This chapter will contain a passage from Everyday Life at Hope's Peak Chapter 10, due to this being a continuation of that story after the despair has happened. It also adds on to the scene and what happens afterwards, so if you don't feel like reading it make sure you don't skip too far ahead!
I've been having a lot of fun writing this, and I hope you're having just as much fun reading it ^^
Chapter 2 - Our Inner Demons
Sonia sat down beside Souda, eating in silence. Souda glanced at her, and then at Alex, the representative from the Future Foundation that had come to watch over them. He waved at them, then sat down at a table opposite of theirs, oblivious to the mood. Souda frowned, remembering their first meeting with the man.
It wasn't pleasant.
"Hello, you may call me Alex. I am a representative from the Future Foundation, here to... observe you from an outsider's perspective." he said, looking at Naegi. "Please, don't act differently around me." He flashed a smile at them. "It may affect the length of your lives."
What was up with this guy? Souda thought, grimacing. Owari obviously thought the same thing, not even trying to hide the disdain on her face. Sonia fidgeted nervously, while Kuzuryuu looked away. The only one to remain emotionless was Hinata, staring blankly ahead. Hinata's eyes darted towards him, and Souda quickly looked away.
He hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with Hinata since their awakenings. From what he and the others could tell, Hinata had partially reverted back to his old self, but traits of Kamakura still lingered, his alter ego created by Hope's Peak itself. Truth be told, Souda was... he was scared of him. Which is damn stupid, considering what I did.
"What's this?" barked Kuzuryuu, staring daggers at Alex. "We get out of one disaster to face another? Fucking great."
"Calm down Kuzuryuu." Naegi said. "You're going to be fine. The Future Foundation just isn't sold on your reformations, so they want to make sure that you guys aren't... you know, despair."
"Yeah dude, nothing serious." chuckled Hagakure, though there seemed to some unease in his voice.
"If we judge that you indeed are no longer Ultimate Despair or don't have any lingering attachments towards them, you will be free to do as you please." Alex explained. "However, if we find any of you indulging in old... habits, it will unfortunately be the end for all of you. Have I made myself clear?" Alex looked at them. "Good. I hope you all have a pleasant day." With that, he swiftly left them to think over the bomb he had just dropped over them.
"... What the fuck?" Kuzuryuu grunted the moment Alex was out of the room. "What the fucking fuck is this bullshit?"
"Is he... serious? About killing us?" Sonia asked.
"No way, he's just messing with us, right?" Souda forced a laugh. "Right Naegi? I mean, you guys promised! That you would protect us!"
Naegi stared at his feet, unable to look at him. "... We did."
"But there's nothing we can do about the Future Foundation. Like you've already learned inside the simulation, their original plan was to kill you all." Togami stepped forward, speaking. "You should all be grateful you're still breathing right now."
"Anyways, as long as you truly have reformed, this shouldn't be anything difficult." stated Kirigiri matter-of-factly. "And why shouldn't we kill you all if you're still despair?" she glared at Souda. "You've been forgiven, but don't think anyone will ever forget what you did."
Souda gulped. Ah, now that I think about it, I did develop all the execution machines used to kill her... kill her friends. "... Sorry. We'll uh, be on our best behaviour." Souda mumbled.
Kirigiri stared into his eyes, then as if satisfied with what she saw, turned around and left. "Good."
So here they were after the warning, mutely eating breakfast as Alex watched over them. Other Future Foundation grunts were positioned around the building, watching their every step. Souda grumbled, thinking how his excitement of sitting beside Sonia was dampened by all the watchful eyes around them.
Suddenly, Alex got up from his seat. Souda watched as he walked over to their table, sitting down. "Good morning. Sonia Nevermind and Kazuichi Souda, correct?"
"Yeah," grumbled Souda. "Is there something to talk about?"
"In fact, there is." smiled Alex. "I was just wondering what you plan on doing if you're ever allowed off this island. Or what you plan to do on this island, if you choose to stay here. How about you first, princess?" he finished, motioning towards Sonia.
Sonia turned her head in surprise. "What... what I want to do?" She thought in silence for a moment. "Well, I guess a visit back to my homela-"
"Novoselic? Would they even want you back? Is there even anything to go back to?" Alex said nonchalantly. Sonia said nothing, staring at her meal. "I mean, you were the one who brought the country down on its knees. You sent its rulers to their death, your own parents, then left the entire country to be eaten up by anarchy. You destroyed your own country, Sonia Nevermind. Led its people to their death, like sheep lined up for slaughter." A grunt walked up and handed Alex a drink. "You think they'll let you come back and rule them again?"
"Hey! Maybe they would!" shouted Souda, his temper flaring. I'm not going to let this dick mouth off Sonia like that...!
"And what do you ever plan on doing? It's not like you can get a job, or help out in the restoration of the world. A world you helped destroy." With each word Alex spoke, Souda felt like he was being socked in the stomach. "I mean, regardless of your talent, will anyone ever trust you after what you've done? How many people have you killed now? Hundreds? Thousands? When's the next time you're going to snap?" He stirred his drink. His face showed no signs of accusation or anger, as if he was just reading the news on a Sunday morning.
"Then maybe we'll just stay on this island!" Souda retorted.
"Would that not be the exact same results you would've achieved had you stayed in the simulation? A life confined to this island?" Alex asked. "I'm glad you escaped one island to voluntarily restrict yourself on another. Well, I can't say that. Naegi and the others would've been trapped in the simulation had you not forced the shutdown." He stirred his drink, watching it. "All I'm saying is that you all used to be students at Hope's Peak, representing the countries hopes and dreams. If you've already snapped once and turned to despair, how long until you snap again? Should we just wait until you undo all our progress on restoring the world?"
Alex downed his drink in one gulp, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Thanks for the conversation." He smiled. "I hope we can talk again."
He got up, walking away. At first, there was only silence. Then the silence was broken through the muffled sobs of Sonia, crying for an innocence that was long lost.
"You really think they're... better?" Asahina asked Naegi. The two were standing on the beach, looking at the facility that housed everyone else.
"If I didn't I wouldn't be taking this chance." assured Naegi. "Don't you trust me?"
"... I do." she said with a slight hesitation. Naegi watched her, confused.
"Anyways, what are the three of you doing here?"
Asahina looked up, startled by the sudden question. "Well, when Future Foundation caught wind of your plans and pinpointed the location of this island, we were being interrogated about you. Guess they wanted to save time and brought us along the ship here while they asked us questions." Asahina suddenly snickered. "I bet Fukawa doesn't have any problems with being here, though."
Naegi blushed. "Togami's not one to fool around, especially at a time like this. Plus, he's said there was no way that he would even spit on the same ground she stood on."
"You think so? If you insist." A mischievous smile decorated her face, but it quickly faded. She stepped forward, walking back to the facility. "It was nice catching up, Naegi. I just hope you're doing the right thing. We all lost friends to the Ultimate Despair."
Naegi watched her retreating figure, then turned back to look at the ocean. "I know." he whispered to himself.
"Alex, how does it look so far? It's been a week. We are eagerly awaiting your assessment. The faster this situation is resolved, the better."
Alex lay back on the lawn chair he was sitting in, watching the ocean waves crash onto the beach. In his hand he held a cell phone connected via a private line, since the destruction of mainstream society. "Depends on how you look at things. From what I can see, the kids aren't showing any traces of their previous selves."
The voice emanating from the phone hardened. "You aren't suggesting we leave them alone, are you? Reminder: They. Are. Ultimate. Despair."
"There's nothing I can do about it if they truly reformed. Trust me; I'm the last one who wants to see them walk free. You know that, don't you?" snapped Alex, hand in his pocket. He pulled out a necklace, holding it up as he stared at it. A necklace given to him by someone long dead, yet the gap in his heart had never truly healed. He examined it silently, then put it back in his pocket. "... They've earned their freedom."
"Is that your final judgement?"
"It is." Alex said grimly. "However, that's not to say the same about the other kids."
"You mean the comatose ones?"
"Yes. It'd be easier to just eliminate them right now. The others seem to be under the impression that they won't wake up. If only they bothered to actually check the ins and outs of the technology they 'borrowed' from us." he smiled. "I see no need to wait for them to wake up before testing them, do you follow?"
"... Is that why you brought the...?"
"Yes. I plan on using it right after this, in fact. I believe there are no objections to this course of action?" Alex could hear some murmuring in the background, and then the voice spoke again.
"There are no objections. Do what you must for a brighter future." The line went dead.
Alex pocketed his phone. He got up from his chair, looking back at the facility. The remnants of despair are all there. In that one building... He couldn't keep the grin off his face.
What goes around, comes around. And now it's your turn.
Souda entered the room. He watched the pulsing green pods arranged in a circle, taking up the entirety of the room. Walking by them slowly, he looked into the faces of his comatose friends. Things had been so simple back then.
He stopped. He looked at the still body of Gundam Tanaka, the only sign of life being the steady rise and fall of his chest. He grimaced, Tanaka's current appearance being another reminder of what they all did in the past. While his deformities weren't visible on the outside, Souda knew they were there. They had all done rash things when Junko's death was broadcast.
"Hey. It's been awhile." Souda said, talking as if Tanaka could hear him. For all I know, maybe he can. "It's been a week since the five of us has woken up. You know, Hinata, Kuzuryuu, Owari, Me and... Sonia. Our memories are still a bit jumbled... but we know that you're not really dead. That was a game world. Or something, I don't know!" Souda slammed the pod.
"... Sometimes at night, I can't figure out what was reality and what was that virtual world. Or perhaps I just don't want to accept what I did." Souda stuffed his hands back in his pocket, looking for a reaction out of Tanaka. Seeing none, he scowled.
"... We've adjusted well. As well as we can, considering. But I know we're anything but fine. We're still hurting from losing you guys. All of you." He looked away. "So wake up you son of a bitch. You just gonna leave Sonia here? She's heartbroken over you, and there's nothing I can do about it." Souda scratched his head. "It's you she cares about it, it's you she loves, and I can't stand seeing her so upset after all we've been through. Wake up Tanaka. Wake up and comfort her like you always did. I guess that's what I came here to say..." Souda took off his weathered beanie, holding it over his chest.
"So don't you dare keep sleeping."
Souda turned away from Tanaka's still body, prepared to leave, but to his surprise he found Sonia right behind him.
"Sonia?" he said, startled. Did she hear all that? "Is something the matter?"
"Ah! Nothing!" replied Sonia. "However, we have all been called to the front of the facility. I thought I would go get you, but I couldn't find you anywhere until I came here..."
"Sorry. I was just... reminiscing. Let's go." Souda put on his beanie cap, trying to walk out, but Sonia stopped him. "Sonia?"
"... I'm sorry." she said, hardly louder than a whisper. "I'm sorry you feel that way."
Souda looked away, then walked past her. "We can't change the past." Despair, huh? No matter how I wish such things hadn't happened, they did. And no matter how I try, sometimes I find myself... thinking back... of how I used to be. The machinery, the screams, the killings. I'm horrified by it, yet part of me wants to revel in it. Take pride in my accomplishments, in the execution machines I made.
Guess we can't escape our inner demons.
"What are we meeting here for?" Owari asked.
"Let me explain." Alex said, stepping forward. "I take it that everyone is here now?"
Hinata nodded. "We're all present. Now speak." He spoke in a cold tone, as if for a moment he was Izuru Kamakura again. Alex raised his eyebrows, but said nothing of it.
"While your behaviour on this island seems to show that you all have been... rehabilitated, we're still unsure. Seeing that, we would like to see how you mingle in the real world. Specifically, how you face the accusations and deal with the guilt that you destroyed this world." He looked up, wanting to see their reactions. When all that greeted him was blank faces, he gave a little sigh of disappointment and continued.
"So, if you would all mind boarding this ship. We're heading back."
"What? What about the comatose kids?" shouted Kuzuryuu, temper rising. "We said we would stay here until they woke up!"
At a moment, Alex's grunts all pulled out their revolvers and pointed them at Kuzuryuu and co. Alex grinned. "You come with me right now for a few weeks, or you all die right now. Your choice."
"...Tch." was all Kuzuryuu had to say. Grudgingly, they all boarded the ship.
"Don't worry, this is the last test. After this, you're all free to do as you please." said Alex. "You don't have to worry about the comatose kids as well, I've made arrangements with Naegi. Hagakure and I will remain to make sure everything goes well, as long as the rest of my men."
"If that's so..." Sonia nervously gripped her arms. "I guess a few weeks won't be too much in the grand scheme of things..."
"That's the right kind of attitude!" Alex smiled brightly.
Naegi looked at Alex from the ship. His face was impassionate, as if he was judging Alex. "... We'll be going then." His stern face suddenly broke into relief. "I'm glad you've given them a second chance, Alex."
"Hah, I'm a nice guy when you get to know me. Now off you guys go!" Alex shouted as the ship departed. He enthusiastically waved goodbye, waiting until the ship was no longer visible, just a speck on the ocean. Then his smile instantly vanished.
Turning around, he waved one of his men over. The grunt walked up to him, saluting him before stopping.
"Are they all set in the proper positions?" Alex asked.
"Yes sir!" shouted the grunt.
"Good. Let's go to our meeting with Hagakure now." Alex put on his sunglasses. Inspecting the explosives one last time, he started walking towards the facility.
"And be prepared to bring the whole damn building down."