Hey guys - here's the next chapter. I'm finding this story to be pretty enjoyable to write so I'm managing to keep a decent speed when writing these chapters. I've finally decided to write a few chapters ahead which I think is a good idea. That way I can release these more consistently than I have for other fics in the past. Also, you might notice that this fic has a new picture for the icon. I tried my best at drawing something and I think it's alright. Sorta. Kinda. Yeah. It'll do. Hope you guys like this chapter - it's mainly more background and the final setup for what goes on after the main story. Enjoy!

Chapter 3 - Truth in the Lies

The three survivors looked to the sky with renewed vigor. This would be the beginning of their new lives - lives bound to be filled with many difficulty and hardships. But despite all of this they were ready. They had endured constant trials and tribulations to get to this point. They were now able to take their first steps forward.

Shuichi moved first, fists clenched and a determined smile on his face. He had barely planted his foot on the ground before a loud ringing sounded out from above.

"Ahem. Testing, testing. Can everyone hear me alright?"

The survivors froze. They'd know that voice anywhere. It was the voice that haunted them over the past few weeks of their lives - one that they had hoped to never hear again.

"What is this!? Didn't Monokuma get destroyed along with the rest of the academy?" Himiko's voice was shaky as she meekly moved behind Maki, who glared toward the general direction of where the voice had emanated from.

"This is an announcement from your former headmaster. Wow I can't believe you've all graduated already. I couldn't be more proud! Eh, wait a second, I don't remember my class being this small...Ah well! I guess that's the price for a good education these days - you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs - and what great omelettes you've all become!"

"I-I'm not an omelette! I'm a mage!" Himiko's protest was heard on deaf ears as the obnoxious voice continued.

"Aaaaanyway, this bear is an AI who's purpose is to bring the surviving students up to date on
what's goin' down. But first, any guesses on what's actually going on?"

Shuichi thought for a moment, his gaze faraway as he took in all the information presented to him and processed it.

"Is...is this a simulation?"

"Ding ding! As expected of the 'Ultimate Detective' puhuhuhuhu." Monokuma mocked.

Maki turned to Shuichi questioningly. "Wait, a simulation? Like that one Danganronpa game?" She held a skeptical look that suggested that she wouldn't listen to a word Monokuma said, only accepting such a reality if Shuichi affirmed it.

"It would explain some things, like Monokuma, the Monokids, Kiibo and even the executions - and if what Tsumigi said was true, then it isn't outside the realm of possibility that none of this was actually 'real', but simply a constructed simulation streamed worldwide."

Himiko looked distressed - she didn't want to believe what she was hearing, but it was Shuichi who was telling her this. She trusted him, didn't she? Of course she did, they survived together - and Shuichi was one of the main deciding factors in this.

"Don't worry - we'll ease you out reaaaal slow. What? No comments on that? Damn where's the rude broad when you need her? Wait, nevermind. My bad." Monokuma let out a small laugh which made Shuichi grimace.

Monokuma raised a paw, and a snapping sound resounded in the remains of the academy. It was as if at that moment, he had possessed an absolute authority.

A pause. The tension was palpable. Then suddenly, the survivors felt a shift in their reality. Shuichi felt a sudden dissonance with his body. It was not responding as if it was not his own. As if his consciousness was being called back to his real body.

The last thing he remembered seeing before everything faded to black was a taunting 'You win!', crudely decorating the sky.

It had turned out that Team Danganronpa had planned to begin a new evolution in the Danganronpa series by introducing virtual reality for the first time - something during the time of the first few series of Danganronpa was purely an interesting concept and nothing more. With the evolution of virtual reality, the company had finally been ready to create a season where the stakes were realer than ever. Gone were the live-action acting of the previous series - the fans were beginning to get bored of that. This would be the great revival of Danganronpa as the most real (and fake) reality show to ever exist. Armed with memory altering technology, false memories were implanted in the consciousnesses of the participants - allowing the team to create the perfect cast of characters for a Danganronpa series, except this time the actors were unaware of their true roles.

However, once the series reached its climax, and it was revealed that for the first time, this series was not scripted with aware actors, the hordes and masses of people watching all around the world began to question. Question the ethicality of the situation - question if these fake personalities were really real. In the end, Shuichi had won by managing to convince the world that the participants were in fact real, as the whole ordeal they had endured was real to them. This caused large ripples in the real world, with Team Danganronpa being investigated for unethical treatment, as well as facing numerous court charges. In summary, though the process was ongoing, Team Danganronpa was done for.

Yet despite the survivors of the season managing to defeat the company in a moral victory, with the Japanese government taking over and defeating the company in a more congruent way in terms of legality and tangibility in the reproach of the company's actions, the scars of those involved still remained.

This was something that Shuichi was about to face first hand, as a dim light began to stir him from what felt like an eternal slumber. The green hue of the pod enclosing him, and the gentle humming of the machinery started to invade his senses, softly dragging him back to reality from the terrible nightmare he had endured.

Sound. Muffled voices - worry? No...perhaps excitement?

The pod opened.

Yushiro Otonashii stepped out(?)

This chapter was pretty short, but it's the length it needs to be, being the final setup for the main story. Hope you guys enjoyed and look forward to what's to come. Reviews help motivate me so drop one if you feel like it and I appreciate any and all support as always. See you all next time. Peace out!