Never Say Never
Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa or the characters associated with it.
Chapter 4
Act 1
"…I still don't think this is a good idea," Chihiro quietly voiced her concern as Mondo and Taka buzzed around her, preparing for the rest of their classmates to arrive for the morning meeting.
"Nonsense! This is exactly what everyone needs to boost morale!" Taka countered, glancing over a speech he'd prepared for Chihiro to read. Smiling at his own handiwork, he nodded in approval of himself before setting the papers down in front of her. "Once everyone arrives, I will ask them to be seated and present you as an alternative to Byakuya! All you need to do is read the script I prepared. Please don't ad lib, it will only confuse or insult our classmates."
Profound worry struck the programmer as the intensity of her mission weighed down on her. She'd been awake half the night, reading Taka's public speaking books and practicing her speech. All the while, the Moral Compass did his best to coach her, while Mondo…slept. Not that she could blame him, trying to absorb all that material made her sleepy as well. But somehow, she managed to feel confident enough to address the class…until they actually arrived at the cafeteria.
Taka positioned her at the head of the longest table, where he usually sat, and told her to pretend that she was giving the most important speech of her life…which was completely accurate and terrifying! What if they didn't want her as a leader? What if she made a bad choice? What if Monokuma decided to have them all executed just for installing her as leader?! What if Byakuya refused to let her?!
She broke out into a cold sweat, feeling more and more ready to dash back to her room and forget she even existed! One night was not enough time to prepare her for such a huge role!
Just then, a large hand landed on her shoulder, making her jump and squeal softly.
"…You got this, Chihiro!" Mondo declared, followed by a yawn. Large bags having formed under his eyes from getting up hours earlier than he'd anticipated. Rubbing his eyes, and trying to wake himself up, the biker pounded his fists together and said, "With me and Bro at your side, no one's gonna start any shit with you! Now get ready to show that son of a bitch Byakuya how ferocious you really are!"
"You're not helping! I know you're trying to but you're not helping!"
While the sentiment truly was appreciated, with the level of anxiety she was feeling, there was no way for her to be anywhere near their level of confidence! Maybe it wasn't too late to pretend to slip back into a coma—
"Oh, well that's a surprise. You three are here pretty early," the energetic voice of Junko called out as the Fashionista entered the cafeteria. "No surprise that Taka's early but Mondo being here is a bit weird. Did you guys spend the whole night together?"
Junko snickered a bit, teasing them as she took a seat. Before Chihiro had time to answer, Mondo abruptly blurted, "Y-Yeah! We did actually! Is that a problem or something?!"
The programmer's head snapped toward Mondo, completely shocked by his sudden outburst. His face was turning red, and he was sweating profusely…did he have a fever or something? Maybe it was a result of him getting up so early, but either way, it had Chihiro concerned. And apparently she wasn't the only one…
"Bro, please calm down," Taka gently insisted, bowing respectfully to Junko. "I apologize. We were up very late working on a team project, and it has him out of sorts. Go on, Bro. Apologize."
By this point, all the blood must have rushed to Mondo's face because it was bright crimson. He must have been embarrassed on top of being a bit under the weather. However, with the prodding from Taka, the biker sharply bent forward in a low bow.
"I'm…I really kinda, uh…fuck, this is hard—I mean, I didn't mean to…I'm so fucking sorry and I shouldn't have yelled, and you probably hate me now so if you want you can hit me or something—".
"Nah, it's cool," Junko suddenly cut him off, or rather, ended his suffering. Her tone was soft, and she laughed quietly as he looked up at her. "I'm not a morning person either. And we all have our moments, ya know? Just try not to yell at everyone who greets you today and we'll call it even."
Chihiro was astounded…not only by her quick deflection but how easily she managed to resolve this misunderstanding. That…was the kind of leader the programmer wanted to be…but not the way that Taka insisted a leader must act. And since he'd put so much effort into writing her script, there was no way she could tell him that she didn't approve of it.
Swallowing her pride, Chihiro sat patiently as more of her classmates arrived.
Kyoko had followed after Junko, but didn't acknowledge anyone, taking a seat at the table without so much as a greeting. She may have been imagining it, but there seemed to be some kind of tension between her and Junko…different from the way they'd interacted with each other the previous day. Chihiro kind of wanted to ask if something had happened, but then more of her classmates arrived and she lost the nerve.
Makoto arrived…followed by Hina and Sakura, almost as if they'd walked there together. It wasn't completely abnormal, considering the dorm hallways converged into the large open area outside the cafeteria, but it was odd that they all sat together…that didn't happen often. Makoto usually took a seat near Kyoko, or at least he had been for the last few days. Then again, the lucky student was pretty outgoing, so maybe he just wanted to sit by someone else today.
Sayaka and Leon came in next, sitting next to each other, as usual. They had become so close since their…incident. It might have felt strange to see a victim and their attacker become so comfortable with each other…but considering that the programmer and Mondo had managed to overcome their differences, it didn't seem all that strange to Chihiro.
Not long after, Hifumi made his way in, choosing to sit at a nearby table, hanging his head in shame. Even after all he'd done, Chihiro still felt sorry for him. He'd been manipulated, and when faced with the full weight of his actions, he chose not to follow Celeste down her dark path. Regardless, he still bore great responsibility for those actions, and he may never forgive himself for what he'd almost done.
Out of the corner of her eye, movement near the entrance caught Chihiro's attention. To her surprise, she found Hiro quietly entering. But something was…off about him. He was fidgeting, not making eye contact with anyone, and hadn't said a word since he'd arrived. Almost as if he'd taken a page out of Kyoko's book, he took a seat at the table and appeared to be trying not to draw any attention to himself…which coincidentally drew even more attention to him!
"Oh, great! The day that I decide to try and be leader is the day everyone starts acting weird! Why am I doing this to myself?!" Chihiro internally screamed, the pressure mounting as almost everyone was present.
As the students arrived, each of them gave the trio at the front of the table a surprised glance. However, each time, Taka assured them that all would be made clear once everyone arrived. That seemed enough to satisfy everyone so far…until he decided to show himself.
"Well, it seems we've all gathered here…again," Byakuya Togami said as he entered the cafeteria, Toko nipping at his heels like a lapdog. Taking his usual seat at a nearby table, the Affluent Progeny took one glance at Chihiro and her protectors…and scoffed. "Hmph, let's get this over with quickly. I'd rather not waste my time on half-hearted greetings and worthless platitudes. We all know why we're gathered here this morning, or have you plebeians forgotten?"
The smug voice of Byakuya should have grated on her nerves, further empowering her to steal his position from him…but in her current situation, all she felt was overwhelming panic and anxiety. She opened her mouth to begin the speech Taka prepared…but only a squeak came out…a very loud and attention drawing squeak!
Snapping her mouth shut too late, all of the students present focused their 'judging' gazes on her. The rational part of her brain tried to reassure her that most of them weren't actually judging her, but the emotional, easily prone to panic, majority of her mind screamed otherwise. She felt her face flush, and her body tremble. Foolishly, she tried to open her mouth again to speak, but it flapped open and closed, open and closed, as words completely failed her.
Just as she felt her heart was going to explode from sheer embarrassment, her protectors came to her rescue.
"Yo! Listen up punks!" Mondo abruptly shouted, his voice echoing in everyone's ears. "My girl Chihiro has something she wants to tell all of you! So everybody quiet the fuck down!"
"…It was quiet until you spoke up," Chihiro couldn't stop herself from whispering, although she was actually thankful for the break in silence.
"Indeed!" Taka announced, annoyingly matching Mondo's volume and tone. Then, with a practiced ease, the Moral Compass pointed an authoritative finger toward a certain someone. "Chihiro has come before you today in order to challenge the oppressive authority brought about by Byakuya Togami! I beg you to lend her your support and name her as my replacement rather than him!"
Bowing deeply to the class, his request rang in everyone's ears, but also earned a number of shocked expressions.
"Hold on sec, does this mean that Chihiro wants to be our morning leader?" Leon intuitively asked, a confident smile overtaking his lips. "I'm totally down for that! I'd take anyone over that prick any day!"
"That's a great idea!" Hina concurred, surprising the class by acting more like her usual bubbly self. At least, until she turned and snarled, "We don't need selfish jerks like him and someone who isn't present telling us what to do! We outta lock him up too! He's just as dangerous as she was!"
No one failed to notice that Hina was going out of her way not to name Cele—err, Taeko. It honestly hurt to hear the swimmer still spewing so much venom…but it was to be expected, sadly. Chihiro wanted to go over and offer Hina a hug or something, anything that might help, but she knew that this wasn't something a warm hug could resolve. Rather than dwell on it, the programmer chose to once again try and speak up…
"H-H-Hello…everyone…" she hesitantly read from the script, earning an encouraging wink from Taka. Her voice continued to tremble, but she somehow managed to say, "I-I-I w-want to a-address the issue of B-B-B-Bya…Byaku…"
Halfway through that sentence, she made the mistake of glancing toward the Affluent Progeny, and froze. His icy glare pierced her soul, sending numerous chills down her spine and making her stagger for air. Hyperventilating, her face began burning red with embarrassment and fear. Her hands holding the script shook violently, the sound of paper crinkling resounding through the room. Chihiro could only manage to squeak once more as Byakuya's terrifying visage washed over her. Beside her, Mondo and Taka's expressions shifted from protective to worried. Both of them wanted to speak up, but they didn't want everyone to think that Chihiro couldn't do this without their help…and thus Chihiro felt more isolated than ever before.
"…I can't do this! I don't want this! Someone…someone please…!"
"You wish to take Byakuya's place as our leader, correct?" a cold but somehow gentle voice shattered Chihiro's oppressive thoughts.
Snapping her head up, the programmer gasped as she saw Kyoko addressing her, the mysterious girl's eyes displaying the kind of confidence that Chihiro only dreamed she had. Without skipping a beat, Kyoko swung her gaze around to the rest of her classmates.
"If that is the case, then I am in favor. Byakuya has already betrayed our trust once."
"I agree," Junko concurred, not looking at Kyoko and instead smiling warmly at Chihiro. "I'd normally say that anyone would be better than Byakuya, but that's not really true either." She quickly glanced between Toko and Hifumi, both of which averted their gazes. "Honestly though, I think we'd have a tough time finding someone more fit for the job than you Chihiro."
Junko winked at the programmer, making her already furious blush brighten. The sudden display of confidence for her ability stunned the programmer, her breath hitching in her throat as one after another, more and more students voiced their approval.
"I also think Chihiro would be a great leader. Someone dependable and willing to help everyone…regardless of what they've done, " Sayaka chimed in, smiling sadly.
"Yeah, I think that Chihiro will be a great leader," Makoto concurred, a hopeful smile etched onto his face. "And with any luck, we won't have to worry about anything to deadly anymore."
"There is no one more fitting for such a position," Sakura finally spoke up, giving Chihiro a firm nod of approval.
Over half of the class had now voice approval for her petition, and she hadn't even spoken a full sentence yet! It was awe inspiring but also nerve-wracking! They had so much faith in her…but what if she led them astray? She had never even attempted to be a leader before, and only really got this far because Taka and Mondo unintentionally pressured her into it! Sure, it was nice to be getting such high praise, but if she couldn't even speak up when needed, what good was she?!
As those thoughts began to consume her, one of her protected further exacerbated the situation.
"Ya hear that, asshole!" Mondo chided, finally feeling as though he had power over the Togami Heir. "We don't need you anymore! Go back into whatever hole you crawled out of and stay the fuck away from—!"
"H-H-How dare y-y-you people! Do y-you have n-no respect for M-Master Byakuya's intentions!"
Toko Fukawa's stuttering rage immediately silenced the biker, who reared back in sudden surprise. Gritting her teeth, she seethed openly at everyone, her chair knocked over as she leapt to her feet.
"M-Master Byakuya g-g-graciously took up leadership w-when none of y-you wanted it! And n-now that s-s-some little c-crossdresser wants to lead us, you a-a-all act like he's done something w-w-wrong! You all should b-b-be ashamed of yourselves!"
As Toko's words sank into Chihiro's chest, and for the first time since meeting him, the programmer actually felt a tad bit ashamed for how she perceived him. Perhaps Byakuya, in his own cruel way, wanted to help the group? And while it didn't seem likely, given the fact that he'd used her to try and lead everyone astray during a class trial, maybe…just maybe…there was some method to his cruel madness.
"There is no one better s-s-suited to leading than M-M-Master! He l-l-leads me perfectly! And I wouldn't h-hesitate to humiliate m-m-myself on his c-c-command—!"
"Stop talking. Now."
The instant those authoritative words escaped Byakuya's lips, Toko fell utterly silent. Her jaw seized up, trembling a bit as she forcefully kept her opinions to herself. Picking up her chair and setting it aright, she sat in silence as the Affluent Progeny rose.
Standing at his full height, Byakuya cocked his head and cleared his throat, "If you've all decided to have Chihiro lead your little 'group therapy' sessions, then by all means, let her. You'll hear no objections from me. I have no interest in making myself a target, regardless."
A pregnant pause occurred as each member of the class stared at him with shock. Simultaneously, Chihiro felt that grip of fear overtake her again…because she couldn't read him whatsoever. She had thought he'd protest against losing his position…but instead, he seemed eager to give it to her…but why?
Did he want to watch her fail? Did he merely not want to be tied down with the responsibilities? Or…perhaps…was this what he'd planned to do all along?
"Then why did you assert yourself as our leader yesterday?!" Taka furiously demanded, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "If you had no intention of serving a full term, why did you make a show of taking the seat of authority?!"
A stomach-churning grin overtook Byakuya's face as he replied, "I never asserted myself as leader. I merely opted to take charge while 'punishing' Celeste. Not once did I insinuate that I planned to lead you rabble."
Sadly…he was right. While he did act like a king bestowing punishment upon his subjects, the Togami Heir never mentioned his plans to keep lording over everyone. In fact, it made the most sense that he wouldn't want the job!
Byakuya was a calculating individual, and didn't trust anyone, that much was clear. Putting himself in an authoritative position limited his ability to remain inconspicuous. He'd already mentioned not making a 'target' of himself…
"Besides, trying to shepherd everyone into cooperation is a pointless endeavor," the Affluent Progeny continued, earning more scowls from his classmates. "Like trying to bail out a sinking ship with your hands, eventually it will sink, and all will come to ruin. You all may deny reality if you wish, but I won't be so foolish."
His insinuation was not lost on anyone. Byakuya truly believed that, no matter how much the students came together, eventually there would be a betrayal…and they'd all turn on each other.
Unfortunately…he wasn't incorrect. If any of the other students had actually become blackened or been executed, there was no doubt that it would have become near impossible to keep everyone's spirits up. It was a grim reality…a fine line they walked each and every day they remained confined to this hellish school.
At the same time, Chihiro couldn't help but wonder what had caused the Togami Heir's bleak outlook on life. But the way he spoke, the confidence and utter assurance in his own voice, made it difficult for her to try and argue against that notion.
"He's right, you know. Sooner or later…someone's gonna die."
The entire class was suddenly on pins and needles. Not only because of those words, but who spoke them. Yasuhiro, his head hung but slowly lifting, addressed the class with a voice far graver than anyone thought possible from him.
"Every time we think we've overcome our differences and learned to work as a group…someone gets attacked!" Slamming both hands onto the table, the fortune-teller seethed, "There's no getting out of here unless someone dies! And I won't let it be me!"
In a fit of rage unlike anything the other students had seen before, Hiro shot up and began marching toward the door. For a moment, everyone too stunned to react, until…
"W-Whoa, Hiro?! What's gotten into you?" Makoto called out, also rising. Miraculously, the fortune-teller halted, but didn't look back. Taking a cautious step toward him, the lucky student said, "Did something happen? This isn't like you—".
"'Isn't like me'? What the hell do you know about me?!" Hiro whirled around, pointing an accusatory finger toward the class. "What do any of you know about me?! You never took the time to get to know me! You all just write me off as an idiot because I made a few mistakes! You forgive attempted murderers, but you can't spare the time to listen to my opinions?!"
As much as Chihiro wanted to protest…her words caught in her throat. Her gaze drifted between Sayaka, Leon, Mondo, and Hifumi…the scars from their crimes visible in their expressions. Hiro's blunt accusations…as disheartening as they were, were accurate. No one…not even Chihiro herself, bothered to take the fortune-teller seriously. It could be said that he brought it upon himself, with his initial reactions to the killing game being so frustrating, but that didn't excuse the way the class had been treating him.
She was guilty of it herself. In all honesty, sometimes she even forgot that Hiro was in the room. And when he did speak up, he often made the situation worse with his insensitive comments. Although it was obvious he wasn't intentionally trying to be insensitive, that didn't change the fact that his actions and words often drew ire from his classmates…and whose fault was that?
Were they to blame? All of the students who didn't pay him any mind, or simply ignored his opinion outright? Was it their fault? Or…was this something that Hiro had been experiencing long before he arrived at Hope's Peak? Either way, it left a sour taste in Chihiro's mouth.
As she opened her mouth to respond to him, the fortune-teller grunted audibly and turned away, stomping toward the exit.
"If anyone needs me," he seethed, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "I'll be in my room!"
Breaking out of his stupor, Makoto began rushing toward the exit as well. "H-Hiro! Wait—"
"Don't bother," Kyoko abruptly cut in, forcing the lucky student to stop and look her way. With a stern gaze, she finished, "The way he is right now, nothing you say will reach him."
By the time she'd finished speaking, Hiro was gone, his sandals echoing from outside the cafeteria. Makoto turned back and faced the door again, only to sigh defeatedly. Taking a deep breath, the lucky student slowly walked back to his seat and plopped down, his spirits definitely lowered.
As Sakura watched Hiro storm from the room, a wave of uncertainty threatened to claim her. Monokuma had said there would be others willing to take her place as a spy…but she hadn't really considered who until now.
The way Hiro acted didn't implicitly indicate that he'd been approached by the Mastermind, but his current mental state was worrying nonetheless. The martial artist knew, from personal experience, that all it took was a moment of doubt for the Mastermind to worm their way into your soul…corrupting you in ways you never imagined possible.
Sakura had managed to free herself from the Mastermind's clutches…only to leave a vacant seat of betrayal open for any other students who were emotionally vulnerable.
"…Should I…speak with him?" she pondered, guilt rising up in her throat. "I have no right to speak on the importance of trust between us…but if I do nothing…"
Her crystal blue eyes drifted over, widening in surprise as she met Hina's gaze. The swimmer said nothing, but her eyes resonated with a powerful understanding. All at once, a calm overcame Sakura, drawing strength from her best friend's expression. The mere sight of Hina's compassionate smile lifted the storm clouds obscuring Sakura's thoughts, and she was able to think clearly for the first time in what felt like years.
"I will wait…for now. However, if I find the situation worsening…admitting my deception to my friends may be the only recourse I can stomach."
Although the thought of admitting to her betrayal utterly terrified her, if it would prevent others from making the same mistake she had, the martial artist would gladly suffer the humiliation. She owed them that much. And although she knew a proper explanation and an earnest apology would never mend the distrust that would surely form, at the very least, she knew there were some that would forgive her.
Reciprocating Hina's soothing gesture, the swimmer nodded firmly before turning her attention back to the morning meeting. It was then that Sakura stole a glance toward another student, a certainly lucky student…
"Well, it seems that at least one of you have come to their senses…though I never imagined such intelligent behavior from that dullard. I never could have imagined a day when I would actually say that you all should follow his example. But miracles do happen, apparently."
As usual Byakuya seemed incapable of holding his tongue, especially with this strange new development. Most of the class, while used to his behavior, still sent scathing looks his direction. If their fervent expressions bothered him, he didn't show it as he slowly stood and adjusted his clothes.
"And now that everything's been settled, I'll be going," Byakuya said as he began making his way toward the exit.
However, he didn't get more than a few steps before Taka shouted, "Hold on a moment! Chihiro hasn't even finished her speech! Let alone dismissed us! You will return to your seat and—".
In the midst of his shouting, the Togami Heir scoffed and glared over his shoulder at the rest of the class, a defiant huff somehow silencing the Moral Compass.
"A class trial occurred. We all know what that means," he off-handedly commented, without elaborating. Then, without any further interruption, he departed, leaving the rest of the class to sit in silence as his footsteps faded.
In addition, without muttering a single word, Toko darted off after him, but not before angrily staring at Taka…seemingly holding back a scathing comment. Now down three classmates, the rest of the students began to feel a bit uneasy.
"As loath as I am to say it, Byakuya may have a point," Sayaka spoke up, an anxious expression marring her features. "We all know what happens after a class trial…"
"More floors opening up. New possibilities." Kyoko added, a hand resting on her chin. "However, it is strange that Monokuma hasn't made an announcement."
"That's true," Makoto concurred, as perplexed as the rest of them. "Usually before we even have a chance to talk, we get an announcement about new floors…why no announcement this time?"
"Maybe he didn't actually open up the next floor?" Leon suggested, scoffing angrily. "I wouldn't put it past 'em at this point."
"…It's true," Sakura added, her tone serious. "Considering that no death has occurred at this point, and the fact that it is not an official rule, Monokuma is not obligated to follow such—".
"Is that slander I'm hearing right now? I didn't know you all cared so much!"
A series of shocked gasps erupted as the monitor above everyone's heads suddenly roared to life. And there, as posh as always, Monokuma sat in a chair, twirling a glass of wine in it's paw…somehow.
"Since you all seem hopeless without me…I'll go ahead and unlock the next floor. I doubt it'll make much of a difference at this point."
Somehow, everyone could see Monokuma's sly grin widen even more than usual. He was bating them, and they knew it…or at least some of them did.
"Oh yeah! Just you wait! We'll find a way out sooner or later!" Mondo threatened, shaking his fist toward the screen. "You're probably just saying that to make us think nothing important's up there! Reverse psychology or something right?!"
"…Ya know what, you're right Mondo! I put a HUGE SPOILER up there just for you! And if ya find it, I'll let all of you go free! No questions asked!"
Even if it was only for a brief second, a look of hope crossed Mondo's face before his brows furrows and he seethed, "…I don't believe you."
At this, Monokuma seemed genuinely puzzled, a tiny bit scared even! Without warning, the bear tossed the wine over its shoulder and instead grabbed a large walkie-talkie from the table behind it's chair.
"'Code Red'! We have a 'Code Red'! The Neanderthal is getting smarter! I repeat, the Neanderthal is getting smarter—!"
The monitor suddenly cut out, leaving a fuming Mondo seething at his own reflection in the screen. He seemed ready to punch a hole in it, if it hadn't been out of reach.
As the bear concluded its message, Chihiro breathed a sigh of relief. She'd practically been holding her breath through the entire exchange…horrified about any comment Monokuma might have about her leadership. But, it seemed the bear either didn't care about the change in leadership…or didn't consider it of any consequence.
Strangely, a part of her almost wanted the demented bear to comment on it. Monokuma made a habit of poking fun at anyone who tried to somehow unite the class against him. It had happened to Taka, Makoto, and even someone as good-natured as Junko! With that knowledge, Chihiro was certain that, sooner or later, Monokuma would somehow use her decision to become the class' leader to try and bring despair upon her and her classmates.
…The only question was: how?
Shaking her head, Chihiro chose to focus on her current issue, rather than anxiously wait for the monochrome bear to bring her down. And that current issue, happened to be a seething Mondo.
Although Chihiro could see that the biker was trying, and failing, to keep his temper in check, if someone didn't intervene, it would only be a matter of time before Mondo threw the chair he was tightly gripping at the blank monitor.
Just as Chihiro opened her mouth to try and calm her friend, another voice rang out.
"Yo, Mondo, calm down. Remember your blood pressure…" Leon called out, trying to ease his friend's rage.
The biker huffed angrily but didn't retort, while most of the class gave an amused chuckle. He sent them an angry glare but upon seeing Junko chuckling and smirking at him…he suddenly backed down. It was almost comical how fast he calmed himself, not that Chihiro didn't understand.
Not only was Junko very pretty, she was strong-willed and caring. She'd shown how bad of an idea it was to piss her off, and she'd even managed to knock down Mondo before! He was probably embarrassed about that, and didn't want to upset her more. It was kind of cute actually.
"I guess we better get to searching this new floor, huh?" the baseball star suddenly asked, posing the question in Chihiro's direction.
Caught unaware, the programmer blinked, momentarily confused as to why he was directing his query at her. An instant later, it clicked in her mind that she was still the leader…and the entire class seemed to be waiting for her to dismiss them or something! Her mouth suddenly went dry and she fumbled over her own words.
"Oh…uh…Y-Yeah! Right! We…We should probably go and…investigate the newly opened floor," Chihiro said, trying to steady herself and regain composure. In spite of her best efforts, as everyone leveled their gazes at her, she abruptly panicked and stammered, "W-W-We should…a-also…go in…pairs? Buddy s-s-system?"
Her voice cracked and tears started forming in the corners of her eyes as the class stared at her for a moment. What was she thinking?! 'Buddy system'?! Who in their right mind would find that a good—?!
"A brilliant suggestion!" Taka immediately jumped on, proudly beaming down at her. A bit shocked by the suddenness of his concurrence, Chihiro had no words and instead unintentionally let him speak for her. "Let us all pair off in groups of two or three! And then, once we have finished investigating, let us all meet back here and discuss our findings! If that's alright with you, Chihiro?"
Blinking rapidly when suddenly asked for approval, the flustered programmer could only stammer, "Y-Y-Yes! That's fine!"
She ended up shouting much louder than even Taka, much to her embarrassment. Fortunately, it didn't seem that anyone was bothered by it. In fact, most of the class just smiled and nodded…which left a hollow feeling in Chihiro's chest.
"I'm…supposed to be a leader, but I'm just doing what everyone else suggests. Taka even had to step in and endorse my idea before anyone took it seriously. At this rate…"
Before Chihiro's thoughts darkened, a familiar voice spoke up.
"Wait a second, I think we're forgetting something," Makoto spoke up before anyone could pair off. "I know things got a bit hectic for a bit there, but…what about Taeko?"
"What about that liar?" Hina seethed, a sudden agitated glare marring her features.
Makoto grimaced but managed to squeeze out, "Well…shouldn't we bring her food or something? She can't leave her room and has no way to get anything to eat—".
"I wouldn't mind letting her starve," Hina muttered, obviously holding back an even more scathing comment. However, it seemed that even she knew her comment crossed a line. Letting out an exhausted huff, she replied, "Fine…as long as I don't have to do it."
Taking that as a confirmation, Makoto then asked, "Okay then, who wants to get her some food?"
Unsurprisingly…no one volunteered…at least at first. After a few moments of awkward silence, a single hand raised itself up.
"I'll do it," Junko offered, a hint of reluctance in her voice. Then, much to everyone's shock, she added, "Everyone else can pair off. I'll make sure she eats and meet back up with everyone once you finish checking out the new floor."
"W-Whoa, hold on!" Mondo stammered, making her raise an eyebrow at him. Immediately feeling self-conscience, the biker did his best to calmly ask, "You're, uh, not gonna help investigate the new floor?"
With a shrug and a sigh, the Fashionista replied, "Someone's gotta feed the prisoner. Plus, I think it might be a good idea to keep an eye on the first floor. Considering it seems that a good number of us will be stuck here."
As she spoke, she glanced toward Hifumi. The fanfic creator didn't miss her gaze, and suddenly felt very anxious now that everyone's gaze slowly drifted in his direction. Giving a nervous laugh, he spoke for the first time that morning.
"I…I'm not allowed to leave the first floor right now…remember?" He hadn't meant it to be a rhetorical question, but that's what it became as everyone remember that his punishment meant confinement to the first floor. "So…I think I'll just…stay here and…make myself some tea…or something."
His response was lifeless. Completely devoid of the usual zaniness that followed each of his comments. Not that it was surprising, given yesterday's events. At the same time, seeing the usually upbeat and quirky otaku acting downright 'normal', was somehow more disconcerting than his usual behavior. It was almost too hard to watch.
"Anyways, don't worry about Taeko," Junko told everyone, lightly pounding one fist to her chest. With a confident smirk, she finished, "I'll take care of everything here. You all just make sure you find something that'll help us find a way outta here!"
"Indeed! That's the spirit!" Taka exclaimed, saluting the Fashionista, much to her surprise and slight embarrassment. Immediately afterward, the Ultimate Moral Compass turned to his two compatriots and said, "We should investigate as well! Now that there will be an uneven number of investigators, I propose the three of us investigating as a three-person buddy group!"
"T-That sounds g-great!" Chihiro instantly agreed, her nerves still frazzled but somehow finding comfort in partnering with her mentors.
"Yeah…sure," Mondo half-heartedly concurred, glancing in Junko's direction for a moment before shaking his head and pounding his fists together. "Let's do this! Time to find a way outta this hell hole! And if there isn't a way out up there, we'll just have to make one!"
Everyone slightly grimaced at his bold declaration but it seemed that his enthusiasm was more infectious than they thought.
"I like the sound of that!" Hina proclaimed, a hint of her usual pep returning. "Sakura and I will partner up and see what we can find. Right, Sakura?"
There was…something strange about Hina's tone as she made her request. Although it wasn't odd for Hina to suggest partnering up with her best friend, the way she did so this time was…almost forceful. Like she was silently begging the martial artist to accompany her. Perhaps it was due to her sudden shift in attitude, but it was still a bit unnerving.
For her part, Sakura merely gave a weak smile and said, "Of course."
"We should get going too," a determined Sayaka said before standing up and facing Leon. With a pleasant smile she asked, "Would you mind pairing up with me? Unless you'd rather wait and see if Monokuma takes pity on you, blessing you with bread for your sandwiches."
Leon seemed to have an answer prepared…but then fully registered her comment and immediately blurted out, "He's doing it on purpose! I know he is! It's been days! DAYS! I'm having withdrawals! See! My legs are shaking from the lack of meaty bread foods!"
Sayaka gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, not realizing her joke would trigger him. When he glanced up at her, she gave him one of her warm and radiant smiles before saying, "Give it time…or become a vegetarian. There are plenty of vegetables after all. We could even make a veggie sandwich without using bread. A bandmate of mine showed me once. What do you say?"
Although he honestly appreciated her attempts to cheer him up, he was still bummed, but chose not to let it show.
"…It's not the same…" Leon exaggeratedly complained as he stood up and began walking out with her.
Nearby, a certain lucky student smiled at their exchange. It was almost impossible to imagine that those two ever had animosity toward each other. As he stood up, a hand suddenly appeared on his shoulder.
"Makoto, would you mind accompanying me? I have some matters I would like to discuss with you."
To his shock, for the very first time, Kyoko came and asked him to hang out with her! He was almost too stunned to reply…that is until he remembered that he'd promised to tell her about his excursion into the hidden room on the 2nd floor boys restroom. He kind of wanted to kick himself for getting so overly excited…
"R-Right! That sounds great!" he replied; a bit too enthused.
"Let's be off then," she said as she turned and began briskly walking toward the door.
"R-Right behind you!" the lucky student cheerfully concurred, leaping to his feet and following after her.
It was then that he felt a strange sense of being watched…and out of the corner of his eye, for just a brief moment, Makoto swung his gaze around. Glancing over his shoulder, he was just in time to witness Junko heading into the kitchen, presumable to prepare food for Taeko.
"Must be nerves…" he whispered to himself as he ran to catch up with a quickly departing Kyoko.
Just before he exited the room, however, he spared a concerned glance toward Hifumi, who continued to stare dejectedly at the table he sat behind. His beady black eyes had dulled and for a moment, Makoto almost gave in to a compulsive desire to try and cheer him up when…
"If you want to stay, you can. I'm fine with searching on my own," Kyoko suddenly offered, startling him as he hadn't even noticed she'd stopped for him. The tiniest hint of a smile tugged at her lips as she noticed how flustered he'd become. "Our conversation can wait, if you feel it's necessary."
Not wanting to let this chance to spend time with her slip through his fingers, Makoto absent-mindedly blurted, "N-No, no! It's fine! I, uh…want to talk to you about…things."
He was trying to be vague but ended up feeling stupid as he couldn't find a better way to describe what he'd experienced in the hidden room last night. Not only that, he had another promise he needed to keep…
"Alright then," the lavender haired girl replied before turning on a heel. "Let's see what we can discover about the fourth floor…"
As the two of them headed off, the lucky student glanced over his shoulder one last time, sneaking a glance toward Hina and Sakura as they also headed off to investigate the newly opened fourth floor.
Hifumi…didn't really know what to do with himself, staring at the table in deep contemplation.
Everyone else had departed, eager to examine the newly opened 4th floor, with the exception of Junko, who had disappeared into the kitchen, obviously preparing a meal for Cele—Taeko…
At even the mere thought of her, Hifumi felt a wave of guilt almost overtake him. He tried to keep his thoughts away from the subject, but with nothing else to occupy his mind, his thoughts strayed back to when he used to consider her…a friend.
"Life…isn't like my anime after all…" he admitted, only to himself. "Miss Taeko…I thought I knew you…but…how could I? I didn't even try to see you as a person…just a trope…like everything else about my life…"
In the span of a couple days, his entire world had collapsed in on itself. He felt like a puppet cut loose from his strings…but instead of being free, he simply sank into a metaphorical heap. Despite the regret he felt for his actions, it didn't erase what he'd almost done. And because of that, he now found himself sitting alone in the cafeteria…completely dumbfounded.
*CLINK*
The sudden clatter of a dish being set before him startled the fanfic creator, jolting him up and tunneling his vision toward it. A plate sat a few inches from him, scrambled eggs with mini sausages lining one side. The aroma made his stomach growl, especially considering he'd yet to eat this morning.
"I made extra, since both of us are stuck here," Junko's voice invaded his ears, causing him to slowly look up. With a neutral expression, she finished, "Eat before it gets cold."
She was holding another plate in her opposite hand, the same scrambled eggs and sausage resting on the dishware. It wasn't anything fancy, and there didn't seem to be any spices added, but it was still more than appealing. However, the sudden gesture of kindness became accompanied by a pang of guilt.
"You…You really shouldn't have…" he muttered, feeling almost cliché. It was strange for him…because such a line would normally not bother him…but now. "I can…make my own food."
"I know that!" Junko abruptly retorted, obviously offended. Cocking her hip, she continued, "But you weren't cooking, and I was. And I made extra so you wouldn't have to. What's wrong with that?"
"…Nothing."
In all honesty, Hifumi wasn't really surprised by Junko's actions. She'd proven, time and time again, that all she wanted was to survive…and help others survive as well. Even if she had an ulterior motive, it didn't undo the fact that she'd saved many of her fellow student's lives. He was tempted to believe that, just like Miss Ludenberg, she was simply trying to get on his good side…except that he had nothing she wanted.
With a small huff, the Fashionista straightened up and turned toward the exit. "Fine. Don't eat it if you don't want it. It's your call."
As she turned away from him, some part of Hifumi suddenly became desperate. He didn't want her to go…but he didn't want her to stay either. He didn't know…he just didn't know what he wanted anymore! A few days ago, everything had been so clear and easy! But now…what the hell was he supposed to do with himself now?!
He wanted someone…anyone…to tell him what he needed to do now! Be it Miss Enoshima…or even Miss Ludenberg. He was like a caged bird with the door wide open…to afraid to leave the confines of safety…but knowing that he couldn't stay there forever! But he needed direction! Without something, or someone…pointing him in a direction, he would never move forward ever again! He was desperate for guidance…even though this exact same feeling had let him to be manipulated by Miss Ludenberg…it didn't change the fact that he was lost…and wanted some kind of purpose…some kind of reason to keep on living…
And out of that desperation, his voice softly arose.
"Miss…Enoshima…why do you do it?" Hifumi asked quietly. Raising an eyebrow, Junko stopped and turned to face him. Just as she was about to ask what he meant when he cut her off. "You make friends with everyone who attempted murder…trying to get them to realize that it was a mistake…something done in the heat of the moment…that they didn't mean to do it…but…why do you do that?"
A part of him expected her not to answer. She was carrying food after all, wouldn't want it to get cold. Not only that, he felt ashamed once again…for potentially allowing himself to fall into the same trap as before. After all, there was no guarantee that Miss Enoshima wasn't as cunning and manipulative as Miss Ludenberg had been. She couldn't simply be biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to—
"Because I'm a horrible person."
An audible gasp escaped Hifumi, his eyes widening and his gaze snapping up to her. To his utter shock, a look of neutral pain was etched into Junko's face. She was trying to hide it through a stoic visage, but it leaked through…mostly in her eyes. She stared off into the distance…almost exactly like he'd been doing only a few minutes ago. He didn't know what she was seeing…but every time the same look encompassed his own face, the memories of his sins flashed before his eyes.
Was it possible that…Junko was experiencing something similar?
"I'm not as innocent as people think. I've ruined many people's lives," she said, continuing to stare blankly. "I didn't care who it was. If someone got in my way…I would eliminate them. There was no time for sympathy or regret. I had a mission…a goal I wouldn't allow to become compromised. And…until recently…I never questioned my actions. I did what I believed was best…no matter how much it hurt the people around me."
At that moment, Junko hesitated, as if just speaking such a thing could somehow bring her to ruin. However, almost instantaneously, her eyes shifted. The dullness they'd taken on…suddenly brightened! It was as if…a light appeared behind her eyes, giving them life…purpose! Oh, how he envied that expression…an expression that he'd once experienced every day of his life…
Before his thought's darkened further, she turned toward him, a firm determination radiating from those brightly shining blue irises!
"And that's why…when I see someone headed toward that same path…I have an impulsive desire…to stop them. So that…they won't become like I was!" As she continued, her voice changed…almost as if she wasn't the same person he'd come to know over the last few weeks. "I swore that I would help everyone get out of here alive. It's…all I can do to make up for all the wrongs I've committed during my lifetime."
Hifumi was beyond stunned. What wrongs was she speaking of? It wasn't hard to imagine that she might have ruined other model's careers somehow, the fashion industry was terrifying, after all! But it seemed…heavier than that…almost as if she'd experienced the same kind of…incident that he'd gone through himself.
Had…something happened to her during her time as a homeless person? It was a dangerous life, to be assured. Even if it was only rumors, Hifumi had heard of people who actively went around trying to beat and even murder homeless people. Was Miss Enoshima…a victim of one of those assaults? Or…perhaps…had she been forced to defend herself to the point that she'd…taken a life?
He didn't want to believe that such a kind-hearted person as Miss Enoshima would be capable of murder…but being trapped in this school had forced him to realize that they ALL were very capable of it…given the right incentive. And…strangely, it would explain how she could remain strong during this whole endeavor. And it would also explained why…she had such sympathy toward the attempted murderers. A part of him wanted to ask if…if she had taken a life before…but…in the end, he was too afraid of what her answer might be.
As he wrestled with this new revelation, he felt a hand pat his shoulder. Snapping his gaze up, he was surprised to find Miss Enoshima smiling softly at him, her expression having shifted back to her usual persona.
"What I'm trying to say is; it's never too late to change," she told him, seemingly speaking from experience. "No matter how much guilt you feel…you can turn it all around and do something constructive with your life. And if you need help, that's what the rest of us are here for! We can give you a swift kick in the ass if that'll help! If we all just do what we can…we'll make it out of this place alive…together!"
The instant the conversation shifted to him and his own guilt…everything else she said began to be filtered out. Almost without realizing it, his expression mimicked hers from a few moments ago. His eyes dulled and he suddenly couldn't look her in the eye anymore, averting his gaze and staring down at the table once more.
Miss Enoshima was an amazing person…and he now truly believed that she didn't have an ulterior motive…and was simply trying to be encouraging…and he did appreciate that. But it wasn't what he wanted right now. He didn't know…what he wanted…but he knew that compassion wasn't it!
"I see…" he replied, almost in a whisper. "But that's not the case with me."
He paused, trying to find the right words. As appreciated as her gesture was, it did nothing to alleviate the dull ache his own foolishness had inflicted. He didn't want kindness or pity…he wanted to erase his own stupidity. To go back in time and stop himself from alienating himself from the group…impossible though it might be.
"…I…HATED Mr. Ishimaru for what he did! The way he looked down on everyone…the way he tried to monopolize my digital princess…I truly…HATED him…until I realized that I wasn't the one who hated him…but Miss Ludenberg!"
Hifumi's hands clenched into fists, struggling to keep his temper in check as he seethed through gritted teeth.
"I…let her influence me! I let her manipulate my anger and hatred! I almost killed Mr. Ishimaru because I was blinded by rage and love…because…I was afraid."
He paused for a moment, finally letting it all sink in…the emotions he'd buried while trying to stay sane in this madhouse!
"I…don't want to die. But I don't want to hurt anyone either! I just want someone to tell me…what I need to do to get out of this place! And when my digital angel came to me…reassuring me, promising me that everything would be alright…I lost myself in devotion to her!"
His breathing hitched, and it somehow became harder to breathe. Regardless, he pushed through it, knowing that if he didn't speak his mind now…he never would!
"And then she was taken from me! And…I lost my way forward…so I turned to Miss Ludenberg…because…because she needed me! No one…has ever needed me! I was always…just doing my own thing…and deep down…I wanted someone to acknowledge and notice me! And I thought she did! But…she only saw me as an NPC to be used…and thrown away…and now…that's what…I've become…a discarded…useless…side character…that…no one…that no one—!"
Suddenly, something soft pressed against his eyes. A…napkin? A napkin, being held by Junko…wiping the tears from his eyes! Rearing back a bit, the fanfic creator was embarrassed to discover that he'd begun weeping at some point. He…hadn't even realized…until Miss Enoshima—!
His entire head shifted as he stared directly at the beautiful girl retracting a delicate hand, balling up the napkin and tossing it aside. All the while, a smile refused to leave her lips…a gentle smile…with deep shades of sadness encompassing it. Lost in the majesty of her melancholic expression, he almost didn't hear her speak.
"I know…what it's like to be discarded. To trust in someone so explicitly…only to have them throw you away when you're no longer…amusing."
As she spoke, her voice radiated pain…and understanding. Hifumi instantly believed that her words were true. Only someone who had felt the same anguish as abandonment…could sound like that. But then, Junko's expression hardened, and he could almost predict what she would say next.
"No one can give you purpose. It's something you have to find for yourself…no matter how difficult it may be. If your purpose was to support someone who eventually tossed you aside…then you have only two choices: give in and waste away…or do whatever you can to find a new purpose."
She paused, her sky-blue irises watching him intently. All the while, the fanfic creator found himself entranced, not only by her words…but her character as well!
"I know that neither of those options sound appealing…they didn't for me either. It took me a while…before I decided what I needed to do. But when I did, I finally discovered something I'd been missing my whole life…"
Again, Hifumi couldn't help but become more and more interested in her backstory! Her character arc was amazing! She wasn't your stereotypical heroine but at the same time, having such a hidden background didn't fit for a side character either! He couldn't find the right way to classify what her character—
…Wait, what was he doing? She wasn't a character in a story…she was person, a living…breathing, human being. And yet, his mind was having issues trying to register her…as anything other than some sort of character from a story! Was this…how he viewed everything in his life up until now? How long…had he viewed his entire world this way? All of this came with a horrifying revelation…one that shook him to the core of his being.
"I'm…not the protagonist…I…never was…and I never will be."
How had he failed to see it before?! His entire life, he'd viewed himself as the protagonist, not just for his own story, but for the entire world's story! Why…Why did he ever think that?! Of course other people's opinions and ideals were important but…he'd always viewed others as…as…NPCs.
Was that why…it hurt so much to be manipulated? Because he realized that…Miss Ludenberg saw him only as an NPC? Was that the source of his guilt? Could it be that, without realizing it, he'd been treating everyone…including Miss Ludenberg, as NPCs designed to enhance his own story? And having his own ideals turned on him…finally opened his eyes?
It seemed that, only when he'd fallen into depression had he begun to notice that…the role he assigned himself…was completely false. Only now that he'd been used and thrown away…did he see the folly of his own hubris. In that regard, it was obvious that Miss Ludenberg would use and abuse him. He hadn't seen her…or any of his classmates, as human beings…until only recently…yesterday, in fact!
"That's it! That's what stopped me!" he realized, feeling simultaneously ashamed and proud. "I saw Taka as a human being that I would be killing! Not an NPC that was trying to keep me from my lovely Alter Ego!"
It was beyond shameful…to realize that, subconsciously, he'd been treating other people as NPCs for…probably most of his life. He'd just…never taken the time to try and understand that…they were people too…not just characters in a story. How had it taken him this long to realize such a basic thing?! Perhaps…his devotion to creating artwork and fanfiction…was to blame.
He'd thrown himself into his work from an early age, drawing and sculpting for as long as he could remember! He never even considered other people's opinions as valid, especially when it came to his work. If they didn't like his artwork, they were idiots who couldn't understand art! And if they adored his work, then they were the sensible one that were worthy of his acknowledgement.
But…that just wasn't how the world worked. And now that he'd come to that realization…just like Miss Enoshima had said…there were only two choices ahead for him.
"…ello?! Earth to Hifumi! You in there?!"
Suddenly, Miss Enoshima's voice echoed in his ears, snapping him out of a strange kind of trance. Blinking rapidly, the fanfic creator shook his head slightly and stared at her, noticing her concerned expression and the fact that she'd been waving her hand in front of his face…probably for at least a minute or so. She'd even set the plate of eggs and sausage down to lean in front of him to do so, adding to his awkwardness.
"M-My apologies…Miss Enoshima," he blubbered, fighting back embarrassment. "I was just so…caught up in your char—I mean, in what you said…I suppose I spaced out for a bit…"
Junko raised an eyebrow but didn't question his slip up, retracting her arm and slightly tucking it into her pocket.
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lecture you or anything…I don't really feel like I have the right to do that." Again, there was something more behind her statement that Hifumi wanted to understand but rightfully chose to be silent as she continued, "All I'm trying to say is that…we all have to do what we can to get out of here. Just…try and focus on what you can do to help…and that's enough."
A wave of guilt washed over the fanfic creator once more, unsure of how his talents could possibly be useful in helping to find a way out of the school. He only just realized he'd been a mostly inconsiderate person his entire life, so adding this on top of it wasn't exactly boosting his confidence.
"But…what if there isn't anything I can do to help? What if…I only undermine what you're all trying to do?"
His question was borne out of self-pity, but he still wanted to know the answer. He knew he was simply wanting someone else to guide him again…but right now, he wasn't sure what else to do. And so, he patiently waited for Junko to answer him…praying she might have the insight he needed.
"Well, that's a bit—ah, shit…"
She'd only just begun to speak when she quietly swore. Glancing over, Hifumi saw that she'd taken her hand out of her pocket, and something had unintentionally come with it. A small pink slip…one of the many that Taka had undoubtedly written for her during his 'reign'. As she quickly bent down to pick it up, she suddenly stopped, grasping the pink paper and staring it…almost too intently.
Hifumi was about to ask if she was alright when suddenly, an almost childish grin overtook her lips. Straightening up, she turned back him with what could only be described as delight in her voice.
"Hey…I think I have an idea," she said slowly, as if trying to contain her excitement. "How would you like to help me with a little…arts and crafts project?"
Taken aback by the sudden offer, the fanfic creator replied, "W-What kind of…project do you have in mind, Miss Enoshima?"
"It's a little something I like to call…karma. I want to get back at Taka for giving me so many of these ugly little buggers. I was wondering if you'd like to help with that?"
The moment she made that offer, Hifumi felt something stir within him. He didn't know what she was planning, but the brilliant shine in Miss Enoshima's eyes assured him that, whatever it was, it would be immensely fulfilling! And although the guilt hadn't dissipated, the thought of working on an artistic project helped to keep the biting feelings at bay.
Just glancing at the pink slip got his creative juices flowing again, and he couldn't stop himself from asking, "I'll be limited, since I can't leave the first floor…but as long as you bring me the materials…"
"Now that's what I wanted to hear!" she shouted, finally acting like her usual self again. "Here's what I'm thinking…"
Making sure no one else was around, the fashionista leaned in close and whispered in his ear. And when she was finished, Hifumi couldn't help the mischievous grin that etched onto his face.
"Oh…I think we can do better than that!" he said, urging her to come in close again.
Over the course of the next few minutes, the Ultimate Fashionista and the Ultimate Fanfic Creator discussed their harmless revenge against the now removed Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ishimaru!
All the while, the camera in the cafeteria watched them closely.
"Hey, no fair!" the real Junko Enoshima shouted up on the control room. Pouting, she donned her childish persona and muttered, "Leaving me out of the fun…that's really rude, ya know!"
Junko had watched their entire exchange, nearly vomiting several times as the hope levels increased. However, she became increasingly interested when they began whispering something about revenge…but she couldn't hear what they were saying! The camera microphones were pretty high quality, but they couldn't pick up whispering from across the room!
"I wanna know, I wanna know, I wanna know!" she shouted while throwing a tantrum…but only for a moment before straightening up. Assuming her teacher persona, complete with ponytail and glasses, she turned her attention away from that monitor. "Well, if they won't let me in on the fun…I suppose I'll just have to find it elsewhere."
Through the monitors, the Mastermind watched as the students investigated the fourth floor.
Hina and Sakura inspected the chem lab, finding both the protein bottles and the poison. She waited for a moment, waiting to see if they'd bring up the incident from last night…but they seemed intent on not even mentioning it. Bored with them, Junko switched to the two classrooms, currently being investigated by two pairs. Leon and Sayaka searched one, while the idiot trio of Mondo, Taka, and Chihiro searched the other. However, there wasn't anything special to be found there, and knowing that, Junko deduced that it was pointless to view them further.
Looking at one of the camera halls, she found Byakuya, still being stalked by Toko, walking down the hallway that lead to the locked Headmaster's office. Unfortunately, the view for the camera in that hallway didn't allow her to see the office door directly, not that it mattered. The camera in the Headmaster's office itself was good enough, but since the door was locked, it was no shock that Byakuya almost immediately came back into view of the hallway camera. His face was genuinely stoic, but she could see he was frustrated that he'd been barred entry into one of the most vital rooms of the school.
Sadly, that didn't even whet her appetite and thus wrote him off as well. After all, he'd already investigated the Staff room nearby and hadn't even commented on the flowers placed on all the teachers desks!
"Or perhaps…he didn't feel moved by the deaths of the school's faculty?" she questioned aloud, still in her teacher persona…only to change into her crazy persona an instant later. "Then again! Why would a selfish bastard care one bit about those beneath him! Ahahahahaha~"
As her laughter faded, she looked at the final pair searching the upper floor. Immediately, Junko returned to her 'original' self, staring at the monitor intently.
"Ooooh…now what are the two of you up to, I wonder…" she said, keeping her analytical eyes focused on them, scrutinizing every…last…detail.
"Locked…" Kyoko said aloud, tugging on the door to the Data Processing Room.
"I wonder why?" Makoto questioned, looking at the map on his e-handbook. "This is the first time any of the doors have been locked when we went up to a new floor."
"Indeed," the mysterious girl concurred, examining the door to discover that it would require a special key to open. "Perhaps there's something inside here that the Mastermind wants hidden…"
"Or perhaps…the Mastermind themselves is behind this door."
Kyoko held in her comment, not wanting to unintentionally give Makoto hope. Even if the Mastermind was behind that door, there was no guarantee that other security measures hadn't already been taken. The room could be rigged to explode, or there could be a panic room inside. It was also entirely possible that the Mastermind wasn't even in the building with them…but considering what the fake Junko had told her—
"I guess we should move on then, huh?" Makoto said, unintentionally interrupting her thought process. However, she wasn't upset with him for it. He was right after all, there was nothing else to be done here, at least for now.
"Yes," she agreed, already turning and heading for the Music Room. It was the only room that no one had bothered to investigate and hopefully, it would give her and Makoto some privacy. "This way."
To her surprise, Makoto managed to keep pace with her. She didn't stop to wait for him, nor did she turn back to check if he was following. Instead, he appeared at her side, matching her walking speed. For a brief moment, she glanced his way. She was almost shocked when he turned and noticed her glance, smiling at her in return.
Despite herself, a bit of heat rose up in her cheeks. Immediately, shifted her gaze forward, slightly ashamed. She…wasn't quite sure why. All she knew was that, somewhere deep down, it was shameful for her to have any sort of emotional reaction. Was it something innate or had the idea been drilled into her through training? She didn't know…she couldn't know. Her memories were still fragmented…only bits and pieces returning very, very slowly.
At this point, all she knew for certain was that she'd come to this school to see the Headmaster…not the demented bear that currently claimed the title. And even after everything that the Junko imposter told her, she still couldn't make heads or tails of her true reasoning. After all, if the imposter was lying to her, then her current hypothesis was completely skewed. At the same time, Kyoko was very perceptive…and didn't think the imposter had been dishonest.
There was definitely something the false Junko was keeping to herself…but if it was true that merely speaking such a thing would cause the Mastermind to execute—
"Uh, Kyoko…are you okay?"
Wordlessly, the lavender haired girl's thoughts were broken, and she zeroed in on her surroundings once again. They were almost to the music room, only a few feet from the door, in fact. Luckily, she hadn't stopped in front of the door and mindlessly stood there contemplating. That would have drawn concern. No…what shocked her more was that…Makoto somehow noticed she was deep in thought, even though she was certain her facial expression hadn't changed.
Was he getting more perceptive? Or was it simply his luck at play once again? Honestly, she couldn't be sure of either. Both were completely viable. Makoto had proven himself to incredibly intuitive and insanely lucky…even if most of it stemmed from unfortunate circumstances. Still, that didn't change the fact that, somehow, through her stone-faced visage…he'd seen something, something that caused him to show concern for her.
That, in and of itself was impressive…and she wanted to acknowledge it.
"I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Again, she found herself questioning him. She wasn't entirely sure why. It was true that she wanted to know his reason but…there was something…more, that she wanted to know.
Makoto seemed a bit startled at her question, maybe even a bit flustered, if the slight coloration in his cheeks were any indication. "Well, uh, I guess…it seemed like something was on your mind?"
Kyoko's eyebrow raised slightly. Judging by his tone, he wasn't even sure himself about why he'd asked. Perhaps it was purely intuition that made him ask, and not true perceptiveness. Regardless, his instincts could tell that she was…unnerved by something. That alone was praiseworthy. However, she willingly held herself back. Because…as much as she wanted to acknowledge him…trust him…there was a part of her that refused to let herself do it.
She wanted…to know why…why should couldn't bring herself to trust anyone…trust him. It made sense that she wouldn't put much faith in her fellow classmates. She knew well how people react under pressure. Putting her trust in any of them would be foolish. And trusting the imposter was definitely out of the question. Their alliance was shaky, at best, and there was no guarantee this wasn't an elaborate scheme conceived by the Mastermind to add excitement to the game.
And yet, when it came to Makoto…she wanted to trust him. I wasn't a matter of if she should or could…it was that she wanted to. Makoto continually placed all of his trust in her…which she tried to reason away as him being gullible, considering he put his faith in pretty much everyone in the class. And yet…he seemed persistent in showing her that he could be trusted…and that she could trust him.
Kyoko knew it was foolish. She knew that she would end up regretting such a choice. But at the same time…she wanted to do it. She wanted to know what having complete faith in someone was like…because, as far as she could remember, she'd never allowed herself to do it before.
"Perhaps…I could…give him just a little trust…"
She would test him…that's what she'd decided. That's why she sent him to the hidden room last night. There was all likelihood that he'd be attacked by the Mastermind, they both knew it. And while she'd concerned for his safety, she'd forced it away because it would further her own agenda…and that was wrong. She knew that, but had done it anyway.
Kyoko would never admit it to anyone but…she hardly slept last night. She left her door open, as she'd done the last few nights, waiting for him to pass by on his way to his own room. And he did…much, much later than she'd expected. Once confirming he'd returned to his room, she finally shut her door…but didn't really sleep. He'd seemed…distracted upon returning. She wasn't sure if it was because something had happened to him…or if he saw something he shouldn't have.
Either way, she knew something was up, and wanted to talk to him about it. And if he could be honest with her…then maybe…just maybe…she could learn to put her trust in him.
"…I was thinking about what happened yesterday," she half-lied, glancing up at the camera and hoping he'd catch her meaning. She watched as his eyes drifted, peeked at the surveillance device not even for an instant, and shifted his gaze back to her.
"Yeah…it was…a pretty crazy day," he answered as nonchalantly as possible. It wasn't perfect, but she could see he understood her meaning.
Nodding to him, she moved forward and pushed the doors to the Music Room open. What greeted them was a large auditorium, complete with several rows of desks and a grand piano sitting atop a large stage. The lighting in the room was just as odd as hallways, with purple spotlights illuminating the stage. Kyoko had surmised long ago that the strange color patterns littered throughout the school were meant to induce stress, as clashing color could influence one's mood as well as solid colors.
"Wow! This is pretty amazing!" Makoto exclaimed as he walked about the space. "I'm sure that Sayaka would love it in here! Probably Leon too! I wonder if they saw it already?"
While he was speaking, Kyoko scanned the room until her eyes fell on the camera. It was up in a top corner, pretty far away from them. Most likely, each camera had microphones hidden on them, so the Mastermind could hear everything they said. They could also be other listening devices planted around…which mean that Kyoko needed to be careful with her words. She needed to be direct, but not reveal anything the imposter passed on to her…just in case.
To that end, knowing that more than likely the Mastermind knew of the conversation between her, Makoto, and the imposter in the bathhouse last night, Kyoko decided to use this moment to be frank.
"You know, you still haven't told me what you think…" she said deliberately, getting Makoto attention immediately, just as she planned. "About the hidden room in the boy's restroom."
Makoto's eyes widened, probably due to the shock of her blunt statement. However, he didn't hesitate when he answered, "Well…just like you thought, it was cleared out when I got there. There weren't any files or documents anywhere. All I found was a cable in one of the drawers."
"…I suspected as much," she replied, a hand resting on her chin. "It doesn't matter. I already learned all I could from the documents there. Did anything else happen while you were there?"
"No," he answered immediately. "I just went in, saw it was empty, and left, just like I promised."
Very slowly, Kyoko released a breath she'd been holding. It was good to know the Mastermind hadn't made a move. The chances had been slim, but the possibility of Makoto being attacked was still there. Still, that didn't explain why he'd come back to his room so late. She didn't want to directly ask him. No…she wanted him to tell her of his own volition. But she needed to give him a little push.
"It sounds like it didn't take very long. Honestly, I half expected the Mastermind to interfere in some way," she told him, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. She hoped that bringing up the fact that nothing happened would trick him into telling her about how he got back so late. "Since they didn't, it proves that nothing of value remain hidden in the room."
"And…what would have happened if they Mastermind had attacked me?" Makoto suddenly asked, seeming a bit concerned…and for good reason.
Her original purpose was forgotten for a moment as a tiny feeling of guilt welled up.
Kyoko hadn't exactly shown him any concern when talking about how dangerous the situation she'd sent him into was. It was there, buried so far into her subconscious that she refused to let it show, but still there. But…she couldn't let him know that. She couldn't show weakness…no matter how small. The Mastermind was watching, after all. If she, in any way, gave the Mastermind a tool to use against her, then Kyoko knew there was no way she'd succeed in uncovering the truth.
So, as usual, she answered with a cool and calculated tone, "You can handle that sort of thing. You're a boy, after all."
The look of shock, and possibly confusion, that crossed Makoto's face was understandable. But to be fair, she wasn't really lying. After all, all the men she'd ever known didn't have a problem putting themselves in danger if it meant protecting something…or someone. And while she knew that it varied from person to person, Makoto had shown his bravery on multiple occasions…not that it justified how she knowingly sent him into a dangerous situation.
"Uh…right, I understand." Makoto replied, obviously a bit shaken by her words. However, he quickly straightened up and asked, "But let me ask you this, did you find out anything useful from the documents in the hidden room?"
Kyoko had to fight to keep from scowling. Had he really just asked that in full view of the camera? More to the point, did he actually expect her to answer when it should be obvious that the Mastermind was listening in? Then again, she'd asked him a sensitive question, so perhaps he didn't think it pushed any boundaries.
She was a bit disappointed, but not completely surprised. After all, Makoto was eager to try and find a way for everyone to escape, and sometimes let that enthusiasm get the better of him. Reprimanding him wouldn't help, so instead, she decided to be direct again.
"We…shouldn't talk about that. Not here." Her eyes gestured toward the camera, and instantly, Makoto realized his mistake. But before he could voice anything, she continued, "I'm…looking into it. If I find out anything, I'll be sure to let you know. Is that alright?"
Kyoko ended up being a bit forceful at the end, not really asking and more like not-so-subtly demanding he stay quiet. Fortunately, that answered seemed to satisfy him, or at least got him to back down, as he decided not to press the issue further. To which she was thankful.
At the same time, this was also the perfect moment for her to question him about why he returned to his room so late last night.
"So, now it's your turn," she said calmly, keeping his attention. "Let's hear your secret."
"…Huh?" was his only reply, seeming genuinely confused.
At that moment, almost uncharacteristically, Kyoko smirked a bit and said, "Did you think I wouldn't notice? You're hiding something. Am I wrong?"
What she had intended as slightly playful banter…turned into utter horror. Makoto's face instantly shifted, and an intense guilt suddenly became visible on his features. Perhaps someone with an untrained eye wouldn't have noticed…but to her, she could read him like an open book. He was definitely hiding something…something he didn't want anyone to know…and that scared her.
Makoto had never been anything more than an open and honest person since the day they'd met. But now, as he tried to hide his surprise at her deduction and force away the guilt he was feeling, Kyoko felt her stomach sink.
"What's the matter?" she asked, keeping her cool tone despite her own shock. A lightbulb went off in her mind as she thought of the camera looming above them. Maybe…that was what caused his reaction. "If you're worried about the camera, why not write it down?"
The lavender haired girl had paper and a pen on her…and she would gladly lend it to him if it meant easing his worry. This was Makoto, after all. The one person she had decided to try and put faith in. The person who had always done his best to keep everyone together. The person she had grown to respect despite how naïve he was. All he had to do was accept her offer…and she would consider truly trusting him…
Sadly, however…
"Um…well…"
She waited…longer than she should have, for him to answer her. But in the end…he just stood there, silent. He couldn't even look her in the eye, averting his gaze as he tried, and failed, to respond to her request. Almost unconsciously, her hands balled into fists at her sides.
His lack of an answer…upset her. She wanted to trust him. Wanted to believe in him. But the way he was acting…the fact that she knew he was hiding something from her…it stirred something deep inside her…and filled her with anger. And the longer he hesitated, the angrier and more frustrated she became.
Narrowing her eyes, she moved closer to him, practically invading his personal space, and said, "We're friends, so we should be able to trust each other. That's what you said before, right?"
Kyoko knew it was underhanded, but right now, she didn't care. Using his own words against him was the quickest way to the truth. And unfortunately, the look of utter shame and guilt on Makoto's face told her everything she needed to know. Despite the torrent of anger swelling up inside, she managed to keep her composure when he finally spoke.
"I'm sorry…I can't tell. At least, not yet…" he said softly, still not meeting her gaze.
His words…didn't do anything to soothe the anger bubbling up inside her, and all she could think to respond with was, "So…that's your answer."
He wouldn't tell her. No…he didn't trust her enough to tell her. That was the more accurate statement. At very least, Kyoko could tell he meant every word. He truly did intend to tell her at some point…but that didn't change the fact that he was keeping secrets from her…when he specifically asked her not to do the same with him!
Regardless of the anger she was feeling…Kyoko decided to give him one last chance. He deserved that, at the very least.
"But do you think that's fair? You were happy to hear what I had to say, but now your unwilling to share yourself?"
Her tone made it clear that this was his last chance. She had opened up to him, even if only a little, to try and prove that it was possible to earn her trust. But…if he denounced her here…she doubted she'd ever be able to trust him ever again.
After waiting what felt like an eternity, she finally got her answer.
"I'm sorry…I really am…"
Another apology…not at all what she wished to hear. Even though she could see how much it pained him to avoid answering her, it mattered little to her now. She gave him plenty of chances…more than she should have, really. And all he could managed was a meager apology? How could she ever trust someone who wouldn't be honest during times like this?
Straightening her jacket, she turned her back to him and, without a hint of emotion in her voice, told him, "It's fine. Goodbye."
Without warning, Kyoko briskly walked away from him, out of the Music Room and headed for the other rooms that needed investigating. If Makoto tried to stop her, she didn't hear him. In fact, she didn't want to be anywhere near him right now. Instead, she decided to throw herself back into investigating the school. However, she couldn't do that without taking a moment to mentally berate herself.
"I can't trust anyone…I knew that…and yet I wanted to try. This is what I get for trying to have faith in people."
Barely managing to keep her smoldering anger in check, the lavender haired girl continued her investigation in the way she knew best…completely on her own.
"Well, daaaamn! Makoto, you heartless monster!"
The Mastermind, Junko Enoshima, cackled as she watched the entire affair. She currently donned her aggressive persona and couldn't keep herself from commenting.
"Granted, he's doing it because of a promise to another friend…but still! That's the closest I've ever seen Miss Detective get to actually trusting someone! And you shot her down faster than a rabbit has an orgasm! Ahahahahahaha~!"
After laughing hysterically for another few minutes, the Mastermind leaned back in her chair and quietly observed the lot of students on the monitors. She'd reverted back to her usual self, looking at them with a bored expression, a loud yawn escaping her to emphasize her mood.
A few minutes later, she watched as they all began to head back to the first floor, apparently done exploring. That was when a grin tugged at her cheeks.
"About damn time!" she squealed as she spun around in her chair. However, she came to a halt quickly as she grabbed her desk, staring at a monitor that displayed Sakura and Hina heading back down the stairs. Another wicked grin crossed her face. "Well then…I'd usually go with 'An Eye For An Eye'…but I think her silence would better suit my next motive."
Hopping up from her seat, she practically skipped toward the Monokuma control room, throwing the door open and plopping down in her chair. Adjusting a headset with a mic on her head, the Queen of Despair prepared to announce the next step in the killing game.
"…Let's see just how long she can stay quiet after this!"
To Be Continued…
Greetings, my beautiful readers! Holy crap, it's been forever! Sorry for such a long wait…but what's gonna happen next?! What does Junko have planned for the next motive? Will Kyoko ever forgive Makoto for keeping secrets? When will Leon get his sandwich?! (Hint: Sandwich Denial) You'll have to keep reading to find out!
Again, apologies for being gone so long! But between working a real person job, buying a permanent home, traveling out of state to help my mother renovate a house, and stepping on a nail requiring me to get a tetanus shot…let's say it's been hard to find time to write.
I do have an announcement though! Since I know it can be hard to contact me, I recently set up a Twitter account so that I could give updates on my progress of each chapter! Now, it's also for my youtube account, so if you watch my videos, that's great too! I go under the same name as here – hunterofcomedy – so I hope that helps keep everyone informed.
Lastly, a big thank you to everyone who favorited, subscribed, and followed my story recently! I know I haven't posted in a while, but it's always great to get messages from people new to my story! Even if it's just "Great job!" or something, comments like those keep me going. Thank you to everyone who supports my story! You are the reason I keep writing it!
Thanks again, and have yourselves a great day, my beautiful readers!