Never Say Never
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.
Chapter 3
Act 24
"…This is gonna work…it has to…"
Mukuro knew she was taking a huge gamble. She was putting her very life on the line in order to reveal the truth. And even if it worked, there was a chance it could reveal her identity…which would lead to her own execution.
"…No time to worry about that now…" she told herself, her eyes momentarily shifting down a few podiums to her left. "…And if that happens…I'm leaving everything to you, Kyoko…"
Unexpectedly, at that instance, Kyoko's lavender eyes shifted over and met Mukuro's sky-blue irises. Though usually unreadable, the soldier was able to sense a feeling of concern deep within her companion's eyes. Before any feelings of regret could take over, Mukuro tore her gaze away, hardening her visage as she prepared mentally and physically for her task.
…Like a proud and devoted soldier, she waited for the perfect opportunity. As Monokuma rambled on about his new debate idea, her voice pierced the courtroom like a freshly fired bullet from a gun.
"Once all of you are in position, we'll officially begin what I've chosen, preemptively, to call…A SCRUM DEBA—!"
"We don't need to do that…I know how to identify the culprit."
A deep silence, harsher than any that had previously befallen the courtroom, echoed in the students' minds as Junko's words buzzed in their ears. Even Monokuma, who only a moment ago had been 200% psyched up for the new debate, was eerily quiet as the Fashionista interrupted. It was as if time stood still for a moment, with no one brave enough to break that silence.
Without betraying a hint of emotion, Kyoko continued to stare at Junko. Even she was confused at how the Fashionista planned to turn this around. In her mind, it was clear that Celeste was far more suspicious than Hifumi. However, she couldn't deny that the lack of evidence could be damning…and she had no intention of dying today. Which meant…all she could do was put her faith in her newfound partner, since only she was privy to the delicate information the 'Ultimate Fashionista' had entrusted her with.
"Please explain then," Kyoko said sternly, a bit harsher than she'd intended. "I'd rather avoid any new 'ideas' from Monokuma. And if you've found a way to settle this debate, then it's worth listening to."
For a moment, the imposter who called herself 'Junko Enoshima' met her gaze. There was apprehension—no, it was fear that permeated the 'fashionista's eyes. A gruesome, horrific fear that Kyoko only now realized 'Junko' had been enduring for so long. She was placing her very life on the line with this assertion…and the ramifications of what she was planning obviously terrified her. And yet, she was still going through with it, for it was too late to turn back now. Kyoko respected that…and earning her respect was something she never imagined possible, until only a few days ago.
In spite of her own fears, it seemed that Kyoko's words somehow motivated the 'Fashionista', because a moment later, she spoke, "First, I have a question for Monokuma."
'Junko' shifted her gaze toward the bear atop the throne, smiling as its face became consumed with red fury. It wasn't something that happened every day, and the imposter known of 'Junko' reveled in it. In fact, it made Kyoko the slightest bit jealous, wanting to upend the increasingly annoying bear herself.
"Do…you…now…?" the demented bear seethed, obviously not pleased at having its fun thwarted. "I was just about to get to the good part when you came in and eviscerated my joy! What can be so important that it requires me to abandon such a heart-throbbing—?!"
"The masked figure that we've seen roaming around the school…is that you?"
Kyoko's eyes widened as understanding flooded her mind. And even though she immediately reverted back to her usual stoic visage, deep inside, she felt her heart tremble.
"…So…you'll go that far in order to keep us from turning on each other…"
Hidden within the heights of the Monokuma control room, the real Junko's eyes widened…before a malicious smirk decorated her lips. Turning off the microphone that allowed her to speak with the students, a deep cackle escaped her throat.
"Eyahahahahaha! Holy shit…she's actually asked that!" Junko's tongue darted out of her mouth, wetting her lips as she could practically taste the oncoming despair. "Ohhhh, there are so many ways this could go! I don't even want to analyze what Muku is thinking! Too bad I already have…"
Before she even realized it, she'd already plotted out 37 different ways her sister's gamble could potentially go. However, of that 37, only 19 were possible if she, the Mastermind, decided to remain silent and not answer her sister's question. Having 18 less routes available didn't sit right with her, considering any of them could hold such lovely and enthralling despair!
"Realistically," Junko switched to her 'sexy teacher' persona, instantly putting her hair up in a ponytail while pushing up fake glasses. "The greatest amount of despair will be achieved if I allow her to do as she pleases…"
More than likely, Mukuro knew that too, though she probably only thought there were two or three paths her decision could take her down. It was almost shameful really…but even so, Junko decided it was in her best interest to allow her sister to make such a foolish mistake.
"Buts I also don't wanna let her think she can just gets away with anything!" Cute Junko suddenly appeared, waving her arms in a moe fashion. "So…I'll just have ta spoil something for everyone!"
At once, Junko let a toothy grin overtake her entire face, stretching her cheeks so much it hurt. There was one way to get back at her sister without violating the rules of the game…just like Mukuro had just done! Plus, it would have the added despair of causing a great deal of unrest, which they didn't need during the class trial! And it would be all Mukuro's fault! No one would realize it…probably. But it would still make the game much more despair-inducing!
"If our dear sister wants to dig her own grave…then we must be the one handing her the shovel!" Royal Junko shouted, tapping the tiny crown she placed on her head.
Quickly finalizing exactly how she planned to proceed, Junko felt her body growing hotter and hotter as the oncoming despair preemptively hit her.
"Don't think you can bend me over and fuck me without buying dinner first!" Junko maneuvered to a new persona, angrily shouting and cursing as she panted, the thought of a perfect way to make this game more interesting appearing in her mind. "I'll play your game, you fucking rogue! But remember…this is my game we're playing! And I don't abide by unfair advantages!"
Clicking the button that allowed her to speak through Monokuma, the Mastermind let out her signature laugh…
"Upupupupupu! Ahahahahaha!"
The bear's cackling sent waves of nausea through each student, sensing that the bear was plotting something.
"And why should I tell you tha~t?" Monokuma asked in a sing-song tone. "Especially after you decided to ruin my glorious new debate strategy! It was gonna be awesome! With intense arguments and a full group counter!"
Furrowing her brows, Junko seethed, "In the interest of fairness, I demand to know if the masked figure is you; the Mastermind!"
"…Fairness…" Monokuma chewed on that word for a moment before he spat it back out. "Fairness? Are you sure you want fairness? You might not like how fair I can make this trial!"
Junko visibly flinched, hesitating for an instant before scoffing loudly. "Like I care!" she insisted, slamming her palms down onto her podium. "Just tell us the truth! Were you the masked freak that Celeste saw on the first floor of the school?!"
Silence enveloped the courtroom, Junko's words still ringing in everyone's ears. For his part, Monokuma remained silent…as if contemplating, though its face was utterly blank. Was the Mastermind contemplating something then? Or was the bear just pausing for dramatic effect?
"Alrighty then! If that's how you want it! Then I guess, in the interests of fairness, I have no choice but to answer your question!"
"Wait, just a moment, if you please." Celeste suddenly spoke up, a bead of sweat trickling down the side of her cheek. Junko's gaze shot over to the gambler, scowling as she saw that Celeste's perfect mask obscured any trance of emotion that would reveal her true intentions. "Why is it so important to know who it was I saw on the first floor? Even if it was the Mastermind, that does not have any bearing on our discussion—"
"Actually…" Junko sharply interrupted, narrowing her eyes at the gambler. "It's what's going to prove which of you two are lying!"
As murmurs of surprise and excitement began billowing through the courtroom, the Fashionista hardened her gaze, never taking her eyes off Celeste. Their eyes locked, burning crimson eyes clashing with vibrant sky-blue irises, a tension that had never been addressed growing immeasurably palpable between them.
All at once, the gambler's visage changed. Her usual calm persona was replaced with subtle fury, one so discreet that only a few of the students noticed the change. Among them were Kyoko and Byakuya, who surreptitiously leveled their gazes toward Celeste. However, the gambler didn't seem aware of their stares, focusing all of her internal strife toward Junko.
"What nonsense," Celeste scoffed, folding her arms, and grasping her own elbows. A deep, frustrated frown settled onto her face, the first genuine expression she'd made during the entire trial. "How would knowing if the Mastermind was behind the mask matter in the least? It will not prove Hifumi's guilt, nor will it—".
"The Masked Individual…is one of you!"
Monokuma's abrupt declaration hit them all like a spark of electricity. Suddenly, a tension so thick and despair-inducing engulfed the courtroom as each of the students began glancing at each other, internally questioning who might be the one who had betrayed their trust. Silence reigned as they all found themselves lost in deep contemplation.
After all, if it was true, and the Masked Individual was one of them, then whoever it was had lied the morning after they'd been spotted. No one came forward, so it was easy to conclude that the Mastermind was responsible…but if they weren't, it meant that they had someone in their midst with unknown intentions…and that revelation sowed deep seeds of doubt amongst the students.
"No…that can't be…" Sayaka said aloud, breaking the deafening silence. Slowly, she glanced around at her classmates, one by one. "One of us…is…"
"It's bullshit! I won't believe it!" Leon asserted, shaking the confusion from his head. "There's no way one of us would—".
"It's all clear now…" Byakuya interrupted, a smug grin on his face as he pushed up his glasses. "I told you all that there was a spy for the Mastermind among us. And it seems that I was correct."
"We don't know that!" Makoto insisted, staving off a vicious glare from Byakuya. "Even if it's true, and the Masked Individual is one of us…that doesn't mean they're working for the Mastermind!
"Unfortunately, we can't deny the possibility that the Masked Individual could be a spy for the Mastermind," Kyoko's stoic voice entered the fray. Makoto was initially shocked by her suggestion, until she continued, "However, there's no way to prove that they are, in fact, one and the same."
Hearing that, Makoto let out a relieved sigh and smiled at Kyoko. She nodded to him and quickly turned back to address the other students.
"Regardless, this new information can shed light onto this case—".
"Unless, of course, Monokuma is lying to us…"
All eyes turned toward Celeste, who seemed a bit more frazzled than usual. At the same time, Monokuma's face grew a fiery red as it turned and glared at the gambler.
"How rude!" an offended Monokuma shouted at her, bearing its claws. "Bears don't lie!"
"And why would Monokuma do that anyway?" Junko suddenly asked, oddly coming to Monokuma's defense. "Monokuma has no reason to lie to us. In fact, whoever the Mastermind is, I don't think they've lied to us once since we got here!"
As much as they wanted to, Junko's assertion was also hard to deny. Sure, Monokuma, and by extent the Mastermind, had been unusually cruel and malevolent toward them. However, they'd never actually lied to them.
They always kept their promises, no matter how silly they seemed, just like when Monokuma went on 'vacation' and left authority to Taka. It put more gravity into the revelation that Monokuma had bestowed upon them. Although some of the students seemed unconvinced…
"Perhaps Monokuma is trying to lead us astray?" Celeste replied, unwilling to back down. "After all, even with this new information, I cannot see how it relates to the case."
"Yeah! And besides, it just doesn't make any sense!" Mondo shouted, slamming his fist onto his podium! "The bear's just a goddamn liar! I won't believe any of this bullshit!"
"Oh? And why is that?" Monokuma asked him, a sly grin somehow spreading on the bear's face.
"Because it doesn't make sense!" Mondo repeated before audibly groaning at being questioned. "Think about it, Hina and Sakura chased the masked freak around a few nights ago, right? And I know that no one got past me after they went after 'em! If they were one of us, there would have been no way to get back to the dorms—".
"They probably just used the hidden archive room in the men's restroom on the second floor of the academy."
Monokuma's answer was so nonchalant, bored even…as if he hadn't just revealed a huge secret to the entire class. And just as expected, chaos burst forth…
"H-Hidden archive room?! We have a hidden archive room?!" Hiro shouted, feeling increasingly lost as this revelation hit him. "I know this place is a school, but do they even have to make us study in the bathroom! That's just torture!"
"That is not the issue! Even though I would find that extremely productive!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru yelled over him, clenching his fists tightly. Ignoring the exasperated groans of his classmates, he continued, "If there is a hidden room in the men's restroom, it is possible one of us found it and has been using it for their own needs!"
"Y-Yeah! A-And its g-gotta be one o-of the boys!" Toko chimed in, pointing offensively at all the boys until she lovely gazed at Byakuya. "But…if it w-was Master, then it w-would be fine…because he n-needs a place for a s-secret rendezvous—"
"Shut up."
Toko immediately followed Byakuya's order, slapping her hands over her mouth to keep from letting even a syllable fall out.
"There's a…hidden room in the men's restroom…" Makoto quietly said to himself, closing his eyes and falling silent. It wasn't odd for him to go into such deep contemplation, but something about his silence was troubling…
"Um, I'm getting confused," Hifumi finally spoke up, looking around at everyone. "How does this happen to prove my innocence?"
"No one ever said it would!" Hina countered, glaring menacingly at the fanfic creator. "There you go! Trying to twist the facts in your favor again! Forget about that room! It's just a trick by Monokuma to try and get us to vote incorrectly!"
"Shouldn't… we discuss that hidden room some more?" Chihiro pondered, trying to comprehend this new information. Even though it was unintentional, Hina abruptly sent a sharp glare toward the programmer. And while Chihiro flinched, she still managed to say, "M-Maybe that's what will lead us to discover who's responsible?"
"A hidden room will not reveal who was attacked!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru shouted, unintentionally frightening the programmer. Feeling guilty, he then moved to say, "But Chihiro has a point! We should discuss that hidden room more so that—!"
"We can deal with that later!" Junko spoke over his shouting, quieting everyone else. "Monokuma already told us what we need to know. The Masked Individual is one of us. Right now, we need to concentrate on what that means for this class trial! Everything else can wait until our lives aren't on the line!"
"Agreed, we will have ample time to discuss whom might have used the hidden room later" Byakuya concurred, glancing between Junko and Kyoko with a sly grin. They noticed but said nothing, knowing the trial took precedence. With a victorious huff, the Togami Heir continued, "Well then, tell us, Junko. What does knowing that one of us is the Masked Individual mean for this case?"
Junko groaned, obviously not enjoying being the Togami Heir's mouthpiece, but she knew it was important to get on with the trial, so she endured his asshole-ish nature.
"I just want to reaffirm this…we all have alibis for when everyone went to visit Chihiro after she woke up, right?"
Her question hung in the air for a moment as everyone thought about it.
"That appears to be the case," Kyoko answered, glancing around at her classmates. "Most of you were in the nurse's office, while Junko, Hiro and I were in the pool area."
"Which means we all have solid alibis!" Hina immediately joined in, feeling more confident. "That means that Monokuma has to be lying to us! Because there's no way Celeste could have seen the masked weirdo if they were one of us!"
"…Exactly."
For a moment, Hina thought she'd done well defending her friend…until another possibility formed in her mind. Her eyes widened and shot over to Celeste, a startled gasp escaping her. Junko lowered her head slightly, having not intended for Hina to unwittingly reveal what she'd been trying to convey. However, now that it had been said, there was no going back.
"If Monokuma is telling us the truth, and the masked freak really is one of us…" Glaring defiantly at the gambler, the Fashionista practically seethed, "It means that Celeste lied to us."
…A crack…miniscule in size…began to form…her perfect mask…was beginning…to crumble…
"What the fuck is going on?! A second ago, I was in the clear! Why are they all suspicious of me now?!"
Celeste mentally screamed, barely managing to keep all traces of external panic hidden behind her rapidly cracking perfect mask. The entire class was staring at her now, and she could feel their gazes fixate on her, noiseless gasping as sweat trickled down her back. Abruptly, her lower lip quivered uncontrollably, and she had to bit it to cease its movement, praying no one happened to see such a disgraceful display.
"No…no, no, no, no! No fucking way! How the fuck did that bitch think of that?! She wasn't even there at the time! God-damn fashion slut! And why the fuck did Monokuma have to tell them that?! The fucking bear is supposed to stay out of our business! This game…isn't fair at all!"
Celeste found herself unable to speak, fearing she would unintentionally slip something in her current state of abject horror! Instead, she was subjected to more of Junko's 'theories'…
"And if Celeste lied about seeing the masked freak on the first-floor stairway, then she could be lying about everything else as well."
It took every fiber of Celeste's being not to scream at the top of her lungs how fucking bullshit everything had gone! If she refuted Junko now, she'd look guilty. But if she stayed silent, she'd look even more guilty! Either way, there was absolutely nothing she could say that—
"B-But we don't know that Monokuma isn't lying!" A ray of hope in Hina's voice rang out, making the frazzled Celeste shoot her gaze toward the swimmer. "It could all be a lie in order to get us to make the wrong decision! So that we'll all be executed! We all know how desperate for us to die Monokuma is!"
Yes…Yes! This was it! This was exactly what Celeste needed right now! Hina had come to her rescue without even knowing it! There was still a chance! A chance to turn this around! Gather up all of her dignity and grace, Celeste gently folded her hands together and smiled sweetly.
"You all have such vivid imaginations, you know that?" she said politely, almost nonchalantly. When everyone's attention was once again on her, she glanced at Junko and said, "You believe, that I am lying when I said that I saw the masked individual on the first floor? But, is there any way to prove this?"
At this, Junko's expression sank, and she regretfully admitted, "No, but there's still reasonable doubt that—!"
"Monokuma's testimony merely states that one of us was the masked individual," Celeste swiftly interrupted, causing the fashionista to frown. "However, it is also possible, as you mentioned earlier, that the masked individual could have been Mastermind as well. After all, Monokuma never said there was only one masked individual."
"That's true!" Hina bolstered her friend's comment with a smile. "Like I said, this is just a trap to try and—!"
"Monokuma…" the Fashionista addressed the bear with hard eyes. A resolution shone in her eyes, and it made Celeste shiver involuntarily. "Is there really more than one masked individual?"
Everyone, Celeste included, glanced to the bear with expectation. This was her final gamble, and if it paid off, she'd still be able to achieve her dream. Yes…this was the final moment she could confess, and perhaps be spared her classmates wrath…and in return, spare everyone from the fate that she so cruelly planned for—
"No! I won't confess. I have no reason to confess. This is what I want! I want them all to die so that I can have my castle! That is the truth! Stop second guessing it!"
As she firmly ordered her mind to stop contemplating such foolish things, Monokuma spoke.
"Well now…this is a predicament," the bear sighed deeply before lounging back on the judge's chair.
Nearby, Mukuro felt her pulse quicken. She hadn't expected Celeste to be able to turn that around. The gambler was a lot craftier than she'd realized, an oversight on Mukuro's part. In hindsight, she shouldn't have been so shocked, considering Celeste's high intelligence and considerable word manipulation. Still, this was leaving her with fewer and fewer options…and the soldier could only think of one way to spin this debate back into her favor…but at a great cost.
And to make matters worse, everyone's fate relied on her sister's whims…which never benefitted anyone!
"Ya see, I can't directly interfere with the trial's proceedings. I answered that one question because it technically doesn't involve this case," Monokuma explained before letting out another heavy sigh and sinking further into the chair. "But if I go into too much detail, you kids might start relying on me too much. And like a spoiled child who never moves out of their parent's basement and/or attic, you kids wouldn't be able to function in society without me if I just—".
"So, you're not going to answer then?" Kyoko interrupted, her swift response the only show of annoyance in her visage.
Pondering for a moment, Monokuma abruptly pushed itself up into it's normal seated position.
"It's out of my hands now. If I give any more info, that would be considered favoritism and as I said, I'm all about the spirit of fairness!" the bear cackled lightly, its gaze meeting Mukuro's for half a second before addressing the entire class again. "If only there was a way to identify who the masked assailant was! That way, you could ask the masked freak about everything themselves!"
And there it was…the suggestion that Mukuro feared would come to pass. Revealing herself as the masked attacker would solve this issue, but it would do irreparable damage to her reputation. She could try and convince everyone that she was simply roaming the halls to protect them, which was true, but then she'd need to explain her incredible talents of combat, good enough to outmaneuver Sakura. And if it came to that, she'd easily be discovered as an imposter…and executed.
"Execution…my own…'Punishment Time'…"
Dark thoughts clouded her mind as she recalled her sister's past 'punishments'. At the time, she'd never imagined having one of them visited upon her…but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Now, with the prospect nearly a reality…her entire being shivered.
"In either scenario, I'm going to get executed. If I reveal myself, I'll be violating Junko's rules and be killed. But if I say nothing…everyone else will die!"
…Despair. This was what her sister wanted her to feel…and it was working. She hadn't been consumed by it, but she could feel it's icy grip seeping into her very bones. It wasn't exactly an impossible choice, but one that she had always feared would present itself.
Inadvertently, Mukuro lifted her gaze, unintentionally staring at her friend's faces. She saw the fear in Sayaka's eyes, the confusion on Leon's face, the bottled-up fury in Mondo's furrowed brow, the fragility of Chihiro's visage, finally settling onto Makoto's frantic expression…it was then that she made her decision. For all the people who she had chosen to protect…she would do what was necessary for their continued survival!
"I…I don't want to die…but…in order to save everyone, I'm willing to—!"
"While I can't prove that there was only one masked individual, I can provide some evidence that may lead us an answer."
Shock tore through Mukuro's mind as Kyoko suddenly spoke up. The soldier's sky-blue irises shot over to her companion, widening as she watched the detective reach into her pocket. Slowly, almost agonizingly so, Mukuro gawked as a gloved hand pulled out the frightening mask that she had worn only a few days ago. Her breath caught in her throat as Kyoko held it up for everyone to see.
"I found this on the second floor during my initial search for everyone this morning. I had planned to bring it up after the trial, but it seems now is the time to discuss it."
Mukuro struggled to catch her breath as she listened to Kyoko's half-lie. Only the soldier knew the full extent of her words. More than likely, she'd found it in the archive room that morning, after the two of them had split up before their eventual confrontation in the hidden room. The detective girl must have pocketed the mask before the two of them visited the hidden room together, because Mukuro hadn't seen it when they 'investigated' the room.
A wave of anxiety overtook Mukuro as she realized that Kyoko was covering for her. It was a huge risk, one that would make the rest of the students far more suspicious of her than 'Junko'. The guilt hit her almost immediately, and Mukuro wished there was a way to reverse what she'd done…but they both knew it was too late.
At the same time…that strange feeling of warmth radiated in her chest, though she forced it back down in order to focus on the trial. And as expected, the courtroom erupted into a flurry of questions.
Makoto stared, almost blankly as Kyoko produced the freakish mask from her pocket. Instantly, his mind told him to be suspicious…not of Kyoko, but of something else…something unseen. Somewhere, deep inside, even though he knew the most logical notion was to suspect Kyoko of wrongdoing…he just couldn't.
It wasn't merely because he'd grown closer to her lately, it was deeper than that. Something deep within him told him there was more to this mystery than any of them could see. He trusted Kyoko. He wasn't sure why exactly, but after spending some time with her, he'd gotten a sense of her personality, though only vaguely. But within those scattered moments, he'd come to realize that, if she chose to reveal this information now, it had a far greater meaning than he could understand, at least at this very moment.
Unfortunately, before he could speak up, a certain excitable swimmer beat him to the punch.
"T-That's it! That's the mask!" Hina shouted, pointing frantically at the item in Kyoko's hands.
"Are you sure about that?" Byakuya harshly questioned, though his tone was genuine.
"Positive." Sakura grimaced as she took in the horrific image of the mask. "That is what the masked individual was wearing when we did battle. There's no mistaking it."
An almost awkward silence replaced the shouting as another revelation came to all of them.
"Well then, it seems we've found our masked friend far sooner than anticipated," the Togami Heir smugly commented, pushing up his glasses with a grin. "To think that you'd reveal yourself so readily, I'm almost shocked."
He'd said what everyone else was thinking. There was no evidence to refute that statement, and therefore, it was an easy conclusion to make. At the same time, Makoto couldn't help but feel that something was off, and it appeared that someone else did as well.
"H-Hold on! We don't know if she's really the masked freak or not? You're just making that assumption!" Junko's voice fired back at Byakuya, who scowled at being addressed. To this, the Fashionista smirked and finished, "You know what they say, 'when you assume, you make an ASS out of you and me! Well, in this case, I'd say you've only made an ass of yourself but that's not unusual."
Byakuya's face twisted into a deep frown, glaring menacingly at the Fashionista. "Producing the mask now only further proves that she is the masked individual. And with no proof to the contrary—".
"There's no proof that it is her either! Besides, that's not what this trial is about!" Junko reiterated, trying to get everyone back on track. "We can figure out the masked freak's agenda later. Right now, we need to focus on the case!"
The Togami Heir's scowl deepened, silently acknowledging that she was correct. Even though he obviously wanted to pursue this discussion, his better judgement forced him back onto the proper path.
"Very well," he scathingly agreed. Then, suddenly, he shot his gaze over to Kyoko and seethed, "Rest assured, this discussion isn't over. I will have the truth out of you, one way or another."
"Noted," the lavender haired girl didn't seem distressed by his aggressive tone, opting instead to refocus her efforts. "With this new evidence, we can proceed—".
"Kyoko…" Makoto found himself cutting her off, almost before he'd realized it. And just like before, the words just fell out of his mouth before he could stop himself. "Where exactly did you find the mask?"
"In one of the classrooms," the lavender haired girl answered stoically, finally meeting his gaze. "As I said, I found it this morning and an opportunity to show it to everyone didn't present itself until now."
As she spoke, Makoto unintentionally became entranced, almost losing himself in the majesty of her lavender irises. There was something there, a yearning that he immediately recognized. Kyoko was seeking out the truth, just as she'd always done. Whether in a class trial or when she was investigation various areas of the school, Makoto had seen her fierce determination and, in a strange way, understood it now. Perhaps it was the necessity of the class trials, or the desperation of having to unmask a culprit to survive. Regardless, he was now able to comprehend Kyoko's desire to seek out the unknown and reveal it to the world…even to a lesser extent.
That's why, even though he should have been suspicious, should have questioned her statement, he didn't. Even if she wasn't being completely honest, which he couldn't know either way, he trusted her intentions. She wanted all of them to survive, she wanted to keep them safe, she wanted to defeat the Mastermind and end this killing game! That's what he put his faith in, and he knew he would never regret it!
"Okay…thank you."
Those few words conveyed more than he thought possible. For a moment, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, because he swore he saw a brief smile decorate Kyoko's lips for half a second. However, when he blinked it was gone. Perhaps he'd been imagining it…but he hoped that he hadn't.
Regardless, now wasn't the time to get distracted. Makoto decided to follow Kyoko's lead and pressed on with the class trial.
"So, we have the mask used by the masked attacker, but what exactly does that prove?" Makoto asked, directing the question mainly toward Kyoko. Before the amnesiac girl could answer, however, a light chuckle enveloped the room.
"How…suspicious," Celeste suddenly chimed in, narrowing her gaze at Kyoko as she chuckled a moment longer. "Kyoko just so happened to find that mask and just so happened to remember it at this time? It begs the question how honest her statement truly is—".
"Didn't we just agree to move past that argument until later?" Junko unsurprisingly interrupted, sending a heated glare toward the gambler. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to divert our attention, Celeste."
A single twitch above her right eye, that was the only indication that the Fashionista's words perturbed the gambler. And even though most of the students didn't notice it, the more observant students, such as Junko, Kyoko, and Byakuya, began to see the faintest of hairline cracks in the gambler's perfect mask. Even so, Celeste's demeanor did not betray her, smiling pleasantly as she conceded.
"Very well then, if you wish to waste our valuable time with nonsense, then far be it from me to reprimand you." Celeste's crimson eyes burned with unspoken frustration. "Even if what you say is true, and I did not see the masked individual at that time, it does not resolve the matter of whom was attacked in the art supply room."
"Perhaps not," the Togami Heir entered the fray, giving the gambler next to him a sideways glance. "However, if it is true, and you are lying about seeing the masked figure, then it calls your entire testimony into question."
Not missing a beat, Celeste angled her sickly-sweet smile up at him, as if mocking his assertion.
"Perhaps, but, if I am not mistaken, there is still no way to truly verify whether or not I saw the masked individual—".
"That's correct," Kyoko replied calmly, setting the mask down on the rail of her podium and giving the gambler as passive gaze. "Even with the addition of the mask, there is no way to prove what Celeste did or did not see. At the same time, this is the only mask we've seen, and unless there are multiple spares, it means there can only be one masked individual. However, there is no way to verify if only one mask exists either—."
"Urgh! We're just going around in circles again!" Leon shouted in frustration, hanging his head with a deep sigh. "At this rate, we're never gonna find out which of them—!"
"On the contrary," Kyoko cut in, just as she'd been interrupted. "Our culprit did leave a clue behind, although not a physical one."
As if hit by electricity, all of the students reeled at Kyoko's statement, eyes flying to her in desperate fashion. Among them, Celeste's crimson eyes glared skeptically, but also confidently. A smug smile stretched onto the gambler's lips as she let a light chuckle escape her.
"Oh? And what, may I ask, would that be?" Celeste brazenly asked, averting her gaze in a mocking gesture.
Unaffected by this, Kyoko steeled her gaze. "First, I want to clarify something Celeste told us earlier." Hearing her name, the gambler returned her gaze to the amnesic girl. "Would you mind repeating what you claimed to do after you woke up this morning? As I recall, you left your room before the morning announcement and headed for the Rec Room, is that right?"
Celeste raised an eyebrow at her. "…Yes. As I said before, I was restless the night before and decided to challenge myself to a game of Shogi. I realize that, in a way, I violated the rule that I, myself, proposed, and I apologize."
"After leaving your room, you went straight to the Rec Room? You didn't go anywhere else beforehand?" Kyoko questioned, her inquiry becoming fierce.
With a hint of a scowl, the gambler answered, "No, I did not. I went straight to there, without delay."
"…I see," the lavender haired girl said quietly, but fiercely. There was a strange determination to her tone that, by this point in time, wasn't uncommon for the rest of the students to hear. After a moment of pondering, Kyoko took a deep breath and said, "In that case, how did you pass through the hallway without being seen?"
Genuine shock overtook Celeste's face as confusion radiated from her voice. "I…beg your pardon? What do you mean, 'pass through the hallway without being seen'?"
At once, Kyoko narrowed her gaze, her lavender irises focusing intently on the gambler.
"I kept watch all night, just as I did the previous night. And not only did I not see you this morning, I didn't see you return to your room last night either."
"W-What?" the gambler stammered, a bead of sweat trickling down the side of her face.
Her open display of shock earned the other students' attention. Everyone turned to her with a hint of shock and suspicion in their gazes…except for Hina. The swimmer, while still radiating confidence in her friend, merely looked to her with anxious eyes, waiting for Celeste to refute this claim and dispel doubt. As if empowered by her friend's expression, the gambler took a deep breath as a droplet of sweat dripped off her chin. Regaining her composure, Celeste fixed her perfect mask seemingly effortlessly.
"That is impossible. I most certainly did return to my room last night and left early this morning. To that point, I do not recall your door being left open, especially after yesterday's 'incident'."
At the very least, Celeste was being careful not to mention Alter Ego, which normally would boast sincerity. However, given the gambler's uncharacteristic responded a moment ago, coupled with her subtle but increasingly defensive behavior, it was becoming more and more apparent that she could be hiding something. A fact that Kyoko capitalized on immediately.
"Junko and I agreed to leave our doors open, as a matter of caution." She glanced toward the Fashionista. "Isn't that right, Junko?"
Mukuro almost couldn't believe what was happening. Kyoko…was twisting the truth in order to put pressure on Celeste! She'd never done something like that before. Even when she manipulated Mondo in the previous trial, she'd never outright lied…like she'd done with Makoto only moments ago.
Of course, the soldier knew the reason why…it was to save her.
In order to keep Mukuro safe, Kyoko was actively deceiving her classmates. And now, she was asking the soldier to back up her statement, even though Mukuro herself had no idea if she was telling the truth. It was entirely possible that Kyoko was telling the truth right now, and had left her door open all night. However, saying that she and 'Junko' had jointly decided to leave their doors open was a lie.
The detective hadn't even mentioned it to her! And they both knew it! Making this gamble even more dangerous than it appeared to be!
"Kyoko…what kind of dangerous game are you playing?" Mukuro pondered, feeling the pressure build as her classmates turned to her for an answer. Strangely, she already knew exactly what to say. In fact, she didn't have to debate with herself in the slightest. "She covered for me…so I'll cover for her! I owe her that much at least!"
Without a hint of hesitation, the false fashionista replied…
"Totally! We were worried that someone might try and do something desperate because of what happened yesterday," she shot a glance at Hifumi, who shrunk under her gaze. "So, Kyoko and I decided to leave our doors open. And although I can't say I watched all night, I definitely didn't see Celeste go by this morning, and I was up early fixing my hair!"
Junko patted her hair gently, seemingly proud of how brilliant it looked, which wasn't out of the ordinary. Even if she'd abandoned make-up, for the most part, her hair always looked absolutely perfect, and any of the girls knew how long that could take.
Sayaka remained silent, knowing that her friend's troubles stemmed from wig issues and not actual bed head. Even so, she had no reason not to believe Junko, considering how much faith they had placed in each other recently. Mondo also nodded his pompadour, silently understanding the need for proper time to maintain a hairstyle…though he'd never admit it aloud. Even Celeste was forced to remain silent…experience with her own hair drills making it almost impossible for her to refute that notion.
And that made it all the worse when Kyoko added, "And I awoke at 6AM, keeping watch until the morning announcement. That being the case, isn't it odd that neither of us saw Celeste pass by our rooms?"
The lavender haired girl aimed her gaze at the gambler, practically seeing the frustration waiting to bubble out from beneath Celeste's perfect mask. However, through what could only be called an extreme force of will, the gambler's anger didn't show itself. Celeste somehow managed to keep it hidden beneath her perfect mask, even smiling sweetly at the accusation.
"Just because you did not see me, does not mean I did not pass through the hallway," she calmly asserted, keeping her tone level. "Even if you were watching the entire time, I could have gone around the other way and avoided your rooms altogether—".
"No! That's wrong!"
It had been so long since anyone had heard those words that they almost felt nostalgic. However, as Makoto's voice echoed in the courtroom, drowning out Celeste's suggestion, everyone knew where this was heading. As if defying what might happen, the gambler turned her crimson irises to Makoto, as if daring him to speak.
"Celeste…just a few minutes ago, Kyoko asked if you went straight to the Rec Room this morning," the lucky student said, unfazed by Celeste's gaze. In fact, he shifted his eyes over and met her stare without hesitation, hardening his visage. "What did you tell her? Would you mind repeating yourself?"
Panic momentarily crossed Celeste's features. "I…do not recall exactly. Besides, what does—?"
"Well…that's very interesting. Not to mention…convenient," Byakuya sharply cut in, earning a fiery gaze from the gambler. Smugly smirking, the Togami Heir prepared to continue when he was interrupted.
"W-What's wrong with all of you?!" the frantic voice of Hina shouted, her rage overtaking her. "So what if she doesn't remember what she said a few minutes ago! Stop treating her like a criminal!"
Hina was on the verge of tears, an internal struggle she wanted to keep hidden beginning to show through. She had been listening to everyone's argument…but rejected them all. Celeste was her friend, and it was clear that, no matter what anyone said, she'd never allow herself to turn on the gambler. Even if it meant pursuing the wrong choice, she'd believe in her friend until the very end!
Meanwhile, Celeste had turned her surprised gaze toward the swimmer, staring at her in what appeared to be utter confusion. There was a hint of…something in the gambler's eyes, but her perfect mask obscured it. Whatever it was…it seemed that Celeste considered it to be foreign, because an instant later it vanished, as if it had never been there.
Instead of addressing Hina's complaint, the Togami Heir merely scoffed and turned his attention back toward the gambler. Feeling triumphant, Byakuya furrowed his brows and said, "As I recall, Celeste, you said, 'No…I went straight to there, without delay'. Those were your exact words, correct?"
Celeste flinched as her own words were thrown back at her, both of her hands gripping the fabric of her sleeves tightly. Her knuckles whitened, and she grit her teeth as she listened to Byakuya's argument. She said nothing…which only worsened her situation.
"Now, why would you make such an obvious contradiction?" the Togami Heir's tone held a terrifying mixture of revelation and confidence, a deadly combination during a class trial. "If you've been telling the 'truth' this entire time, then there should be no reason to refute these claims. Unfortunately, for you, it seems that we can now poke more holes in your testimony, than we can Hifumi's. Does anyone else find that…suspicious?"
Celeste's breathing hitched and despite her best efforts, everyone was beginning to see beyond the perfect mask she'd presented to everyone. One by one, all of the students glanced her way.
Sayaka felt a pang of guilt as she looked on, recalling her own desperation that fateful night she'd turned on Leon. Likewise, the baseball star couldn't help but feel sympathy for Celeste. Even if she hadn't been 'proven' as the culprit, he could see where this was going. When he was cornered as 'the blackened', he'd had the same look in his eyes that the gambler now wore. It was painful to see from the outside, so much so that he had to avert his gaze, unable to withstand the agony it brought on. Mondo still wasn't entirely convinced, but he couldn't deny that he also felt a kinship of sorts with Celeste. If she was guilty…he knew exactly how devastating it was to be found out…and all the terror it brought with it.
Chihiro, however, wasn't convinced in the slightest. She'd seen how good-natured Celeste could be, and she had already decided to support her. Even if she was a bit suspicious, she'd wait until there was actual evidence to prove whether or not the gambler was guilty. At the same time, Hifumi looked downright triumphant! Everyone was finally seeing the truth behind Miss Ludenberg's deception and he was thankful for it. Hina gritted her teeth as she caught sight of the fanfic creator's apparent victory, feeling more convinced than ever that he was the one actually manipulating everyone!
Meanwhile, Toko raised an eyebrow at everyone, feeling very confused on how the trial had progressed to this stage.
Across the room, Sakura felt her heart waver. She had the utmost faith in Celeste…because Hina had vouched for her. However, with this new development, it was becoming clear that both she and the swimmer were possibly being manipulated…a feeling that was all too familiar, given her role as the mastermind's mole. Obviously, Kyoko and Junko were pleased that Byakuya had ceased being his usual asshole self and decided to work with them, even if they disapproved of his cruel actions in cornering Celeste. Hiro was utterly lost, but it seemed that most people were turning against Celeste, so he figured he probably should too. He was sure that Makoto would explain everything later anyway…
Speak of which, Makoto now had no doubts as to who was truly guilty in this case. And he made that clear when he addressed Celeste directly.
"Sorry, Celeste…but it looks like this is checkmate."
…Checkmate…Checkmate…Checkmate…Checkmate…Checkmate…Checkmate…
A deep chill ran through her body as Makoto's words echoed in her mind…plaguing her more than he had ever meant to. The majority of the students were against her now. Even if she tried to spin this another way, there was no longer a guarantee that she'd be able to regain her classmates' favor. Almost uncontrollably, Celeste began to laugh. However, it wasn't out of confidence or happiness…but undeniable, genuine terror. All of her fears visited her at once, and her perfect mask began to fracture as her mind began to slip into the depths…of despair.
"Ha…ha-ha…ha-ha, haha, haha, haha—!"
…
…
Then…her perfect mask…exploded.
"DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH, YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN, CHECKMATE?!"
Everything about Celeste vanished. Her accent, her polite posture, her soft tone. All of it completely disappeared as Taeko Yasuhiro took the stage, her true self erupting to the surface.
"Clearly, you all want to cram me into your little guilty box! But there's one little problem!" she screamed at them before somehow finding the will to lower her voice. "You have absolutely NO PROOF that any of this bullshit actually happened!"
"C-Celeste…?"
In the back of her mind, the gambler must have heard Hina's concerned cries, but in her current, infuriated state, she barely recognized the swimmer's voice. Instead, she resumed her shouting with reckless abandon.
"There's NO PROOF that the Mastermind wasn't the masked person I saw! There's NO PROOF that those two bitches aren't lying about keeping watch! And there's NO FUCKING PROOF that I attacked Hifumi! And since there's no way to contradict me, that's the only TRUTH that's possible!"
She panted heavily, desperate for air as she finished her tirade. Just then, a voice called out, and the mere sound of it infuriated her!
"C-Celeste…!"
"WHAT?!"
The gambler shot her gaze over and froze. Staring back at her, completely shell shocked, was Hina, tears glistening in the corners of her bright blue eyes.
All of the rage that had filled Celeste evaporated as she took in the swimmer's tearful visage. Celeste felt herself shiver, as if ice water had been poured over her. Her entire being was frazzled, still ready to lash out, but at the same time…terrified of what she'd just done. As her mind caught up with her actions, she instinctively tried to piece together the perfect mask that she'd obliterated with her rage.
In the end, she found it was impossible. Her perfect mask…was gone. She could pick up the pieces, but it would never be whole again. The horrified expression on Hina's face made that all to clear to her. However, she still had enough pieces of it to at least try and reassemble herself.
Putting on her false accent, she cleared her throat, dry and aching as it was, in a vain attempt to soothe her friend's worries.
"I-I think…I've earned the right…to be a little on edge…" she said, slowly regaining composure and imitating how she usually spoke to everyone.
Her words didn't have the desired effect, as Hina continued to stare at her with utmost concern. In fact, she seemed even more shocked than before. Perhaps trying to switch back to how she usually spoke wasn't the best option, but it was too late to take that back now. What she needed to do now was come up with a plan that would reinstate her innocence.
"Calm…down…I haven't…lost yet…" she told herself, forcing her racing thoughts slow so that she could process them properly. Slowly but surely, she felt her pulse returning to normal, something she hadn't figured would be so comforting. "That's…it…breathe…just…breathe…"
No one seemed eager to pounce on her right now, her violent tirade shocking a good deal of her classmates.
Chihiro, Leon, Mondo, Hiro, and Sakura seemed to share Hina's shell shocked condition, staring at her with utter perplexion. The only exceptions were Taka, who seemed to be teeming with unspoken confusion, and Hifumi, who was currently glaring daggers at her. But since he knew the truth, but she barely even acknowledged him by this point. After all, his vote wouldn't change no matter what she did. Even if she confessed, he'd undoubtedly vote to have her executed.
Which was all the more reason not to confess, why was she even considering that right now!
As expected, Kyoko, Junko, Makoto, and Byakuya were still entirely suspicious of her, but that was to be expected. She'd practically proven their assertions with her vengeful counter, which meant, at the very least, there was no turning them back to her side…if they ever were on her side to begin with. Not to mention that Toko was…strangely silent, a notion that somehow seemed odd and comforting all at the same time. At least little miss bookworm was keeping her murderous persona in check for right now, provided she didn't sneeze again.
The one person who shocked her the most…was Sayaka. The pop idol was staring—no, glaring directly at her. Celeste always knew there was a deeper layer Sayaka, given what they'd seen and heard during the first trial. However, it seemed that she was far more intelligent than the gambler had given her credit for. She knew…Sayaka could see through her now…even if she had managed to put her perfect mask back in place, the pop idol would never see her the same way again. Probably because…in a strange way, they were very similar. Both of them had planned murders, and tried to act on them. However, whereas Sayaka was remorseful for her moment of weakness…Celeste was…Celeste was…
Grunting, forcing any lingering thoughts from her mind, Celeste almost mechanically began devising her next strategy.
While she'd refuted her accusers' claims, the manner in which she'd done it was ultimately suspect. Again, she knew there was no way to reverse it, and instead focused on what she could do now.
"I need to stick with the 'no proof' logic for now. It may have been forceful, but given the stress I'm under, I can explain it away as fear that everyone would be executed. No sense in trying to maintain the act for much longer either, I can tell everyone that it's a coping mechanism and try to leave it at that. Then, when everyone's not so fucking frazzled, I can—".
"Celeste is right."
Those words shocked the gambler, or at least, the person they came from startled her. None other than Makoto had said those words. A hand rested on his chin, and he was deep in thought, but it was clear that he had been the one to come to her defense! Frankly…it was startling! Perhaps he'd been drawn to her show of frustration and chosen to see it as a cry for help? He was naively stupid like that—
"Instead of focusing on our lack of evidence, we need to focus on what motives Celeste had for targeting Taka and Hifumi in the first place."
…
…
…
"What the hell are you talking about?! I'll burn you alive!"
The words slipped out of her before she even realized what was happening. Because her initial perception, thinking Makoto was defending her, had been completely disproven, she'd unintentionally flown back into her rage-induced state. She could only imagine how everyone was looking at her, but she kept her eyes focused on the floor for a moment, seeming as apologetic as she could muster.
Quick to cover up her mistake, she kindly bowed to everyone and said, "M-My apologies…It seems that I forgot myself for a—".
"Let's start with a potential motive," Kyoko abruptly said, not letting Celeste finish. "She may have been motivated by the secrets that Taka revealed to all of us."
Again, Celeste felt her rage ignite, though she tried to keep it under control. Snapping her head up, she glared at Kyoko and said, "E-Excuse me?! Why are we suddenly discussing what my motive would have been?!"
"We should also consider the motive Monokuma gave us," Junko said to everyone, making everyone remember the large stash of money that Taka currently had for 'safe keeping'. "If you look at it like that, it makes sense that Celeste would target Taka in order to get the money."
"I-I already explained that I don't need that money!" Celeste shouted, abandoning her accent altogether as her head snapped toward the Fashionista. "I make plenty of money through gambling!"
"If that's the case, why bother involving Hifumi?" Byakuya pointed out, momentarily glancing at the fanfic creator. "As a scapegoat, he would be useful, but as we've seen, there are obvious drawbacks to securing his services."
Getting infuriated, Celeste screamed, "The very idea, that I would choose to spend more than a few moments with that…shit for brains, worthless, god-damn idiot—!"
She paused, realizing that she was backing herself into a corner again, and immediately forced her fake accent to return.
"Ahem…um…Pardon moi—".
"It has to be one of those two motives," Makoto surmised for the group, his classmates hinging on every word. "But the question is, which one? I guess it could be both, but one of them must have had more weight to it…"
Opening scoffing at him, she seethed, "To think, you'd take your false accusations so far—I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO LAUGH OR SPIT!"
Completely by accident, she happened to brush her hand against her cheek, a startled gasp escaping her. Almost without realizing it, Celeste's hands had grown unimaginably cold. So cold, in fact, that they ached. So much so, that she was forced to acknowledge them…which unfortunately led her to a far more frightening discover. She was shivering…not just her hands, but her entire body had gone abruptly cold. Her legs wobbled, her cold hands shooting out and grasping the wooden rail just to keep her upright. She was…trembling, uncontrollably so. No matter how hard she fought to stop it, her body refused to listen to her commands.
And it didn't take her long to realize why…
…
"Her motive was that she hated Taka!" Hifumi proclaimed, finally able to speak up again.
"That's not exactly uncommon by this point," the Togami Heir countered, glaring down his nose at the fanfic creator. "We were all pushed to our breaking point by his inane actions—".
"W-What is the meaning of this?!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru refuted, his voice at full volume. "If there were such complaints, I would know of them! Did I not urge everyone to speak with me if they had any pressing concerns?! I even contemplated setting up a complaint box just for such an occasion! Perhaps I should have implemented it sooner, but regardless, no one truly despises the office of Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishi—!"
"Urgh, would you quit with all the yelling?!" Junko interrupted him, making him fall silent. "We can discuss how annoying you've been later! For now, you're scaring Chihiro! So stop it!"
"I-I'm fine…" Chihiro whispered, not sure if anyone actually heard her.
"Regardless, we need to figure out which of those motives provoked Celeste into action," Kyoko reiterated, a gloved hand resting on her chin. "Perhaps we should consider revealing our secrets here and now? That would be the quickest way to discern which is hers and how it may have influenced her…"
…
Celeste…was astonished. No…more like mortified.
"They're…they're ignoring me…"
The realization hit her so hard she nearly lost her balance. Her use of words had been her greatest skill. Bluffing, lying, coercing, manipulating…it all came so naturally to her. When she spoke, people listened…it had been that way for so long that…she'd completely forgotten there was a time when her words were unable to reach anyone.
"They're…not even bothering to counter my arguments anymore. They're just…continuing the conversation…without me…"
In that moment, more than any other, she truly felt like she had returned…returned to being Taeko Yasuhiro…the little girl that no one ever listened to…the little girl…who barely existed.
"NO! I won't go back to that! I WON'T! I'm NOT Taeko Yasuhiro! Not anymore! My name is CELESTIA LUDENBERG, god-dammit! And you WILL listen to me!"
Without thinking, Celeste bit her own tongue, hard enough to draw the faintest taste of blood. The pain brought her back, cleared away all those distressing thoughts, and finally brought her back to the mindset she wanted to be in…her mindset as Celestia Ludenberg.
"Let's see them ignore this!"
Mukuro could see it. Celeste was breaking down. It hadn't been intentional, but when everyone collectively began to discuss her possible motives, they'd stopped reacting to her arguments. They were listening, certainly, but every time she 'broke character', they knew they were getting closer to the truth. And it certainly was having an effect!
While she didn't look distraught, Mukuro could see that Celeste was growing more and more desperate which each new suggestion from their classmates. And while she still had that rebellious anger in her eyes, it was clear that they were getting her closer and closer to confessing.
"If we keep going like this, we should be able to wrap this up pretty soon—".
"You want to know what my secret was? Fine! I'll tell you!"
Celeste's voice rang out, echoing around the courtroom as a deafening silence followed after it. Everyone was stunned, but no one more so than Mukuro. The soldier's shock didn't last long, as she was already contemplating what the gambler was attempting to do.
"She wouldn't…that's one thing that…she'd never actually let slip…right?"
Before she could question her, Byakuya beat the soldier to the punch.
"How very strange that you chose now to reveal that information…"
His smug tone was infuriating but Mukuro couldn't deny the effect it was having. Celeste looked…hesitant, if only slightly, which was a vast improvement from a moment ago! And better yet, the Togami Heir pressed her further.
"What good will revealing your secret do for us? Is this merely a ploy in order to distract us from your true motives? Well…is it?"
"No…it's not."
For the first time in so long, there wasn't a trace of deception in Celeste's voice. Her accent was gone. Her high-society posture had been discarded. Her previously angry demeanor had seemingly vanished. All that remained…was a pure and honest girl, making a pure and honest request…or so it seemed.
"It's because…because…because…because…because, because, because, because…!" She trailed off for a moment, lost in what appeared to be a mixture of grief and frustration. However, she suddenly took a deep breath and proclaimed, "If it'll prove my innocence, then I'll gladly tell you all my deepest secrets and regrets!"
Mukuro couldn't deny…it was one hell of an answer.
Moreover, it felt incredibly…genuine. Celeste appeared to be genuinely pouring her heart out to everyone. Granted, more than likely it was just a convenient lie that she was using to garner sympathy and avoid being voted as the culprit, but that didn't unmind how infectious her hopeful words were…and that's why Mukuro didn't trust her.
She'd seen this before, time and time again with Junko. She'd watched as her sister would change her personality daily, shifting between kind and caring to dark and sadistic. She'd seen that kind of behavior so long…she could easily see through it. She'd always been able to see through Celeste's 'perfect mask', and the eventual confrontation when she would have to reveal that to the gambler had been something she'd nervously anticipated for quite a while now.
Suffice it to say, no matter how talented an actress Celeste was right now…she had nothing on Junko's acting prowess. And that spelled tragedy for her classmates.
Slowly, Mukuro watched as her classmates bought her act. Even Makoto, as sure as he'd been a moment ago, seemed to doubt her intentions. Only Kyoko, with her perceptive nature as a detective, seemed wary of the gambler's act. And while that was reassuring, the fact that the rest of the class seemed entranced by her 'sudden devotion', absolutely terrified her.
After all, Celeste had been playing this con for so long…it had almost become first nature to her.
Her name…her true name…Taeko Yasuhiro…had just become a powerful weapon.
The soldier knew exactly how much the gambler hated that name. To her, it had always symbolized everything she was not. Plain, boring, typical. That's why her persona as Celestia Ludenberg had meant so much to her. Even after she'd revealed her true name to everyone, several months after they'd sealed themselves inside Hope's Peak, no one had called her by that name.
Out of respect, she and her fellow students continued to all her 'Celeste', as it helped the gambler cope with the despair that was running rampant outside. Even the real Junko had, more or less, stayed true to that during their shared time in the shelter…with the occasional 'slip' happening, so that Junko could get a tiny taste of the gambler's despair prematurely. However…this 'Celeste' had no memory of that…and if they'd inadvertently pushed her too hard, it could undo all that she and Kyoko had done to convince her classmates that the gambler was guilty.
"If she's willing to go that far just to fool us, it means she's getting desperate! I can't let this happen I have to say something to—!"
"Great idea, Celeste!" Hina abruptly shouted, her voice lighter and happier than ever before. Mukuro cursed the fact that she hadn't spoken up sooner, gritting her teeth as the swimmer continued, "In fact, why don't we all reveal our secrets now! We already know what they are, we just need to acknowledge them, right? It might help us figure out who the culprit is!"
Everyone knew that Hina was kind of grasping at straws, but the second the idea of everyone revealing their secrets was announced, all hell broke loose.
"I-I am at odds with this idea!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru shouted to everyone, sweating profusely for some reason. "Truly we only need for Celeste to reveal her secret for this case!"
"Hey! That's not fair!" Hina countered, her face reddening as she continued. "I mean…yeah, it's super embarrassing to tell everyone our secrets, but it's not fair to have Celeste be the only one to do it!"
"Just wanted to say that I don't think it's a good idea either!" Leon abruptly shouted, his face turning red for some reason. "I mean, what if someone…isn't ready for that kind of information to be out there."
If she hadn't known better, she could have sworn that Leon momentarily glanced toward Sayaka…which had the soldier all the more worried when she checked the pop idol's face. Sayaka's complexion had paled and she was breathing heavily, anxiety practically radiating off of her.
And it wasn't only her…many of her classmates seemed hesitant at this idea.
Byakuya, hadn't said anything, which was the clearest indication that he wanted nothing to do with the idea. Chihiro, Mondo, and Toko didn't really have anything to say either, considering their secrets were out in the open. Makoto seemed very nervous, but not completely unopposed to the idea. Hifumi looked downright terrified, and Taka appeared to be having a kind of mini-heart attack.
And Celeste…seemed elated.
Mukuro's eyes widened as she realized that this had been the gambler's goal all along! She must have figured that Hina or something else would suggest sharing all their secrets! It was causing chaos and diverting attention away from her! In fact, it was making her seem less and less suspicious with each passing moment!
"At this rate, we'll never get this back on track! Dammit, how the hell could I have let it come to this?!"
The soldier scrambled to try and find a way to get this away from the secrets and back to the trial itself. And it was then that she received some unexpected assistance.
"W-W-What's the p-point of discussing o-our secrets now?" Toko Fukawa, the Ultimate Writing Prodigy, swiftly ceased any and all chatter as she spoke. "B-Besides! Even if s-she tells us what her st-stupid secret is, it still w-wouldn't make sense f-for her to be the c-culprit!"
This assertion sent a wave of shock throughout the entire courtroom. Everyone, including Mukuro, couldn't believe the words coming out of Toko's mouth. Everyone had figured she'd be on her beloved Byakuya's side, as per usual, but this time, she took an opposite stance. It was so…unexpected. So much so, that even Byakuya felt he needed to address her directly.
"And what, exactly, do you mean by that? Speak quickly and efficiently, I don't want to be exposed to your foul breath more than I need to be."
His tone harsh and cruel…just the way Toko liked it. Mukuro shuddered as she watched the writing prodigy practically convulse with ecstasy at merely being talking to like that.
"Y-Y-Yes…Master!" she stammered, riding out a wave of sickening pleasure. Wiping the drool from her chin, she did as commanded. "W-Well, it doesn't make sense that e-either of them would w-want to h-have a class trial right n-now!"
Again, her words confused the rest of the students, but Mukuro felt that she was onto something. And if she was right…
"And why's that?" the disguised soldier found herself asking. "Why wouldn't either Celeste or Hifumi want a class trial?!"
Snapping her gaze over, Toko sneered at her, "D-Don't talk to me l-like that!"
"Answer the question, you vile piece of filth!" Byakuya abruptly seethed, growing impatient.
Immediately, Toko responded, "B-Because neither of them are b-b-blackened! Th-That's why it d-doesn't make s-sense!"
…
…
…
"This can't be real…I must be dreaming."
That was all Mukuro could think as Toko pointed out something she'd been forbidden to tell her classmates. Ever since Junko had told her the truth about the bullying trials, that even if they succeeded and everyone else was executed, the culprit wasn't a blackened…and would remain behind in the school…alone.
Mukuro had gone to great extremes to try and suggest that to everyone, but in the end, she feared her classmates may never learn the truth. And now…the beautiful, yet disgusting, woman known as Toko Fukawa had just delivered that information to them on a silver platter!
And it didn't take long for other people to catch onto what she meant either.
Toko's words echoed in the courtroom for some time, a foreboding silence quickly following. All of the students were in thought, but only some of them seemed to grasp the true meaning behind this revelation.
Makoto, in particular, paled as he began to understand just how sick and twisted the Mastermind truly was. Not far away, Kyoko clenched her gloved fists as regretted not piecing that information together sooner. In a similar vein, Byakuya also felt a great deal of shame as that truth became known to him…and from a person he'd written off as mostly useless.
Like it or not, many people's perspective of Toko Fukawa changed that day.
"Why does that matter?" Leon abruptly asked, feeling completely out of the loop. "So what if they're not really 'blackened'? What does that mean for this case?"
It wasn't until Sayaka spoke up that the baseball star, and by extension everyone else, began to understand.
"Think about it…" she said slowly, her own complexion paling. "Someone only becomes a 'blackened' when they successfully kill someone. And only a 'blackened'…can graduate."
Almost as one, the students that hadn't realized this truth suddenly became aware.
"Hold on!" Hiro yelled, still unsure if what he'd figured out was right. "Since this trial doesn't have a 'blackened', that means that, no matter which of them is guilty…they won't get out of the school once we're executed?!"
"O-Obviously!" Toko berated him, feeling superior for the first time in ages. "Th-That's why it d-doesn't make sense f-for either of them t-to be the c-culprit! E-Especially Celeste! Since she' a-adapted to living h-here already! She w-wouldn't want t-to be a-alone by h-herself, right?"
Throughout all of this, Celeste was eerily silent. She was obviously listening, but she wasn't responding. In fact, her face took on a completely stoic expression as she stared down at the floor.
"H-Holy shit!" Mondo abruptly shouted, lurching forward as his legs wobbled. "Th-That means that…even if I had gotten away with…what I did to Chihiro, I woulda been stuck here for the rest of my life! Alone!"
"Not alone…" Junko seethed, glaring at Monokuma with renewed ire. "You'd be trapped in here…with no one but the Mastermind!"
As one, all of the students turned their collective frustration toward Monokuma, who merely blushed. "Aww, you figured it out! And here I was hoping it would be a wonderful…surprise! Ahahahahahahahahaha!"
As the bear's cackling echoed in their ears, all of the students felt a great sense of shame. None of them had figured out the hidden meaning of the bullying trials, aside from Toko that is. Aside from her, they had all figured the class trial was just another cruel twist in the Mastermind's game…but this realization showed them that the Mastermind had far more devious designs than any of them dared to imagine.
"You sick fuck!" Mondo screamed, finding strength in his legs once again. "You knew this would happen! You did this on purpose!"
"And if that's the case," Kyoko spoke up, a hint of anger showing on her face. "It's all to drive us further into despair, am I correct?"
"…Obviously…and that means…this trial is pointless now…"
A voice, almost unrecognizable, suddenly spoke up. It took everyone a moment to realize…it was Celeste. She'd lifted her gaze, and to everyone's shock…her eyes were completely lifeless. As if someone had snuck in and removed her soul, she let out a deep sigh. Slowly, she looked around to everyone and said the unthinkable.
"I…Celestia Ludenberg…actually, no…" She hesitated…as if a part of herself was being torn away…but finally, she managed to say, "Taeko Yasuhiro is fine."
"T-Taeko?" the Ultimate Lucky Student repeated, as if in awe, before understanding flooded him. "Wait, does this mean—?"
"You know…I'm the type of person that…once I've lost, I don't like to drag things out," Celeste, or rather Taeko, interrupted, much to everyone's shock.
"L-Lost…?" Hina's voice trembled as she spoke, as if she was rejecting the truth she'd already pieced together…a truth that everyone had pieced together. Even so, it seemed that the swimmer still rejected that truth, because a moment later, she screamed, "What do you mean…'lost'?!"
"It's exactly what it sounds like," Byakuya said with a scoff, averting his gaze from both of them, still seething over his inability to see through Monokuma's trick. Without looking her way, he spoke to Celeste. "So, you finally admit it then?"
"No! You're wrong! It's a lie! I won't believe this!" Hina shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. She lurched forward, practically throwing herself in Celeste's direction, screaming, "Tell them it's not true! Don't give up, Celeste! I believe in—".
"Just shut up…I'm done with this whole thing."
Hina choked on a sob as her 'friend' refuted her, those cruel words like a million daggers stabbing into the swimmer's chest. As the truth was finally laid bare, the girl who they had known as Celestia Ludenberg faded away…leaving only Taeko Yasuhiro behind.
"This is it…I've lost…I'm the culprit."
To Be Continued…
Greetings, my beautiful readers! How about that for a twist?! Now that Celeste has confessed, will her classmates show her mercy? How will the vote for Celeste proceed? Will she be spared or condemned for her crimes? You'll have to wait until next time to find out!
Now, I want to give a big shout out to my editing beta! Without their help, I never would have gotten this chapter out as quickly as I did! Thank you so much for all the heard work!
This is a chapter that I've been anxious to write for years! Ever since I first played Danganronpa, I envisioned a way to save Celeste from her fate…and next time, you'll find out how I plan to do just that! Celeste was best girl for me, and this story came about, at first, mainly due to my desire to see everyone, especially her, survive! I've got some interesting ideas planned and I hope you all stick around and enjoy them!
As always, I appreciate comments/reviews to tell me how the story is going, or if you have questions, comments, concerns, fears, tears, traumas, phobias, or anything of the sort you want to discuss with me! So send them my way anytime!
Until next time, have yourselves a great day, my beautiful readers!