M-Mizukuma?" Annabelle murmured against the bear's paw.

The blue-tinted bear took a single step back before raising a digit to his lips. "Coming here may have been a mistake, but I'm here to warn you, nonetheless."

"Warn me?" the child questioned before tensing up slightly.

"Look, there's something you should know. I don't know who the mastermind is, but I do know that they've got their eye on you. I think they want you to replace the missing member of the Warriors of Hope," Mizukuma replied.

Annabelle bit her lower lip anxiously. "Missing member? Who are you talking about?"

"Her name was Kotoko. She was the fighter of our party, but was forced into a killing game and never returned to our group afterwards. She was a real pain, but she left a hole in our group. I think you're meant to fill that gap," the bear responded.

"There's no way I would ever turn my back on all of my friends! Definitely not after what your group has put us through!" the Investigator protested.

Mizukuma shrugged. "Look, you can be upset with me, but I'm just the one who's warning you. No matter what happens, don't listen to a word that Shirokuma or Kurokuma says. Neither of them can be trusted, and you'd do well to watch your back."

"Why me? I'm not the only person here, so why fixate on me, huh?" the child asked as she eyed the bear suspiciously.

"Because you're not an adult or a demon on the verge of becoming an adult. The Warriors of Hope have always resented those on the cusp of adulthood or beyond because we were mistreated by those very people. The reason why I'm like this now is because I wanted to avoid becoming an adult. Monaca, our former leader, said that we could create a paradise and never become adults. I-I believed her; we all did. However, we had no idea what we would lose to achieve that," the bear explained.

The girl shivered. "D-Do you think someone would want to turn me into a kuma as well?"

Mizukuma's expression darkened even in the nearly pitch black room. "I wouldn't rule anything out, so keep your eyes open at all times. I may not have wanted to become a filthy adult, but I wanted this even less. Believe me when I say this is not truly living, nor is it death, and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone."

12 Survivors Remain

*AN* I'd like to thank the betas as always for their work on this chapter. Also major shout-outs to Petty and Fee5H again for their assistance with this chapter.

Review Section:

Blazerxz

I think some of the group is still going to be distrustful, but ultimately they're all too worn down to bicker anymore lol.

Yamomo

Hah it's danganronpa, no one can be truly happy lol

Raz The Giant

Lol I love your sense of dark humor Raz. Please never change!

The Kobold Necromancer

Yeah the point of the last arc was making Soo Yeong seem in a dark enough place that his death would be questionable, considering suicide could seem feasible.

Solrac XD

Hell yeah buddy! Hook me up with some crispy chicken fingers =)

BirblordAlmighty

Yeah there definitely wasn't a winner in this scenario. Everyone lost...

pokemansuperallstar

Yeah it was a trauma that hits way too close to home, because it's less over the top than some of the executions.

doomqwer

Hehehe that's Danganronpa for ya. Gotta keep pushing the boundries.

bellatrixshine

I have to be careful before you punt me into the sun bahaha

MudkipOfDespair

Nah I try to avoid completely using any of the games scenarios.

NSPunny

How did that violate anything? He said he had a hostage, he never specified who or guaranteed their safety.

ThePLOThand

Well it is Danganronpa, not an anime or cartoon series lol