Never Say Never
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.
Important Information in Author's Note. Please Read.
Chapter 3
Act 25
"This is it…I've lost…I'm the culprit."
Those bitter words hung heavy around Celeste's neck. How long…? How long had it been since she'd been forced to utter such a disgraceful sentence? She couldn't even remember…or, more accurately, she didn't want to remember. She wanted to remember her victories, the disgruntled faces of her opponents, the confidence she felt whenever placing a winning bet, and the pride of using her skills to prove to the world…that she deserved to exist.
But sadly, she was forced to recognize that her time as Celestia Ludenberg…was coming to an end…just as her life soon would.
There was no escaping her fate, not after everything she'd done. Her classmates would vote her guilty, and hers would be the first 'true' execution their class witnessed. A part of her was still screaming, frantically trying to convince her not to give up, to struggle to live, but she effortlessly locked it away.
All of her plans, all of her determination, all of her resolve to sacrifice her classmates in order to attain her castle…it had all been utterly pointless. With Toko's revelation fresh in her mind, cruelly reminding her of how fruitless her efforts had been, she prepared herself mentally as she waited for Monokuma to announce voting time.
However, instead of the calculated and annoyingly sweet tone of the evil teddy bear, a gruff voice disrupted the silence.
"H-Hold on a god-damn second!"
Celeste's eye twitched as Mondo's infuriating comment reached her ears, making her scowl and angle her gaze toward him. The biker seemed confused…but also quite angry. However, Celeste didn't really care to ponder why. He was an idiot. Always had been, always would be. Wasting the effort to analyze his motivations wasn't how she wanted to spend her final moment, so she merely stood there, glaring at him for momentarily postponing her fate.
"This doesn't make any god-damn sense! I…I saw Celeste being attacked by Hifumi—!"
"You saw him standing over me with a hammer in hand, that's it." Celeste cruelly interrupted him, her face showing a twinge of frustration. Taking in her gaze, the biker found himself silenced as she let out a sigh. "You jumped to your own dumb-ass conclusions without even taking a second to ask why the fuck I was there in the first place!"
Offended, and slightly embarrassed by his own lack of forethought, Mondo stammered, "W-What the hell else was I supposed to think?! When I see some bastard trying to hurt a girl, I beat his fucking face in! That's all there is to it!"
Celeste felt her jaw ache as her teeth ground tightly. She fought to keep herself from exploding. After all, these were her final moments…she didn't want them to be marred by an uncivilized display. With a scoff of superiority, she smirked at him incredulously.
"Coming from the dipshit who ruined my plans, that's an insult."
"W-Wha?!" a perplexed Mondo stammered. "The fuck are you—?"
With a calm tone, she interrupted him, "If you hadn't gone after Taka earlier this morning, he'd be dead, and my plan wouldn't have gotten derailed. And let's not forget the utter insanity of taping the closet in the nurse's office shut. It slowed me down and—".
"So then, you truly did plan to smother Chihiro, didn't you?"
The gambler couldn't help the lengthy grunt of frustration as Byakuya interjected. The arrogant prick thought he had everything figured out, she could tell just by his tone. She didn't even bother with glancing his way, even though he stood right next to her. He wasn't worth it. She may have been an attempted murderer, but at least she wasn't an utter ass-face with little to no redeeming qualities!
"No, actually, I never planned to smother Chihiro. That would've been pointless."
A few gasps echoed, and Celeste found a tiny hint of a smile gracing her lips. It was actually kind of amusing to expose her own crime…if only to put that asshole Byakuya in his place!
"Like you all reasoned earlier, it would have been obvious that either Hifumi or I were at fault, and I didn't want to narrow the suspicion down to just the two of us…even though that happened anyway."
She shot a mean glance in Mondo's direction but chose not to chastise him further, concentrating on refuting ass-face (Byakuya's) claim.
"If I had smothered Chihiro, there would have been evidence I would have left behind. I don't like taking unnecessary risks and given that my plan was royally fucked by that point, it was too dangerous to take a gamble on. Though I admit that I did consider it for a moment or two."
As she informed them of this, she noticed, out of the corner of her eyes, the petite programmer shuddering. Celeste couldn't blame her, considering Chihiro's brushes with death, on two separate occasions now. Nevertheless, the gambler decided it wasn't worth it trying to lie, and on a whim, chose to divulge everything.
"It's exactly like Junko said. I didn't see anyone in the hallway. I just needed an excuse to go and meet up with Hifumi in the art supply room. I should have come up with a better strategy, but because I wasted so much time un-tapping a fucking door, I was feeling a bit pressured."
She expected to see a look of triumph on Mondo's face. He'd somehow managed to foil her plot twice, though unintentionally. He should be proud of himself, in some respects at least. So…why the hell was he scowling and looking constipated? It was like he was struggling internally…which confused the hell out of Celeste.
"He saved two lives by accident and he's fucking sulking? Why do dumb people make no fucking sense…?"
Not letting the biker's surprising reactions deter her further, Celeste continued her explanation.
"Hindsight's 20/20, as they say. I shouldn't have said it was the masked figure I saw. I had no idea Kyoko had the mask the whole time, I'll let you all deal with the fallout of that on your own."
A hint of superiority crossed her face as she watched the uncomfortable expressions form on her classmates' faces. She had no idea who the masked figure really was, and once she was executed, it wouldn't matter anyway. Kyoko probably did just find the mask and planned to share it with everyone later.
After all, Kyoko was investigating the school, and didn't hide that fact from anyone. She wouldn't need to run around in a mask at night, considering how distant she already was from everyone else. Besides, as talented as the mysterious girl had proven herself to be, the gambler doubted she could go toe-to-toe with Sakura, at least if the story of her encounter with the masked figure was accurate. Because of that, it wasn't likely that Kyoko was the masked figured everyone was now desperate to uncover.
No, if she ventured a guess…Celeste would have put her money on Junko.
On multiple occasions, the Fashionista had proven herself to be far more capable than any of them could have realized. Her dramatic entrance when coming to Leon's rescue, coupled with her little story about being homeless for a time, suggested that she wasn't as naïve or powerless as she presented herself. And even though she'd heard it second hand, from Hina, the fact that she managed to knock Mondo on his ass when he tried to drag her into the nurse's office proved that.
"If I were a betting woman, which I am, I'd place all my bets on her…especially after that little stunt with Monokuma."
No one should have even thought to question if Celeste had really seen the masked figure or not. But Junko did…meaning one of two things. Either she was hyper suspicious of the gambler from the start, which she didn't have a need to be. Or, the more likely reason, because Junko Enoshima was the masked figured and was taking a risk in order to expose the truth.
Then again, was it a huge risk? True, the trust she'd been building with everyone would be destroyed if she was unmasked, if Celeste was correct, of course. But even then, it's not like her life was at stake or anything. Perhaps that's why Junko decided to take that gamble, and it certainly paid off…unlike her own gamble.
"I hate to say it…but I was outbid. Well played, you manipulative fashion bitch."
Almost lazily, Celeste's crimson eyes shifted and caught the Fashionista's gaze. Their eyes clashed, sky-blue hues battling with deep crimson irises, much as they'd done in the class trial. This time, however, the gambler was able to think surprisingly clearly…which gave her new insight into the Fashionista's person. There was no hesitation in Junko's eyes…only a fierce determination that, until now, Celeste had written off as naïve optimism. Those sky-blue eyes penetrated her…and it became clear exactly why Celeste was outmatched.
"…She never saw my mask. She only saw me. Ironic…I put so much effort into becoming Celestia Ludenberg…but all she saw was Taeko Yasuhiro…that pisses me the fuck off…"
Despite that thought, Celeste chose to remain stoic. Even if she was right, and Junko was the masked figure, she didn't want her final moments to be overtaken by someone else's deeds. These were her final moments, and she wanted them to go her own way. She wouldn't let anyone else determine how she lived her final moments. Not anyone.
Tearing her eyes away from Junko's piercing gaze, she addressed everyone.
"From there, you all know what happened. I pretended to lose my earring in order to separate from Hina, met with Hifumi in the art supply room, and tried to kill him. It just didn't go anything like I planned…fuck my life."
A number of the students were shocked by her abrupt shift in attitude and tone. No surprise really, considering they'd only been exposed to Celeste and not Taeko. The two were almost polar opposites, just as she'd intended, and she'd be lying if she didn't find it amusing to see them cringe at her vulgar behavior.
However, much to her chagrin, there was one student who wasn't surprised in the least.
"Do you all see now! I told you she was a heartless beast! She tried to place all the blame on me and turn me into the villain!" Hifumi suddenly shouted, pointing at her, and wagging his finger furiously…almost like a dog's tail.
"If only he'd wagged his tail and been a good disposable pet like I'd planned…" Celeste mused as she endured his tirade.
"You all doubted me…and for good reason, but still! I knew you all would be able to see the truth eventually!" Placing his hands on his hips, the fat otaku openly scoffed at her. "Despite your best efforts, your true nature has been exposed! I had thought you a Tsundere but in reality…" he abruptly changed his tone to sound more eloquent…for some reason. "You were truly a Yandere, all along!"
By this point, many of the other students had grown accustomed to Hifumi's ramblings; partially because they didn't understand half of what he was trying to say, and partially because they were used to him being completely random sometimes. However…
"I can't be a Yandere, moron. I'm not madly in love with anyone enough to kill for them." Celeste let out a deep sigh, unsure of why she bothered arguing at this point.
Absolutely everyone, from Kyoko to Junko, all the way over to Byakuya and Monokuma, collectively stared at her, pure and complete shock covering their expressions. It took a moment for the gambler to notice them, to which she raised an eyebrow and mockingly replied:
"What? I've read manga."
The complete contrast between everything she appeared to be, and the person she truly was, continued to grow wider and wider with each passing moment. Strangely, it seemed that her classmates found this new side of herself even more mysterious than the persona she usually asserted. She wasn't sure that she liked that, considering her Celeste persona was who she truly wanted to be. There was nothing eloquent about Taeko, nothing interesting. A boring, plain girl with absolutely no redeeming qualities…that's who she truly was. It was no wonder her classmates found her true persona so strange. It was like meeting two different people.
Chalked it up to shock from the trial going so bizarrely and she turned to face Hifumi.
"Oh, and I was never a Tsundere, either. That would imply that I had some kind of attraction to you in any way shape or form…which I don't…and personally, the very idea makes me want to vomit, so…tough luck fatass."
She expected him to be devastated, taking down a peg or two by her brilliant retort…she was horribly mistaken.
"I reject that statement! Well, the first one anyway!" the fanfic creator shouted, pushing up his glasses and matching her gaze with his beady black eyes. "You are, undoubtedly…a Yandere!"
"No, no I'm not," Celeste exhaustedly replied, already tired of this argument. This was not how she wanted to spend her last moments on this earth, and his dipshit insistences were making it unbearable! "There's absolutely no one here I love enough to kill for, in order to help them surviv—".
"Not true, Miss Yasuhiro!" the fanfic creator spat, using her real name, she presumed just to be a dick. "You are, in fact…in love with yourself!"
That caught her off-guard for a moment, because she kind of wanted to agree with him. However, after everything that had happened in the last few hours, unfortunately she'd come to an exact opposite conclusion.
With a frustrated groan, she replied, "No, I kind of hate myself right now…"
"…You should."
Crimson eyes widened as a familiar voice reached her ears. Slowly, the gambler turned and came face to face with the one person she'd wanted to avoid speaking with. Aoi Asahina, her usual friendly smile completely torn asunder by the furious expression twisting her face. A sharp pain dug into Celeste's chest, but she ignored it, taking all of the swimmer's wrath without faltering.
"You should hate yourself…after everything you've done!" Hina screamed, her voice raw. Tears spilled from the swimmer's eyes, but she made no move to wipe them away, letting them trail down her cheeks as she shouted, "How could you…how could you do such a horrible thing?! I…I trusted you! You and I…we were…we were…"
"We were never friends."
The words came out of Celeste almost automatically, mechanically even. At the same time, the gambler took note of the painful expression that warped Hina's face. The swimmer was struggling…her own feelings tearing her apart. And…it was all her fault…
"She shouldn't have trusted me…she was so…"
She wanted to berate Hina for her stupidity…but found herself unable to. Because, in the end, Hina wasn't stupid…she was pure-hearted. And while most people confused that for idiocy…Celeste recognized it as something entirely different. It was a rare trait that very few people possessed…one that was invaluable to people like Celeste. Pure-hearted individuals, such as Hina, were easier to manipulate…because they always wanted to see the good in everyone…even a diabolical liar like Celeste. And in the end, that honest nature almost destroyed everything the swimmer cared for.
It was a cruel thing to do…to such a good-natured girl like Hina…but what's done is done. Celeste chose to use Hina like a tool…that's all she'd been to Celeste…a tool…nothing more.
Hina's trusting nature…she'd taken advantage of it. And now, when everything was said and done…a part of her regretted it. If she'd had known this was going to happen, she probably would have avoided Hina altogether. However, she had chosen to drag Hina down into the depths of despair along with her…another sin to bear as her time came close to its end.
And in the end, it wasn't Hina's fault that the plan had failed…the only person to blame for that was Mondo…and Taka…and also Hifumi…but in most respects it was her own fault as well. Still, there was no point in lying to Hina now…or so she told herself…conjuring one final lie to comfort herself.
"You were nothing but a disposable pawn. A sacrifice for my castle. That's all our 'friendship' amounted to in the end. Honestly…it's kind of shocking how easy you were to manipulate!"
The gambler forced a malicious smirk to overtake her lips. It was the only thing keeping her together as she decided it was best to deal with Hina now…and perhaps help the poor fool understand her own shortcomings. Not letting her cruel expression falter, she met Hina's teary gaze.
"But I have to admit, you were the best god-damn pawn I've put to use. Always defending me, no matter how obvious it was that I was the culprit. I really have to thank you for that. Seriously, without your ridiculously strong sense of 'friendship', I wouldn't have had a snowball's chance in hell!"
Celeste watched as Hina's sadness deepened, the poor girl sobbing, her body trembling as she was finally told how the gambler truly felt about her. And even though that stupid pain in her chest refused to subside, Celeste pressed forward, not letting this little setback diminish the fact that these were her final moments…and she'd spend them acknowledging how much Hina's support had moved her.
"But you just kept at it! You didn't let anyone talk down to me! You, Hina, were the reason I almost got away with murder! But…it doesn't matter, because even if I'd won, I would have ultimately lost. So, as thanks for all your hard work, allow me to offer you one last piece of advice before my punishment…"
Through tears, Hina stared at her, bright blue eyes wide and desperate for understanding. Knowing that she was truly listening, Celeste decided to impart one final bit of wisdom.
"From here on…don't trust anyone. Throughout history, people have shown themselves to be nothing but deceitful, selfish creatures…willing to stab anyone in the back as long as it benefits them. Don't make the same mistake twice…"
Hina chocked back sobs, a disgusting mixture of anger and betrayal radiating from her expression. A sharp pain pricked Celeste's chest, but she ignored it, knowing she had to finish strong.
"Oh, and if you do try to kill someone…don't fuck up like I did. Kill the smart ones, that'll give you a better chance."
And with that, she fell silent, watching as her words sank deep into Hina's very soul. It was selfish of her to do such a thing, but these were her final moments, after all. Besides…it was all she could do for Hina now…the only advice she could think of…for the one true friend she'd ever made.
Once she was certain that the swimmer wasn't going to respond, Celeste turned toward Monokuma with a solemn expression.
"Alright, Monokuma…I'm ready to begin," she said quietly, knowing how eager the demented bear was for a real execution. "No…I guess…this is the end…isn't it?"
She could practically see the malice radiating off the bear as she finished, but she ignored it. Whatever happened next, she deserved it. This was her punishment…and she wouldn't let—
"Hold on a fuckin' second!" Mondo suddenly shouted, his eyes frantic with confusion and frustration. "Are you saying that just because she planned everything, Hifumi gets off scot-free?! After all the shit he tried to pull?! That's bullshit!"
Letting out a low growl of frustration, Celeste battled to keep up her calm visage.
"Why do idiots have to talk so fucking much? I'm guilty and I admitted it. Deal with it. I don't want or need your pity. Then again…"
One last dark impulse took over Celeste as she spared a glance in Hifumi's direction. The fanfic creator's head hung low, his shame, and possible fear of being lumped into an execution with her, was no doubt causing him quite a bit of grief. His vigor from before was gone, replaced with an understandable trepidation.
Honestly, Celeste couldn't deny that she wouldn't mind seeing him go down with her. After all, his sudden growth of a conscience had been the final thread that unraveled the fabric of her master plan.
"A double execution…coupled with being the first 'real' execution…that would be a memorable way to out…"
That thought, as twisted as it was, sort of comforted Celeste. If she was going to die anyway, she wanted it to be a spectacle. One that she could revel in as she shuffled off this mortal coil.
Unfortunately, even that hope was dashed…
"As much as I would love the opportunity to have a double execution…" Monokuma announced, the hint of disappointment in those words informing Celeste of the bear's decision before the automaton finished speaking. "I'm afraid it goes against the rules of the bullying trial. As per the rules, only the 'bully' will be punished! And, since Little Miss Taeko has admitted to being the instigator of this little scuffle, that means the blame falls squarely on her shoulders!"
Celeste cringed as the mastermind used her real name. The mastermind probably knew her real name before she even arrived at the school. Hell, they may have even planned for this kind of situation long before the game even began! It made sense, what with the money motive and the fact that her true name had been revealed by Taka, probably due to the mastermind's scheming.
Celeste clicked her teeth as she realized that, whoever the mastermind was, they'd stacked the deck against her from the start. The house always has the advantage, after all.
"I figured as much…" the guilty gambler said with a sigh. "So, how are we going to do this? Will I be forced to play some kind of gambling game where I have no chance of winning? Oh, wait…that already happened."
Her voice was seething, and everyone in the room stared at her as she aimed a venomous glare at Monokuma. In response, the bear only chuckled slightly before reaching behind it's back and producing a medium sized metal box labeled – Taeko Yasuhiro Punishment Time Ideas.
"Don't you worry, Little Miss Taeko! I've already got this all planned out! Presenting…"
Snapping its finger…somehow…a large banner fluttered down from the ceiling that read:
Versailles Style Witch Burning!
Everyone, Celeste included, flinched as they read the banner. Then, very slowly, all eyes turned and focused solely on the demented bear atop the judge's chair. Flipping the lid of the box open, the bear reached deep inside, fumbling around for a moment.
"You see, to have a good witch burning you need three things: the first is the accused witch!"
With a swift yank, Monokuma pulled out a very impressive little doll that looked almost exactly like Celeste, complete with realistic hair styled into her famous drills. Setting the metal lid down, the demented bear used it as a staging area for the punishment demonstration.
"Second, you need a pile of burning wood surrounding the witch, who will be tied to a pole!" From the box, the bear produced a small pile of matches and arranged them around the Celeste doll, which the bear tied to a small wooden 'pole', courtesy of the metal box. "Then, you get a fire going!"
Pulling out a bottle of lighter fluid, the bear doused the matches at the doll's feet. With a single flick of a wrist, Monokuma lit one of the matches and set the entire stack aflame. The flames didn't spread outside the box's lid, thanks to its metal framework, but it did cause an eerie reflection to wash over the poor unfortunate doll.
Almost without noticing, Celeste discovered that her breathing had quickened, unable to tear her eyes away as the tiny replica of herself was quickly surrounded by tiny flames. She felt sweat trickle down her neck as she imagined herself in that position…her entire body slightly trembling as she anticipated the agonizing level of pain burning alive would cause.
Just as the flames began to consume everything around the Celeste doll, Monokuma abruptly shouted, "And finally, you need a fire-truck!"
Inexplicably from behind its back, rather than the metal box, the bear pulled out a bright red toy fire-truck. Making whooshing and airplane noises, the bear reared the truck back before smashing it into the Celeste doll, much to everyone's shock and horror. But it didn't stop there, Monokuma continued to bash the fire-truck against the tiny Celeste doll…until it was almost completely unrecognizable.
Finally, after one last horrific bashing, which caused the doll's head to crack open, the bear seemed to be finished and let the red toy truck rest atop the pile of burning matches…the remains of the Celeste doll slowly consumed by the fire.
"Was the fire truck really necessary?"
Celeste scowled deeply, her annoyed tone surprising a few of the students. However, no matter how much she tried to hide it, everyone could see the deep-rooted terror that settled into her visage. She was trying to save face…one last time.
"Wait for it…" Monokuma replied, pulling out a remote control and pushing a large red button.
Before anyone had time to react, the model fire-truck suddenly exploded, completely demolishing the 'execution' stage and even singeing Monokuma's face a bit. Celeste drew in a shaky breath as she saw that nothing of the doll remained…aside from torn bits of fabric.
With a sadistic grin that torture enthusiasts would find delightful, Monokuma playfully asked, "I'm still debating on if the fire truck should explode or not. Your thoughts?"
Swallowing a lump in her throat, Celeste produced the most believable scoff she could manage and answered, "I'll be dead by that time…do whatever the hell you want."
"Well, actually, there's no guarantee that being crushed by the fire truck would kill you…and I'd hate to let you suffer like that. Hence the exploding truck! Swift but painful! I'll see how I'm feeling when it all goes down…how about that?"
The bear's glowing red eye bore into her and, but Celeste didn't waver, keeping her visage stoic as she met the bear's cruel gaze.
On the other hand, internally, she was screaming. That was beyond a horrific way to go. And while it was possible that Monokuma had some other form of 'punishment' prepared for her, with this as just a means of increasing her despair, it didn't change the fact that the bear's goal had been accomplished. As much as she detested admitting it, despair had officially seeped into her soul. Hell, an even worse execution may be waiting for her! That thought alone made her knees grow weak, threatening to destroy what little grace she had remaining.
But regardless of whether or not this demonstration was how her life would come to an end, none of that truly mattered anymore…
"I bet everything on that one gamble…and I lost. I'd rather it just end here…it's not like I've got anything else to live for anyway…"
Her dream was all she had…aside from Grand Boise Cheri Ludenberg, of course. However, with her cat's current status unknown, given how cryptic her first motive video was, it was entirely possible that even her beloved feline companion was no longer in this world. Both her castle and her cat…the mastermind stole both of them away from her. And now that she'd fallen so far…there was no hope of—
"But that's only if we vote for execution, right?"
A familiar, yet infuriating voice called out. Lifting her head, Celeste glared at Makoto Naegi, the hopeless idiot who had helped undo all her plans. Strangely, she didn't feel any anger toward him…not anymore. She was having trouble feeling anything right now, aside from the crippling despair that threatened to overtake her. Because of that, she wasn't prepared for his next statement.
"Before we get to voting, I think we need to discuss if we should really have a vote at all."
At this point, no one was surprised that Makoto had spoken up. Although normally a bit soft-spoken, whenever they entered the trial grounds, he completely changed. Ever since his initial struggle to prove his innocence in the first case, he'd slowly been growing more and more competent with each passing day.
And when someone's life was on the line, regardless of their innocence, he chose to stand up for them…a truly hard life he'd chosen, but one he would never regret.
"What do you mean 'discuss voting at all'?" Byakuya scoffed at the very idea. "This is a class trial. Like it or not, we are required to vote. So, regardless of your bleeding heart, we will be voting, it's as simple as that."
"I'm not saying we won't have a vote," Makoto challenged, flinching a bit as he met the Affluent Progeny's gaze. "A-All I'm trying to say it, we need to think about this carefully—".
"Why? What's there to think about?" the Togami Heir interjected, a scowl forming. "Unlike the previous two cases, the crime in question was premeditated. So, unlike Leon or Mondo, Celeste truly did plan to murder us all in order to escape. If you ask me, that's all the more reason we need to vote to put her down—".
"The first crime was premeditated."
Everyone turned to see Sayaka glaring at Byakuya, an apprehensive but determined expression on her face. She struggled to speak…like a knife was twisting in her gut, but somehow, she found the words.
"My crime…was premeditated. All I could think was 'I need to get out', and eventually, it pushed me over the edge…and unless you been in that dark place, you could never hope to understand the agony of making that choice." She paused, glancing toward Celeste with a great deal of sympathy. "So…before we go any further…I need to ask…why? Why did you do it, Celeste? What motivated you to try and kill us all in order to escape?"
It was a poignant question, one that no one had bothered to ask until now. Sure, they knew the gambler wanted to escape this hell hole, who didn't? But they still didn't understand why. What was it that drove her to such extremes? What motivated her to attempt such a convoluted plot?
The students had been so wrapped up in the case, they'd forgotten to question the 'why' along with the 'how'. As one, the students turned toward the gambler, who seemed amused by the attention suddenly coming back to her.
"My reason for wanting to escape?" Celeste mused, a knowing smirk erupting on her lips. "It was for my dream…a dream that none of you could comprehend—".
"Try us."
Junko challenged, her tone firm and confident. By this point, everyone was curious, even Kyoko seemed the tiniest bit anxious to hear the gambler's motivations. And perhaps, it would shed some light on why the girl who had called herself 'Celestia Ludenberg', had deceived them all.
With a tired shrug, Celeste offered no more resistance, her eyes lighting up as she spoke.
"My dream…was to live in a beautiful European castle, where I would be waited on, hand and foot, by a personally selected group of butlers/bodyguards…all dressed in eloquent vampire-esque apparel. There, I would spend the remainder of my life in the lap of luxury, a world of my own making…a place where Celestia Ludenberg…would be the center of the universe."
…
…
…
"You tried to kill me for that?!" Hifumi screeched as he took in Celeste's words, which brought an almost victorious smile to her lips. The fanfic creator's fury intensified as he witnessed her smug visage. "Witch! Burn her! She tried to kill me for a big fancy house—!"
"Shut your fat face, asshole!"
Celeste voice abruptly snapped, her brows furrowed as rage suddenly coursed through her. In response, Hifumi stiffened and shrank down, fear gripping his senses. Once he was sufficiently silenced, the gambler cleared her throat. And when she spoke again…her accent inexplicably returned.
"A castle is a construct of absolute beauty. A paragon of stability and grace. A place where dreams become reality, and the world's problems seem almost…nonexistent. It represents…everything I've always wanted to be…but could never hope to achieve…"
Her voice was soft…and calm. And those listening could tell the desire for such a 'frivolous thing' wasn't out of greed…but pure, unadulterated wonder. Like a little girl, who dreamt of living in a magical place where all their dreams would come true…that is what having a castle meant to Celestia Ludenberg. No, more accurately, that's what Taeko Yasuhiro had always dreamed of… a place where happiness was guaranteed…the exact opposite of what this hellish school represented. And, even if only a tiny bit, the students slowly began to understand Celeste's twisted desire.
To her, obtaining that castle was the only thread keeping her sanity intact. Without that goal to strive for, the girl who'd called herself Celestia Ludenberg, would have gone mad. And now that the students had taken that away from her…all that was left was a dreary girl whose dreams would never come to fruition. It was…almost pitiable—
"It's much more than 'just a big fancy house', you bloated otaku nerd!" Celeste's voice aggressively returned to her 'true' persona, her voice filled with rage and regret. "I would have gladly killed all of you just to have a single day inside a castle made explicitly for me!"
Glancing around the room, Celeste only stopped to stare at Mondo, Sayaka, and Leon for brief moments before chuckling and addressing everyone.
"That's the difference between you and me. Even though I failed, I made my choice and I won't back down from it. You're all hypocrites, so willing to forgive people just because they feel sorry for what they've done. Well, even if I did feel any semblance of guilt for what I tried to do, I'm not going to try and weasel my way out of it."
Hardening her features, the gambler scoffed at all of them as she calmly said, "This is my life. And no one's going to tell me how to live it. Like the great Queen Marie Antoinette, I'll take responsibility for my actions, even if it leads to my death. So, go on, have me executed if that's what you really want. At least I won't make excuses for my actions."
As her voice echoed around the circular room, the empathy the students had moments ago severely lessened. It wasn't completely gone, but her abrupt shift in tone had certainly strengthened Byakuya's case.
"Are you still going to try and convince me we shouldn't vote?" the Togami Heir practically spat in Makoto's direction. The lucky student opened his mouth to protest, but Byakuya gave him no such quarter. "She's a danger to us all. The best course of action is to have her eliminated before she—".
"Do you want Monokuma to win?!"
By this point, no one was really surprised that Junko decided to speak up. In fact, most of the students thought it was odd she'd been so quiet the last few minutes. However, now that she'd officially thrown in her two cents, everyone knew it would impossible to ignore. Byakuya, especially, seemed perturbed by her sudden assertion.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Byakuya challenged, glaring down his nose at her.
With a deep scowl, the Fashionista replied, "If we have an execution now, after two class trials without one…the Mastermind wins." She paused, letting that idea sink in before continuing. "Once the killing truly starts…there's no turning back. The game will truly begin, and there will be no stopping it. A single misstep is all it'll take to spark a chain-reaction, and eventually…the killing game will overtake all of us…"
Her warning pulsed in everyone's ears, a sickening truth they all recognized…but wanted to ignore. However, that didn't stop some of the students from voicing their opinions.
"T-Then what?! Are we j-just supposed to f-forgive her for e-everything?!" Toko spoke up, having been silent since her revelation. "E-Even if what y-your saying is true, s-someone like her is a d-danger to us all!"
"Pot…Kettle…Black…" Leon said loud enough for everyone to hear, earning a vicious glare from the writing prodigy, which made the baseball flinch, if only slightly. At the same time, however, a few of the students nodded in silent agreement, while others whispered under their breath.
"As I said before," Byakuya cut through the murmuring, trying to establish order. "This case is different than the previous two. If we don't do something about this now, I guarantee it will come back to bite us later—".
"Even so, I must agree with Junko's assertion." Everyone was a bit shocked as Sakura added her voice to the opposition, the burly woman folding her arms in contemplation. "For now, I believe it would be best not to have an execution. There are other ways we can deal with this…betrayal."
The pain in her voice was deep, and she averted her gaze from everyone. It was obvious that Celeste's actions had deeply affected the martial artist, though she seemed a bit…ashamed as well. Probably due to supporting the gambler earlier in the trial, though it seemed obvious that was mainly for Hina's sake.
"I agree," Kyoko concurred, narrowing her gaze at the gambler. "What Celeste has done is deplorable but having an execution will only further the Mastermind's objectives. As with previous cases, I believe we can find suitable punishment without Monokuma's aid."
"I…I don't want her to be executed…" Chihiro's meek voice sounded from beside Byakuya, who snapped his gaze down at her with a monstrous glare. However, even though she flinched, and squeezed her eyes shut, she managed to speak up. "S-She…was kind to me in the nurse's office. She didn't have to be, it wouldn't have affected her plans if she'd refused to get me a pillow…so…I won't vote for execution…"
"If Chihiro's against it…then I'm against it too!" Mondo's gruff tone made the petite programmer lift her head, an appreciative smile adorning her lips. Seeing that, the biker flushed, but quickly shook his head. "Besides, we agreed after the last trial that my life would be tied to Chihiro's so…if she doesn't wanna have her executed, then I'll go along with that!"
Hearing this, Chihiro's face reddened. "W-What?! When did that happen? I don't remember agreeing to that!"
"It was Mondo's punishment for trying to kill you," Hiro lent his voice to the conversation. "We all agreed that if something happened to you, he'd take responsibility for it! So, like, if someone kills you, he automatically will get executed for it."
Shock overtook the programmer as she absorbed that information, her body trembling. "N-No…I don't want that! It's not fair! Mondo doesn't need to—".
"It's fine, Chihiro…"
For the first time since he'd attacked Chihiro, a confident smile overtook the biker's face. His entire visage radiated confidence, as if he was gearing up for a massive brawl with another gang. Turning around, he exposed everyone to the massive 'Crazy Diamond' symbol on the back of his coat.
"Don't forget!" He shouted, pointing to the insignia on his back. "You've got the leader of the baddest biker gang in the world looking out for you! I'll be sure to keep us both safe, so…" He hesitated for a moment, as if struggling to find the right words to say. Then, for just a moment, he glanced toward Junko before smirking almost defiantly and turning back to Chihiro. "Let me do this, for ya. This is all I can do now…I'm just doing what I can to help. So please…let me do this…"
Hearing him, Chihiro lowered her gaze, staring at the ground with deep contemplation. Then, very quietly, she replied, "…Okay. If that's what you really want Mondo. I'll put my life in your hands…and I promise that…I'll do what I can too!"
Lifting her head up, the petite programmer's eyes shone with a confidence never before seen from her. And when Mondo caught a glimpse of it, his smile widened, and he thrust his fist out toward her. Chihiro did the same, a long-distance air fist bump shared between them. Both of them smiled at each other, the wounds from their experience healing faster than anyone thought possible.
"That's great and all, guys, but we should probably get back to deciding whether or not we're having a witch burning in a few minutes."
Although his tone was sarcastic, Hiro's offensive comment brought back all the tension that had dissipated. Taking the silence as an invitation to continue, the clairvoyant said, "I mean, yeah, she didn't try to kill me either, but she still tried to use me a scapegoat! That's even worse if you ask me! Trying to make me the fall guy just because she thinks I'm stupid! What kind of reason is that?!"
"A damn good one…" Celeste muttered, though the clairvoyant didn't happen to hear her.
"I won't vote for execution either."
Sayaka abruptly stated, drawing attention toward her. Everyone stared at her expectedly, as if waiting for her to continue…but she didn't. Instead, the firm expression of determination on her face, coupled with a hint of empathy toward Celeste, spoke volumes more than any words she could have mustered.
"Me neither!" Leon proudly proclaimed, smiling reassuringly in Sayaka's direction before addressing everyone else. "We can always lock her in a room somewhere. That'll be enough right? As long as she can't get to us, we won't have to worry about her going all axe murder later on!"
After listening to the mounting opposition to his side of the argument, the Togami Heir released a sigh of utter disappointment.
"I'm surrounded by a group of the most suicidal people ever to exist." His jeer only strengthened their resolve, a fact he was assuredly aware of. "By allowing such a dangerous individual to remain among us, you invite destruction. And I, for one, have no desire to let such a danger continue to fester—".
"Remind me again who it was that strung up Chihiro like a rag doll?" Leon cut in, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. The Togami Heir regarded him with a glance, and the baseball star leapt on that chance. "If you ask me, the most dangerous individual allowed to be among us is you! Always trying to get us to turn on each other and insisting one of us is a spy! If anything, we should be considering executing you!"
Much to everyone's chagrin, a smug grin overtook Byakuya's features. "Perhaps, one day, you'll be given that opportunity. And if it comes, I wish you the best of luck." His implications were beyond disturbing, and just as he planned, everyone glared at him with obvious disdain. As if reveling in their disapproval of him, he continued, "However, for the time being, my actions are not what need to be examined. We should instead focus on what needs to be done about this class trial, not possible future trials."
"Exactly!" Makoto happily agreed, matching Byakuya's gaze with great effort. Having not expected the lucky student to agree with him, the Togami Heir chose to let the boy finish. "If we give in to temptation now, it will come back to bite us even worse than if we let her be executed—!"
"Fucking morons…"
Everyone in the room fell silent as Celeste interrupted, a calm but stern expression decorating her visage. Taking a moment, she glanced at each and every one of them before scoffing.
"You've been going back and forth for too damn long. Make up your fucking minds already, I don't have all day." The annoyance in her voice radiated around the room as she continued, "Just to let you know, I'll never give up on my dream…I'll keep pursuing it until the day I die. Whether that's today or not."
Even though her words were menacing and fearsome…there was no passion behind them. Usually, when Celeste spoke of her dream, she commanded the room, almost demanding attention with the sheer power of her desire. But now, after her fall from grace, it was like she struggled just to keep pace with everyone else. The presence she'd maintained with her façade had crumbled…it was almost hard to watch.
Her words held no weight to them. Her proclamation, meant to appear terrifying, rang hollow. She was not unlike a death row inmate, hurrying up an executioner almost out of pure spite. However, there was still venom in her words, and that was enough to provoke a certain Affluent Progeny to action.
"Why are we still having this debate?" Byakuya openly scoffed as he folded his arms. "We all know that she's dangerous. Allowing her to continue to live will only jeopardize our chances for survival."
"Maybe so," Kyoko conceded, but not without hardening her gaze. "However, if we allow her to be executed, Monokuma gains an advantage. Once the killing truly starts, there will be no turning back."
"Yeah, and besides," Makoto concurred, taking a moment to process his argument. "Since no one was killed or seriously injured, we should be more lenient—".
"Just get on with it already."
The lucky student was silenced as Celeste interjected, any trace of her accent had been dispelled. And her tone, accompanied by a vicious glare, easily overpowered Makoto, giving the disgraced gambler room to speak her mind.
"I can't take this anymore! All this waiting…prolonging the moment of my death…I'd rather it all just end right now!"
Celeste gripped her dress, pushing away the nausea bubbling up inside. Each time she pictured her own death…burning alive as a 'witch', her breath hitched, and she struggled to keep calm. However, her talent was exceptional…because she was able to convince herself that death…that painful, excruciatingly horrific execution…was more honorable than the shame she felt.
The shame of having lost the gamble, the humiliation of being exposed as a hateful liar, the agony of being treated like a criminal despite being a victim herself! She never wanted this! None of it! If she'd never been kidnapped and forced into this killing game, she never would have even considered murdering anyone! She would have lived her life gambling, making money, and eventually achieving her dream!
She'd been desperate, but whose fault was that! Not hers! She hadn't wanted this! None of this was truly her fault! And though she wouldn't deny the heinous crimes she'd committed, it didn't mean that she was solely to blame for her actions!
"My only regret now…is that I won't get to beat the crap out of the Mastermind myself! Putting me through this bullshit…I hope they die in a fucking ditch!"
That was kind of a pleasant thought, imagining the Mastermind being executed themselves. Oh, what she wouldn't give just to have one minute alone with the Mastermind…she'd teach that bastard the true meaning of pain for destroying her dream!
But…none of that mattered…not anymore. The sad fact was, she was going to die in this hellhole of a school. Even if she wasn't executed…she'd become a victim soon enough. She wasn't exactly built for self-defense, like Hina or Sakura. And while she wasn't exactly petite, she didn't have much in the way of muscle either. Hell, she almost died when Hifumi fell on top of her earlier this morning! Suffice it to say…she was incredibly vulnerable, especially now.
Almost anyone here could overpower her…except for Chihiro…maybe. And after everything she'd done, she'd practically painted a target on her back, virtually begging for someone to backstab her. Faced with the idea of being stabbed in the back or executed…she'd take execution any day!
"Either have me executed or don't. It doesn't matter to me."
Silence greeted her proclamation, unsettling her. The vote was too close as it was…she needed to drive them over the edge and force them to end her humiliation. Her lips upturned into a malicious smirk, wetting them with a flick of her tongue.
"You people make me sick. There's no point in denying the obvious. I know that none of you will ever forgive me for what I tried to do. Not that I want your half-ass forgiveness anyway—."
"No, that's wrong!" Makoto cut in with his trademark retort. Having anticipated his reaction, Celeste stared him down effortlessly, matching the determination in his gaze. But like always, the lucky student powered through. "It doesn't matter if we forgive you or not. There's more at stake than whether or not we punish you for your actions. This is your life we're talking about! You should have more respect for—".
"Respect? For life? Ha!" she cruelly interrupted, not giving him time to respond. "Have you been listening to a god-damn word I've been saying? 'Respect' doesn't mean shit to me! My dream…my castle was the only thing that mattered! And if you all think that I'm gonna suddenly feel guilty for trying to murder two of useless dumbasses—".
"Hey!"
"Language!"
"—then you're even denser than you look! Especially you, Mr. Positivity!"
She aimed her remarks directly at Makoto, seething. For his part, the lucky student met her gaze earnestly, as if trying to understand her feelings…a notion that she completely reviled!
"All your talk about staying united and fighting the Mastermind…it makes me want to puke! Face reality, you god-damn loser! We're never getting out of here! Either we're all going to kill each other until there's no one left, or someone will pull off an upset and actually get away with murder! Or, worse yet, we'll be trapped in here in this god-forsaken shithole until we shrivel up and die from old age! That is not how I'm going to let my legacy end! Even if it's painful, I'd rather be burned alive than quietly accept such a bullshit fate! So stop being such a pansy and execute me already! At least then I'll finally be free of this place!"
It was strange…and somewhat horrifying to ask for her own death. And while some might have considered it reverse psychology, it was obviously the opposite. Celeste wasn't trying to convince them to spare her through some grand scheme…she genuinely wanted them to vote for execution. And with almost half the class seeming opposed to the notion, she was beginning to fear her humiliation would continue.
Taking a deep breath, she managed to compose herself. What little sanity she had left was slipping. She didn't want to have this debate, she didn't want to deal with the futility of her situation…all she wanted…was for her suffering to end…one way or another.
"Just hurry up and make your choice already…I'm getting tired of waiting," she said almost absent-mindedly, as if the decision didn't affect her in the least. "If I were you, I'd definitely go for the death penalty—".
"Yeah, well, you're not us. So just shut up and stop trying to influence our vote." Junko's words sliced through the air, focusing all attention on her. "More than half of us have already said we don't plan to vote for you to be executed, so there's no point in continuing this discussion."
The Fashionista's sky-blue irises met the gambler's crimson orbs…a fury shared between them that was almost palpable. However, much to Celeste's surprise, Junko's eyes somehow softened…and yet remained hardened and fixed.
"You're gonna live…" the Fashionista told her, as if there was no room for error. "And you'll have to face your crimes in this world rather than the next. So deal with it."
Celeste almost smiled at how sharp Junko's tongue could be…almost. Once again, the Fashionista had seen through her intentions…it was getting so god-damn annoying!
"Then fucking vote already…" the gambler answered wearily, truly exhausted from the proceedings. "Let's see just how forgiving all of you truly are."
Even though she said that, doubt had crept into the corners of her mind. With both Makoto and Junko backing the trend of sparing her life, her chances for a glorious execution were fading fast. At this rate…she would be forced to take responsibility for her actions and have to accept the consequences.
Almost unconsciously, she stole a glance at the person across from her…a hint of true regret seeping into her heart.
"…Hina…"
"Alrighty then! Since the culprit herself is asking for it, let's move on to Voting Time!" Monokuma gleefully pounced on that opportunity, leaping to a standing position, obviously eager for the voting to begin.
Despite herself, Mukuro let out a quiet sigh of relief. Unlike previous voting times, the outcome was already set in stone…unless someone changed their vote last minute, but she couldn't imagine that happening. Counting herself, eight of the students already pledged to vote for Celeste to be spared.
"Makoto, Kyoko, Leon, Sayaka, Sakura, Mondo, Chihiro, and myself. That's over half of us."
Even in the unlikely event that everyone else voted execution, which she doubted, her side still wouldn't lose; eight to seven. And since Junko was committed to following her own rules, there was no way she'd overturn a majority vote—
"Oh, that's right! I almost forgot to mention something important! Something that should interest you, Miss Enoshima…"
Monokuma's voice brought her back to reality, especially when the bear called out her name. Mukuro snapped her head toward the demented bear, furrowing her brow as it continued.
"You said before that we should respect 'the interest of fairness', did you?"
A sinking feeling in the disguised soldier's stomach turned her expression sour. "Yeah? What about it?"
The soldier fought to keep calm, not willing to show weakness to her sister. However, she couldn't help but become increasingly aware of the sweat trickling down her brow. As if noticing that minor detail, Monokuma chuckled slowly, the tone sending icy chills down Mukuro's spine.
"Well, using your logic, I'd say this Vote Time isn't acclimating to 'the interest of fairness', you've been prattling on about…especially considering how you've stacked the vote in your favor this time."
Against her will, Mukuro broke out into a cold sweat. "W-Where's Junko going with this?! She…she would break her own rules…would she?"
As if responding to her frantic thoughts, Monokuma stretched it's arms wide and laughed manically, very sound sending chills downs the soldier's spine.
"That's why…" the bear mercilessly continued, "I've decided we're going to do things a little…different for this Voting Time!"
Mukuro was about to demand an explanation when a cord suddenly dropped down next to Monokuma. The bear's sickening grin widened as it's paw reached up and tugged the cord. With her excellent hearing, the soldier heard something like a panel opening up high above them. Craning her neck up, her eyes widened as she witnessed a large machine of some sort plummeting down…right above Celeste.
"LOOK OUT!"
No one expected Junko to scream at the top of her lungs, much less as a warning. Celeste, in particular, was a bit startled and unconsciously took a step backward…until she noticed the Fashionista's words were directed…right at her. Like an idiot, she tilted her head back, and gasped.
A machine, easily large enough to crush her, descended toward her at rapid speed. Her instincts took over immediately, spinning around to face the falling mass of metal and lurching as close to her podium as possible…and not a moment too soon.
*CRASH*
A thunderous crashing and scrapping of metal echoed as the large machine slammed into the floor, somehow remaining upright despite the long distance it had fallen. A deafening silence could be heard…save for the panicked hyperventilation of a certain gambler.
Celeste's crimson eyes, wide with fear, stared frantically as the machine as her lungs furiously sucking in breath after breath, the maddening pace of her racing heart threatening to burst from her chest. She could only stare at the massive machine in front of her…her mind too rattled to even attempt to rational thought.
The large machine had fallen just behind her podium, blocking any means of leaving her assigned position. She barely had room to stand…her feet literally millimeters away from the bottom of the machine. If it had been even an inch closer to her…her entire body would have become nothing more than crumpled bloody mess under the weighty machine.
As she struggled to process this new development, a furious voice shook the courtroom.
"You son of a bitch! What the fuck was that?!" Junko's rage filled words echoed around the room, the Fashionista gripping the rail of her podium so hard some of the students could have sworn they heard the wood creak. "We haven't even voted yet and you're already trying to execute her?! What happened to your precious rules, you hypocritical bit—?!"
*HOOOOOOOOONK!*
An air horn, somehow appearing in Monokuma's hands, drowned out Junko's protests, though she kept screaming for a few moments until she recognized she couldn't be heard. Gritting her teeth, the Fashionista waited for the bear to cease honking, which it did a moment later. Everyone's ears rang, the after effect of the horn further intensifying Junko's rage.
"Don't think that—!"
*HONK*
Again, she was interrupted by the air horn, silencing her. However, she instantly tried to cut in as the noise receded…but to no avail.
"Explain why—!"
*HONK*
"You can't just—!"
*HONK*
"You fucking—!"
*HONK*
"STOP THAT!"
As softly as possible, Monokuma replied, "Not until you calm down…"
"FOR FUCK SAKE—!"
*HONK*
Junko's entire face was red as her words were muted by the air horn, reduced to grumbling angrily as Monokuma waved the loud noise device in her direction. Grinding her teeth so furiously one might think they'd crack, Junko somehow managed to keep herself from shouting after being blasted time and time again.
Slowly, Junko managed to rein in her rage enough to keep herself from lashing out. Seeing the 'improvement' in her attitude, Monokuma lowered the air horn, but kept it in hand.
"There now…everything's fine. Breathe in…Breathe out." The half and half bear follow its own advice, taking a large inhale before quietly releasing it. "You see…nothing to worry about. No one got hurt…and no one would have been in danger if you hadn't yelled like that anyway—".
"WHAT?!"
*HONK*
Another honk silenced the Fashionista, who seethed angrily but wisely chose to remain silent.
"You see…" Monokuma replied, it's voice barely above a whisper. "If you had not shouted, Miss Enoshima, the slot machine would have landed directly behind Miss Yasuhiro without incident. However, because of your violent outcry, she stepped back, placing herself in harm's way."
Unfortunately, the claim seemed feasible. Celeste had only recoiled because of Junko's shouting, but at the same time, there was no way to prove her previous position had been any safer. With no way to argue, the Fashionista could only furrow her brows as the bear continued.
"Oh, and I should mention, if she had died because of that, it would have been your fault and you would've become blackened—".
"You son of a bitch!" Mondo abruptly entered the conversation, shaking a furious fist at the bear. "She was only tryin' to keep the bitch from getting smashed into paste! How the fuck does—!"
*HOOOOOOOONK*
Mondo continued to rank, trying to shout over the air horn and be heard, regardless of that impossibility. The battle of noises lasted nearly a minute with the biker refusing to submit until he finally ran out of air, marking a decisive victory for Monokuma's noise making device. Red faced and seething, Mondo took another breath, obviously planning to continue the battle, but was silenced by a new voice.
"It's pointless to argue about that now," the calm and rational voice of Kyoko chimed in, although a hint of annoyance could be heard, likely due to the air horn after effect. She glanced toward Junko, who was still seething but somehow seemed to be regaining her composure, taking note when the mysterious girl nodded to her. "What's done is done. I'm more concerned with—".
"Don't fuck with me!" Mondo frantically retorted, earning a glare from the lavender haired girl. "The bear's breaking its own fucking rules! We can't just let—".
"Mondo, drop it."
The biker reared back as Junko spoke over him, her sky-blue eyes locking with his. Mondo flinched as he saw the frustration locked away behind the Fashionista's eyes, her pent-up rage barely contained by cruel logic. Shame overtook the biker as he realized she was once again putting the well being of the entire class ahead of herself.
Of course she was angry. Of course she thought Monokuma's claims were bullshit. Of course she wanted to light that bear on fire and piss on it's ashes. But she couldn't do that…and Mondo knew why. Even though it was subtle, the biker's keen eyes witness Junko gently rubbing the scar on her left hand, a permanent reminder of her foolish defiance.
Defying the bear…would lead to death. That was an irrefutable fact. They'd both experienced that before, though Junko unabashedly had it much worse. Each time Mondo caught a glimpse of that scar, he felt an unreasonable sense of shame. If he could have switched places with her, taken that spear through his own hand instead of hers…he would have done it in a heartbeat. But that wasn't the issue right now.
"Like that damn bear said, no one was injured, and there will be no punishment," Junko said calmly, taking deep, cleansing breaths. "Besides, the bear just gave us an unexpected clue."
Puzzled, and feeling entirely demotivated to argue with her, the biker asked, "Clue? W-What kind of clue?"
"Slot Machine."
As Kyoko's voice answered, the entire class turned to stare at the large machine sealing Celeste into her podium.
Having been given time to compose herself, thanks to Monokuma's air horn antics, Celeste finally found the courage to examine the device that had nearly crushed her. Just as Monokuma and Kyoko had pointed out, it was indeed…a slot machine.
A large handle loomed only inches above her head. Strangely, unlike normal slot machines, there was only one row and two slots. The gambler in her instinctively wanted to pull the lever, but the rational part of her mind screamed 'don't fucking touch it', and it was quite compelling.
"Part of my execution, maybe?" she pondered as she gave it another once over. "Maybe it displays a weapon, then a body part…and that body part is dismembered using that weapon? Fuck…why am I thinking like that?!"
It wasn't all that surprising, really. Murder had been on her mind for the last few days, and with her own death so close, it seemed reasonable that dark thoughts dominated her mind. Either way, she didn't have to wait long for an answer.
"As you've all so eloquently deduced, this 'slot machine' is going to assist us in our Voting Time!" Monokuma shouted, dancing a jig as another cord dropped from the ceiling, this time on the opposite side. "And since some of you have issues with surprises…EVERYONE WATCH YOUR FEET!"
Without warning, the bear pulled the cord…and the entire room began to shake. As one, the students grabbed their podium rails, glancing downward. To their collective shock, the floor in the center of the classroom, the unoccupied circle in front of all of them, slowly began to ascend. Not only that, somehow, the patter on the floor seemed to morph until it resembled a complete circular baccarat table.
Everyone, except for Celeste, took an immediate step back. The gambler pressed herself against the slot machine, fighting a hint of panic as the floor ascended and finally stopped at the same level as their podiums.
Now, instead of an empty space in the center of the ring of podiums, the round gambling table loomed ominously. Before any of the students could question the sudden redecoration, Monokuma leapt high into the air, spinning rapidly…almost cartoonishly!
"This is what class trials are all about! The unexpected twists! The sense of betrayal! The heart-pounding excitement as the guilty and the innocent face off!" the bear shouted from inside a whirlwind of its own making. "Now…let's get our gamble freak on!"
Abruptly descending, the whirlwind around Monokuma's body dissipated and the bear dramatically landed…with a new wardrobe. Dressed in a royal blue gambling hakama, with one arm out of its sleeve and tattooed with a dragon for some reason, Monokuma held a stone cylinder in one hand…and a pair of dice in the other.
A sense of foreboding descended upon the class as the bear made an announcement.
"For this particular voting session, we're going to have a special set of rules!"
A screen lifted itself out from a slot in the table, with a clear display for tally marks. Under one column was an 8bit sprite of Celeste, on fire. The other, was a 8bit sprite of Celeste crying.
"Since we're going with the idea of fairness," the bear stole a victorious glance at Junko, smirking. "It's unfair that most of you already decided how to vote! So, instead of the traditional way, one at a time that is, we're going to play a fun little game!"
Throwing the dice into the cylinder, Monokuma slammed it down on the table and shouted, "We're gonna be playing the traditional gambling pastime known as Cho-Han! Or simply 'Odds or Evens' for those of you who don't understand simple concepts…"
It was only for a moment, but for split second, Celeste could have sworn she saw the bear steal a glance at Hiro…earning a dark smirk from the gambler. However, it was instantly replaced with a scowl as the bear continued explaining.
"The slot machine behind Miss Yasuhiro will determine the players in each match! Once they've been selected, I, the illustrious Game Master Monokuma, will roll the dice! Then, each of the players will call out what they think the dice will total out! That is, an even number or an odd number! Psst, my bets on evens for this round…and when we reveal the dice—!"
"Get to the point already!" Junko snapped, retaking her position at her podium, and glaring at the bear.
"Fine, fine…" Monokuma scoffed, lifting the cylinder, and revealing snake eyes. "Evens! That means I would have won this round…and only I would get to vote!"
As the bear spoke, a tally mark appeared on the 'Burn Celeste' side…and the 8bit sprite wailed…piercing everyone's ears with an 8bit soundbite. A moment later, the tally mark disappeared and the 8bit shrieking ceased.
"As you can see, I would've voted for execution! So that's where the tally would go! Whoever wins each round must verbally announce their vote to the rest of the class! If you want to state a reason, go for it, as long as you do it in under 40 seconds."
The last bit of the bear's instructions were strange, but everyone had come to understand that most of Monokuma's actions weren't worth dissecting. Instead, they chose to stay quiet and listen.
"In other words, the winner of each Cho-Han match must vote for either witch burning," Celeste's 8bit on fire wailed as it was pointed to. "Or you vote against Miss Yasuhiro's wishes and force her to live among the people she hates most." The 8bit Celeste on the opposite side audibly wept, the noise searing everyone's ears.
"This will continue until there are three votes on one side or the other! Once one side has three votes, that choice will be locked in and Miss Yasuhiro's fate will be irreversible!"
As her 8bit counterparts flailed on the screen, Celeste gulped but kept her composure. Monokuma was just prodding her now. Either outcome would be excruciating, but for different reasons. Burned alive literally or scorched by her classmates rage. Those were her only options…and sadly, she'd already chosen the former.
Execution was the lesser of two evils…that's what she believed.
To be executed and be free of this maddening place, that was the only salvation left for her. There was no reason to be afraid…she was going to hold onto the shattered remains of her pride and end herself with dignity. That's what she wanted…she told herself that…lied to herself…forced her talent to circumvent the paralyzing dread that made her legs shake even at this very moment.
"I-I'm not shaking…I'm trembling with excitement! Such a glorious death is fitting of Celestia Ludenberg! I'm not scared! I'm not! This is what I want! Stop…shaking…dammit!"
Gripping the rail in front of her, the gambler managed to keep up her calm façade as the other students began to understand Monokuma's new terms.
"Basically, we'll be voting in pairs but only one of us actually gets to vote?" Sayaka asked, trying to clarify how this strange system worked.
"Exactly," Byakuya answered her, pushing up his glasses and scoffing. "I assume the slots that select the players will be randomized, and no one will get a second vote. So, whoever loses the Cho-Han match…doesn't get to vote at all."
"That's the only way it'll be fair!" Monokuma cheekily replied. "A game of chance with no second chances! This Voting Time is shaping up to be the most exciting one ever! Extreme!"
"Interesting…quite an intriguing setup," the Togami Heir surprisingly praised. "With this, it's completely up to chance. Either the right number of people who wish to spare Celeste her fate will win their matches, or the opposite will occur. It's truly become a game of chance…doesn't that excite you, Celeste?"
The gambler scoffed at Byakuya's crude attempt to get under her skin. "It's mediocre at best. But, I guess it's fair. I'll be the one pulling the lever on the slot machine then?"
She asked her question casually, burying any hint of fear beneath a cold façade. In response, Monokuma gave her a wink and a thumbs-up.
"You'll be selecting the people who decide your fate! A fitting role, wouldn't you agree? "The bear answered before swerving it's vision toward a certain fuming Fashionista. "Miss Enoshima, I certainly hope you appreciate all the effort I put in to make this Voting Time conform to your 'interests of fairness'. I know how much the concept means to you…"
"Fairness…yeah, right."
Junko's seething tone made the bear grin wider, obviously enjoying its entrapment. The Mastermind had successfully turned the Fashionista's good intentions against her…as if they had planned it all along. And while it would normally be seen as petty, given everything they knew about their captor, it made a strange amount of sense, considering that the Mastermind had obviously developed a vendetta against the resident Fashionista.
"You could easily rig the game with loaded dice! Or you could switch out the dice once you've slammed them down!" Junko fired back, angrily gesturing toward the bright red dice. "There's no way we can trust—".
"Have a little more faith in your Headmaster," Monokuma effortlessly interrupted, the bear's voice deadly serious. It's usual playful tone was gone, replaced with a deep, growling rasp. It was such a huge contrast that most of the students were caught off-guard, including Junko. "I won't be rigging the dice rolls. I want this to be a true game of chance, one that no one can interfere with. That way—".
"If Celeste is executed, there will be even more despair," Makoto interjected, his expression hardening. "That's what you want, right? The chance that this will end in despair…and there won't be anything but bad luck to blame."
Monokuma's grin widened to almost impossible standards, it's playful attitude returning. "Give the boy a prize! Nice work, Makoto! You've completely maxed out my friendship card! You and I are gonna be best buddies from now on! I'll even tell you my bust size—".
"Enough!" Junko seethed, red-faced and furious. Lowering her voice, the Fashionista stared Monokuma down, as if trying to match it. "You can't expect us to trust you after everything you've done. You've kept the truth from us before, like with how the bullying trial really work."
Tilting it's head, Monokuma calmly asked, "Oh, how hurt I am that you don't have more faith in your Headmaster. I've failed you as an educator…but still, these are the rules, deal with it!"
"At least give us proof that you're going to be fair about this!" Junko demanded, trying to gain an advantage. "If you can't, then there's no reason for us to go along with your little game!"
"Ehh? Prove myself? Why should I?" Monokuma baited her, making the Fashionista seethe. "I already gave you my word that I wouldn't be rigging the dice rolls! What more do you want—".
"Let me examine the dice, then." Kyoko suddenly offered, much to everyone's surprise. "I have experience determining such things. I can guarantee I'll be able to tell if they're loaded."
"And where did you pick up that little talent?" Byakuya mockingly questioned.
"Does that matter right now?" she instantly, but calmly, fired back.
The Togami Heir folded his arms and scoffed, "…No, I suppose not. Very well, get on with it then."
Kyoko nodded and stretched her hand out toward Monokuma, only to have her wrist caught by a slender hand. Junko, who had leaned over and reached in front of Sakura, held her wrist firmly.
"H-Hold on a sec! You can't be serious!" Junko questioned her, a hint of betrayal in her voice. "You're just gonna go along with the bear's crazy scheme?! That's insane!"
If Junko's grip bothered Kyoko, it didn't show. The stoic girl slowly turned her gaze and met the Fashionista's, not flinching in the least.
"At this point, we don't have a choice." Kyoko's tone was…softer than usual, but still firm…almost reassuring. "Rather than going into this blindly, all we can do is determine if the dice are loaded…and leave it up to chance."
Junko clicked her teeth and released her classmate's wrist. "Even so…you can't deny that this is an extremely suspicious way to vote! We should at least talk this out a little more!"
"Yeah, she's got a point!" Leon chimed in after remaining silent for so long. "I say we just vote like we usually do! That way, Monokuma can't—".
All at once, everyone's pockets made an electronic beeping noise. As one, the students pulled out their e-handbooks and switched them on, only to be greeted by a new rule:
Proceedings for Voting Time, be it during a class trial or bully trial, will be determined solely by Headmaster Monokuma. Excessive arguing will be viewed as non-participation Those who do not participate will face Punishment.
"The fuck…" Leon disbelievingly whispered, as he and everyone else absorbed the new rule. "We can't even argue about the voting proceedings anymore! This is—".
"A fine solution!" Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru cut him off, strangely overconfident. "Now that this rule is in place, Monokuma has to follow it! We can all rest assured that the game will be fair—".
"That's not what the rule means!" Sayaka interrupted, her tone surprisingly louder than usual. "We should at least have Kyoko examine the dice, just in case. I…trust her judgement."
Even though she didn't show it, Kyoko must have been surprised, because she turned and met Sayaka's gaze. The pop idol stared at her, deep blue eyes meeting light lavender orbs. A sense of trust and understanding silently shared between them. Then, Sayaka smiled at her. A confident, trusting smile, the likes of which most of the students had never seen before.
"I-I trust her too!" Makoto unsurprisingly concurred, drawing the attention of the two young women over to him. Flushing a bit at the sudden attention, the lucky student cleared his throat and composed himself. "This isn't an ideal situation, but at the very least, I think Kyoko's got the right idea and at least being as sure as possible that Monokuma's being honest with us."
"Is there no one here who trusts me?" a 'heartbroken' Monokuma asked aloud, false tears dripping from it's beady black eye.
Ignoring the bear, Kyoko turned to face the true opposition to her proposal - Junko. As the two of them locked gazes, a wordless battle erupted. Junko's overwhelming concern was evident, but so too was Kyoko's firm resolve. And just when it seemed neither of them would win out…Kyoko spoke.
"I'll determine whether or not the dice loaded. I promise."
Those simple words carried more weight than any of the other students could have realized. Junko's face twisted in frustration, obviously torn between trusting her classmate or following her instincts. After a few moments of tense silence, she regretfully relented.
"Fine…let's get this over with."
"Ironic…" Celeste called out, a half-smirk on her face. "That's what I've been asking for quite a while now. My, how the tables have turned."
Junko gritted her teeth but remained silent as Monokuma waddled over to Kyoko and plopped the dice in her hand. For the next few minutes, the stoic young woman examined each die, rolled them together, then separately, and even bit one of them.
"Hey! Be careful with those!" The bear chided, waving a paw at her. "I'll have you know those dice were a gift from my dearly departed grandmother…they were made from her ashes, you know."
Finally, after much trial and error, Kyoko held the dice back out toward Monokuma.
"They're not loaded. I guarantee it."
Gleefully retrieving the dice, Monokuma assumed it's previous position in the center of the baccarat table, the arm outside his hakama holding the dice tightly, ready to begin the first match.
"Well then, let's get things rolling! Miss Yasuhiro, if you would kindly pull the lever, we'll get your super special, amazingly fantastic, despairingly suspenseful Voting Time underway!"
Internally groaning as Monokuma continued to use her real name, Celeste quickly answered, "About damn time…"
However, as she turned to grasp the handle…she stopped. No, more like, she hesitated. In a twist of true irony, Celeste finally understood why Monokuma had decided to switch up the voting. Sure, the real reason was to have the possibility that she'd get executed become viable, but there was something even more sinister than that weaved into this plot.
Gambling…had been Celeste's only solace for many years. It was the only thing that kept her going…when the world turned against her. It gave her hope…filled her with fulfillment and joy. It was the one thing that could never betray her…until now.
This gamble, which she was forced to be a part of, held no victory for her. No matter the outcome, this gamble would see her suffering. And despite how many times she lied to herself in order to suppress her terror…as she looked up at that ominous choosing device, she felt true fear grip her soul.
In that moment, the single, most despair inducing thought that overtook her mind.
"I have nothing…I've been betrayed by everything…even my own talent…"
She couldn't lie to herself…not anymore. Facing down death in this way forced her to realize that, no matter how good of a liar she was…you can only lie to yourself for so long.
Celestia Ludenberg would have been excited…but Taeko Yasuhiro…was afraid.
With a shaky hand, she reached up and grasped the lever. Lowering her head, as if offering it, she pulled the stiff lever. And, as if releasing the blade of a guillotine, the reels of the slot machine roared to life…selecting the first two 'players' for Monokuma's twisted gamble.
[MAKOTO vs BYAKUYA]
To Be Continued…
Greetings, my beautiful readers! So, the voting for Celeste is about to begin! Who will get to vote? Who won't be able to? How will the voting proceed?! You'll have to tune in to the next chapter to find out!
So, as you all noticed, there was a large amount of time between my last post and this one. Well, unfortunately, I lost a family member recently. Back in January, we found out a relative had cancer and it was terminal. They passed weeks after being diagnosed. It was a difficult time and, suffice it to say, I wasn't in the mood to write. I know that you all will understand, and I thank you for your understanding.
Now, to address some concerns. As I've said many times now, this story will continue until I finish it. It may take me another year or so, but I will get through it eventually. So, if I don't update for a while, know that it's because I have a full-time job I work at every day and don't get much time to write. And on my days off, I don't usually want to write all day, because I need a respite myself sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I love this story! I think about it constantly, but that can make it hard to put onto paper. Please bear with me as I do my best to craft the best story I can for you all!
Lastly, I want to thank each and every one of you for enjoying the story! To this day, people favorite and follow my story on two different websites and that honestly gives me the courage to continue the story. Thank you all for being such great readers!
As always, leave a comment/review to tell me what you think of the story, or if you have general questions! I try to answer all questions that are given to me. Anyway, until next time, have yourselves a beautiful day, my beautiful readers!