Chapter 3: Act 7: My Secret Keeper II
Location: Dormitory, Hotel Despair
Day: 20
Time: 12:45 PM
Hajime had hurried after Sonia the moment everyone left the Gymnasium. He had tried to get her to stop but she didn't even listen to him. He hurried into their dorm, watching as she jumped into her bed, bursting into tears. He didn't really know what to do, but he knew this particular motive was affecting her mentally. So he knelt down next to her bed, placing a hand on the small of her back.
"It'll be alright, Sonia."
"No it won't, Hajime!" she cried, her voice being muffled by her pillow. "It's happening all over again, another game where all of us will suffer! Look at what Monokuma did last time, he's going to do it again! I don't want to be in a position like that ever again!"
"And you aren't going to! You just have to reveal your secret, that's all."
She picked up her head, glaring at him with tear-soaked eyes. "Reveal the secret? That will be just as bad as not taking the punishment. I cannot do that, Hajime. It is inconceivable!"
The princess sat up in her bed, her breathing ragged as she grasped her head in her hands. "I don't know what to do. If I don't reveal the secret, I'll get punished, but if I do, I'll be betraying one of my friends. It isn't fair, it isn't fair!"
"Hey!"
He grabbed a hold of her shoulders, giving her a shake as he looked right into her eyes. "You aren't going to betray anyone. Do you think anyone here, any one of us, wants to see someone else get hurt? All because of a stupid secret? We don't, Sonia. Don't you think for a second that we do, because none of us want to see that happen ever again."
"But this motive-"
"Means nothing. Look at me, Sonia," he said, causing her to look back at the young man. He gave her a bright smile. "We're going to get through this just fine. None of us are going to succumb to something as silly as a damn secret. This will run its course and when Monokuma gets bored, he'll leave us alone."
"Can we really say that for certain?"
At this, he remained silent. Of course, he didn't know if Monokuma would leave them alone. There was far too much at stake at this point. He let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I can't say for certain. What I do know is that if we give him what he wants, he's just going to keep pulling us closer and closer to the brink. We can't let that happen."
He grabbed a hold of her hands, squeezing them. "Sonia, you have been through so much already. Dealt with a lot of crap even before coming to this school, but you aren't going to let it beat you. You are the Ultimate Princess, Sonia Nevermind of Novoselic. You come from a long line of strong people, and have survived coups, protests, and assassination attempts. You will survive this game, I know you will."
The blonde-haired girl found herself smiling. "You truly believe that?"
"I don't believe it, I know it. Because you told me yourself. You don't intend to die here, and I'm not going to let you either. We must press onward. There is nothing more for us to do but keep going."
"You are… absolutely right, Hajime. I was a fool to begin crying like a scared little girl. What kind of princess am I if I fold before heading out to war?" she said, adopting a firm look. "Nay, I mustn't become a blubbering mess. It is in fear that I must find strength. The strength to press on, to lead my comrades to daylight."
"Atta girl! That's the princess I wanna see! The Ultimate Princess who is ready to face hell itself."
"I won't face it all by myself, after all, we're going to need heroes if we wish to leave this academy alive," Sonia said, rising to her feet. "You, Hajime, bear all the characteristics of a famous hero in Novoselic's legend. The normal-looking face, the tall stature, the antenna-shaped hair, you have it all!"
"Antenna-shaped hair?" he said, a confused look on his face.
"Indeed! I have no doubt you will be but one of many who will lead us out of this terrible school." the princess said firmly.
Hajime scratched his cheek, a sheepish smile on his face. "Are you sure that I fit the bill? I mean, Akira seems more capable than I am. I'm kind of coasting."
"Surely you jest! Akira is a strong person, but he has his faults as well. I have no doubt he will be one of many. But in my eyes, you are the one who's destined to become the true hero. There's something about you that I just cannot describe. This… hopeful aura… it's quite intriguing."
"A hopeful aura…? That's an interesting thing to point out, given the fact that I don't even remember my Ultimate talent. I don't know what's wrong with me. No matter how much I try to remember, I can't think of anything. I'm starting to wonder if I even have an Ultimate talent."
"Hajime, having talent isn't important. At the end of the day, it's just a fancy title. You were chosen to come to Hope's Peak Academy for your merits. You might not stand out from the crowd, you might look ordinary, but I assure you, you belong here." Sonia said, shifting her gaze away from him. "Or rather you did… we all did… in the former institution. The current one is not what any of us wish to be in."
"You're right… I'm still trying to figure out how this academy shut down. I've been searching all over the place but I haven't found anything. Why did all of us get locked up in here? Why is the government just allowing this to happen? What happened to cause this place to close down? I rack my brain, but nothing." he said, sighing. Sonia placed a hand on his cheek, giving him a small smile.
"I'm certain we will arrive at those answers in no time," she said. The princess looked away, clearing her throat a bit, wiping her tears away from her face. "I must look like a mess. I'm quite happy I didn't wear any makeup today. It likely would have streaked. I do wonder how Kyoko and Celeste manage to keep their daily routines in this place."
"It's probably to instill a sense of normalcy. It's why I still wear my tie, despite me wanting to take it off," he admitted, rubbing his neck. "Still, even without the makeup, you look very pretty, Sonia."
"Do I? I've always been told my makeup brings out my eyes more."
"It does, but honestly you look way better without it. Seriously, you have really cute eyes, I think you should focus on wearing makeup that accents them more."
"Hm… I'll take that suggestion into consideration," she said, looking away from the young man for a moment. Her cheeks were flushed cherry red, a look of embarrassment on her face. "Hajime? I'd like your opinion on something."
"Sure, anything."
"Well… suppose that you are in a situation where your life is at stake. You have someone that means a lot to you, a close friend. You wish to pursue something but are afraid of the unknown. Would you risk it all for a moment of happiness, even if it might be your last?"
"That seems… oddly specific," he replied, tilting his head in thought. "Hm… What would I do? Honestly, I think I'd pursue it. I mean why not?"
"Well?"
"If you want my honest answer, I think I would pursue it. I mean, you have one life to live, and it's a fleeting one. At any moment, you could end up dying. I wouldn't want to die with lingering regrets, making my final thoughts what could have been." Hajime said, frowning.
Thoughts of Fuyuhiko and Peko filled his mind, imagining the message he had written in blood. The message that Hiro had erased. "I figure life's a gift, and I wouldn't want to waste it. Personally, I'd try to make each day count."
"To make each day count, huh? That's rather sweet actually," she said, a smile on her face. "Are you sure you aren't the Ultimate Sage?"
"I could be, but I haven't been known for giving good advice," he admitted, looking away from her after a moment. "If anything, the advice I give I pull out of my ass."
"Even if it's out of your ass, it is quite sagely if I do say so myself."
She paused for a moment, as if pondering something. After another second or so, she adopted a more confident look. "Alright then, I shall heed your advice. But once we get out of here, we must search for the Golden Makango!"
"The Golden Makango? Oh, that creature from Novoselic. Why would we need one of those?" he asked, confused. Sonia rolled her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. His eyes widened, bulging from his skull. He hardly reacted, brain short-circuiting for a moment before finally kissing her back.
He pulled her close, bent down slightly due to their height difference. Her movements were soft and precise, and firm as well. It was far more than a chaste kiss, in fact, she seemed rather experienced. In contrast, his movements were a lot more uncoordinated. He matched her movements as well as he could, lungs begging for oxygen until they finally parted, staring into each other's eyes.
"Wow… that was something."
"Ahuh," she muttered softly.
"Do you wanna do it again?"
"Ahuh."
And so they did, and they would continue for a short while longer, all while the camera continued watching them with vested interest.
Location: Hope's Peak Academy, 2F
Day: 20
Time: 1:00 PM
Being alone was something Kyoko had grown accustomed to. In fact, it was something she quite enjoyed. Not being in the presence of others was just something that seemingly came second nature to her. It was how she managed to keep herself from becoming too invested. And yet her current situation left her with no choice but to open up to others. It was a rather strange set of circumstances.
Despite that, she still tried to stay away. She didn't know who she could trust in this game of theirs. It had been 20 days since the beginning, and she was no closer to finding out the truth behind what was going on. Hope's Peak Academy was an enigma, and she wanted to get to the bottom of it. The information she had found so far was intriguing, but there were still too many things left unsaid, questions left unanswered. She needed to speak with Akira as soon as she could. But he was busy with Sayaka.
Her thoughts drifted back to their conversation at the party. She had been thinking a lot about what she had read in the library. There was no way Akira could be the feared Ryouma. Part of a duo who had racked up over a thousand murders. What Byakuya had said also struck a chord with her. Could a secret society truly exist? One that controlled the world from the shadows? And if they did, could they have a hand in what was going on?
There was no way that was possible. From what she had experienced in her life, she concluded that something like that wouldn't be so easy to hide. Someone would eventually leak the details. Unless they were so strong that they were silenced. That was a strong possibility. If that was the case, could it have been Ryouma and Oryou's job to deal with targets? People who got close to spilling the details? Could Byakuya's uncle have been that person? Another question in a series of unending questions, it seemed.
The violet-haired girl's thoughts returned to Akira. She had been thinking a lot about him, in fact. She didn't know why, but whenever she was around him, she felt something in her heart. A sense of deja vu, as if she knew him before all of this. But it seemed so impossible, completely unlikely. Her thoughts drifted back to the night she had spent with him and Sayaka, how close the three had been. Ordinarily, the thought of spending time with someone put her off, especially when being that close, but that night was different. It felt as though they had done it before, many times.
Then there were Sayaka's comments. Kyoko wasn't keen on spending time anywhere near a pool, and yet she had so easily convinced her to give it a try. She had convinced her to change into a swimsuit and even complimented her skin. It was odd, and yet it stirred something in her. As if they had been through that conversation before. It was something that made both her head and her heart hurt. As if she had been on the verge of remembering something but she just couldn't grasp it. The threads were there, but they were so tangled she wouldn't be able to unravel them, at least not without the relevant information.
She let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Don't let these foolish thoughts cloud your mind, Kyoko. Remember what Grandfather said. We must remain vigilant and take no sides. That's how we'll make a sound judgment."
The violet-haired woman paused mid-stride, narrowing her eyes. "Where did that come from? I don't recall my Grandfather ever saying something like that to me. Could it have been another missing memory of mine? What a troublesome ordeal."
Hearing voices, she looked around for a moment, finding the only available place to hide, the Boy's Bathroom. She stepped inside, closing the door. It wasn't as though she wanted to avoid whoever it was, she just didn't feel like dealing with people. She looked around for a moment, finding the room to be rather peculiar.
"This doesn't look like the bathrooms downstairs. The ones on the first floor are completely different, same as the ones in the dormitories. I don't recall there being a supply closet in those." she thought to herself. Slowly, she walked forward, opening the supply closet door, looking at the contents within. "Seems normal."
Despite that, something told her to keep looking. She scanned the items, finding a bucket, some gloves, cleaning supplies, a mop, and a broom. She stepped a bit more into the room, placing her hand on the door, and much to her surprise, she felt it move. She felt a hint of excitement filling her, something she hadn't felt in a while. Moving past the supplies, she pushed the wall further, completely taken aback.
"What is this? I certainly wouldn't have thought a place like this was hidden here." she thought to herself.
It was a room, it wasn't as spacious as one would assume, but spacious enough to hide in. There was a shelf at the very back, filled with several books, files, and other things. There was a desk in the center of the room, along with a chair. Nothing seemed out of place. Looking closer, she noticed a T-2 line on the wall, along with a wall outlet. The room didn't have a source of light, relying on the light of the bathroom, making it a bit of a risk to leave it open.
Despite that, Kyoko moved forward, walking around the desk, staring at the wall of books and files in front of her. All of them had been very dusty, as if they hadn't been looked at in a long time. She scanned the spines of them, seeing the golden text in English, much to her surprise.
"Hope's Peak Academy Yearbooks… Not only that but there are student files here as well." she thought, reading each one. They were all separated by academic year, she stopped at the final file, which read Academic Year 2014- with no end date. She pulled that one out, carefully opening it.
"Academy Files for the 2014-2015 School Year. This file contains the information regarding Class 78-A, 78-B, and Class 78-C." the text read.
She flipped to the first page, seeing the profile of a young woman she didn't recognize. Her name was Yukari Amamiya, and possessed the title of Ultimate Investigative Journalist. It detailed every aspect of her life, up until she was scouted. At the very bottom, there was a red stamp which caused her to pause.
Deceased…
"What?"
She flipped to the next page, reading the profile of Amamiya's twin brother, Yukino, who also had the Deceased stamp on the bottom. Every single profile she looked at had the same thing at the bottom. Each one had been stamped the same. She stopped at the last profile for Class 78-A, eyes widening in surprise.
"Natasha Chemovsky, Ultimate Physicist, recruited from St. Petersburg, Russia. Age: 16, Former High School: St. Petersburg School for Girls, shows great capabilities when it comes to physics. Has shown a great aptitude when creating special mechanisms. At the age of 13, Natasha was able to invent a machine that helped lessen the radiation within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. She has received commendation from the Russian President as well as the United Nations for her exemplary work. Koichi Kizakura discovered her when she was on a tourist trip in Hokkaido.
Miss Chemovsky continued to improve the well-being of various people across the world. She invented and patented a new type of purifier, funded and built by the Towa Group in conjunction with Togami Corp. Before the closure of Hope's Peak Academy, the Steering Committee funded and requested an air purifier to be built within the 3rd Floor Physics Lab of the Old School Building. Unfortunately, Miss Chemovsky perished during the Tragedy."
Kyoko reread the words before her eyes, growing even more confused. "Tragedy? What Tragedy? This makes absolutely no sense to me."
Continuing on, she reached the next class, Class 78-B. She was surprised to find some familiar faces. Kiyotaka, Mondo, Sayaka, Chihiro, Celeste, Byakuya, Hina, Junko, Hiro, Leon and Makoto were present. Among them, she noticed some were missing. Toko Fukawa, the Ultimate Writing Prodigy, Hifumi Yamada, the Ultimate Fanfiction Creator, Sakura Oogami, the Ultimate Martial Artist and Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Soldier. She reached her own profile, staring at her own picture. She shuddered a bit when she saw how cold her eyes were.
"Kyoko Kirigiri, Ultimate Detective, Age: 16, recruited from Tokyo. Former High School: White Castle High School, London, England. Kyoko Kirigiri is an enigma. Though she has a great mindset, she is often quite reclusive. She is an excellent detective, who hardly shows emotion when conducting investigations. Her prior training made it so that she never showed herself when investigating a case. It is thanks to her efforts that many cold cases were resolved. According to Koichi Kizakura, she allowed herself to be seen, thus attracting the attention of Hope's Peak Academy. Kyoko Kirigiri happens to be the daughter of Hope's Peak Academy Headmaster, Jin Kirigiri."
She read her file twice, and then a third time, to see if she had been mistaken. But the words didn't change, they were still the same. She was the daughter of the school's headmaster. The same headmaster who had apparently trapped them there.
But that didn't make sense. She did know her father was the Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, but there was no way he would do something like that. She had vague memories of him from her childhood. She never once got along with him, remembering the words her grandfather had told her. He had chosen the academy over her. He cared more about talent than her. He didn't want to be a detective like they were. He just wanted to play at something else, something that would lead to nothing.
It had been nothing but a selfish choice. It was why Fuhito had taken her away from her father. Why he had trained her in the art of being a detective. A rush of memories returned to her, allowing her to recall some of her childhood memories. She remembered the day she had been taken by her grandfather, the suitcase she had pulled along with her, the plane she boarded that would take her away from home. She remembered hearing the news of her mother's passing, and how indifferent her father seemed to it all. She remembered how cold England was, how hard training as a detective was.
But that was it. Everything else was covered in a thick fog that didn't seem to clear. No matter how much she searched her memories, they didn't come to her. It only ebbed at her psyche, causing her to ask even more questions. About herself, about her father, about everything. She took a deep calming breath, looking back at the profile in her grasp.
"This changes nothing. Just because I know what my talent is doesn't mean everything will magically become better. If I want all my questions answered, I'm going to have to speak with the Headmaster of this Academy. My father. But even I don't even know where he is. Could he seriously be the one behind all of this?" she asked herself, shaking her head. "No… I certainly doubt it. My father wasn't a cruel monster, he wasn't someone who'd enjoy seeing people suffering. The mastermind is someone else."
She continued onward, looking at Class 78-C. The only person she seemed to recognize in that Class was Hikari. He had a rather happy expression in his profile. She read it as well, but nothing really stood out to her. Unlike with Class 78-A, the entirety of 78-C was missing the Deceased stamps on their profiles. There were a myriad of talents among them, from an Ultimate Pilot to an Ultimate Yodeler. Hope's Peak Academy certainly knew how to pick them.
Kyoko set the file down, glancing at the shelf below it, spotting something she hadn't seen before. It was another file. This one was labeled Incoming Students/Potential Scouts. She pulled it free from the shelf, blowing the dust off of it before opening it.
This File Contains the Candidates for Class 79-A. As of now, only one talent has been confirmed, the remaining slots for this class have been allotted and capped at 16. The names of the potential students are listed below.
Miu Iruma, Rantaro Amami, Shuichi Saihara, Gonta Gokuhara, Himiko Yumeno, Kaede Akamatsu, Kaito Momota, Kokichi Oma, Maki Harukawa, Angie Yonaga, Kirumi Tojo, Korekiyo Shinguji, Ryoma Hoshi, Tenko Chabashira, and Tsumugi Shirogane.
Confirmed Students:
Akira Yoshikawa: Ultimate Lucky Student
Further Note: It seemed as though signs of tampering were discovered in the lottery machine set to select the incoming Ultimate Lucky Student. Initially, the machine had selected Akira Yoshikawa. After the tampering was discovered and a different machine was used, it also picked Akira. After a third and fourth machine were prepared and used, Mr. Yoshikawa's name continued to be selected. Thus, as an act of goodwill from Lady Luck herself, we have determined him to be worthy of moving up from the Reserve Course and into the Main Course."
Kyoko let the information settle into her mind, flipping through the student profiles. She stopped at Maki's profile, seeing the picture. She was exactly who she had assumed she was, Akira's sister, the same one who had threatened the Mastermind directly. Continuing on, she found Akira's profile, reading the words on it.
"Akira Yoshizawa, Ultimate Lucky Student, Age: 16, recruited from: Hope's Peak Academy Reserve Course Division. Former High School: Seven Sisters High School. From an academic standpoint, this young man is as average as they come. He has gotten high B's and low A's for most of his life. He seems to be average at everything that has to do with academics. However, it is his underground skills that have led us to wonder what his true Ultimate talent could be. He has done his best to hide all traces of information, but it seems as though some has managed to leak through.
Akira Yoshizawa is an orphan, who was placed with a foster family by the Holy Cross Church, which is operated by the Ruska Roma, an organization of Russian Gypsies currently working out of Berlin, Germany. He and his foster sister were trained to be deadly assassins. However, it seems as though Akira has never used his skills to harm a single person, going for traditional disarming techniques as well as leaving targets alive. His sister, Maki Harukawa, is often the one who finishes the job.
He has remained hidden from society, posing as a normal student. Should he be driven to use his actual skills, it is possible he could achieve the talent of Ultimate Assassin, though his sister Maki Harukawa has already claimed that title in secret. He is adept at Martial Arts, practicing Tae Kwon-Do. He is also trained in Guntata, a new-age martial art that focuses on using firearms to fight. He has been trained with all manner of weapons, from crossbows to shotguns, and shows deadly precision.
He keeps this life completely hidden, showing a true genuine demeanor when speaking with others. However, this is only present when he isn't forced to take on targets. It is thought he was involved with the disappearance of Byakuya Togami's Uncle, who was labeled as 'deceased' in all official documents.
For now, we shall keep a close eye on him. He seems to have befriended several students of Class 78-B, including the Headmaster's daughter. Further observation shall be necessary. It is possible she already knows he is an assassin, though for whatever reason, she hasn't approached him with this information."
This was perhaps the most revealing profile yet. Not only was Byakuya correct, but he was also completely wrong about his Uncle's fate. She was completely floored by this revelation. She was unable to see Akira as anything other than the Ultimate Lucky Student. Perhaps that's why almost no one could tell who he truly was. Because his Luck was masking his true talent. He and his sister were never caught, and never left a trace either. It was by sheer luck that they hadn't attracted the authorities whatsoever. What was more shocking was the fact that she apparently was close with him.
It was something else she didn't remember. How much more was she going to discover? It was as though her entire world shattered. She closed the file in her hand, shoving it back in place. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, shaking the errant thoughts in her head. She took a step back, feeling something crinkling underfoot. When she looked down, she noticed a piece of paper had fallen at her feet. She picked up, carefully unfolding it.
"You must not leave."
"What… does this mean…?" she asked herself. She felt her heart beating harder in her chest as she looked at the words. She didn't know why but she felt her throat tightening up, a sick choking feeling overcoming her. She had never felt this way in her life. Folding the paper, she placed it within Class 78's Student Files, turning away from the shelf. "I need to get out of here, before I pass out."
Swiftly, she left the bathroom, ensuring the secret room was sealed up the way she had found it. She walked toward the door, peering through the crack, looking at the security camera, which was panned in the other direction. She quickly moved out of the bathroom, running toward the stairs. It wasn't until she was back on the first floor that she felt safe.
The violet-haired girl leaned up against a nearby wall, taking a few deep breaths to steady her errant thoughts. She had discovered a vast treasure trove of information, far more than she had been anticipating. But she couldn't trust anyone with it, not until she had gone through it all herself. Perhaps she'd take a page from Akira's book and jot the most important details down. She would need to procure a notebook for herself, along with several pens. She was going to need them.
"I need some tea. I have a lot to think about and it's going to take me a long time to process it all." she thought to herself, as she headed toward the dining hall. She was going to be quite busy in the coming hours.
Location: Dormitory, Hotel Despair
Day: 20
Time: 12:25 PM
Chihiro had noticed the awkwardness in the air the moment she returned to her dorm. Ibuki had become silent again. It was as if the work everyone had put into bringing her back had been undone. She was sitting on her bed, leaning back against the headboard staring at the envelope in her grasp. She had a faraway look on her face, spinning the envelope in her hand.
Taking a deep breath, she sat down at the edge of the bed, giving her a firm look. "Are you okay, Ibuki?"
Being pulled out of her thoughts, the Ultimate Musician locked eyes with the Programmer, giving her a frown. "Of course, I'm not. Someone out there has my deepest darkest secret. Not only that but I have to decide whether I keep this one or reveal it. I've lost a lot of friendships in my life already, the last thing I need is to lose the respect of the few friends I have here."
"I understand, but given the circumstances, I don't think anyone would hold it against you," she said.
"They definitely would!" she cried, burying her face in her hands. "It's so hard being in this situation, Chihiro. You don't understand it. When you have people who trust you, the last thing you want is to break that trust."
"Did something happen in the past? With some of your friends?"
She stayed silent, possibly debating on whether or not she would speak. Finally, she relented, letting out a sigh. "In my old school, I used to be part of the Light Music Club. Me and my friends started it to create great music. It was such a blast, and we even ended up selling a lot of albums, at least until Sayaka came into the picture."
Ibuki trailed off for a moment, twirling a strand of hair around her fingertip. "We had this gig before the end of the year, right before we were set to graduate junior high. It was a huge concert, one final send-off before moving on. However, someone within the group decided to sabotage it. That someone happened to be the lead guitarist, my best friend."
"How did they manage to sabotage it?"
"They rewired some of the pyrotechnics to go off earlier than planned. On top of that, she messed up our instruments, damaged my laptop, and did several other things. All about an hour before our huge set. We had to scramble to get everything together, to see if we could squeak out at least half of our set, but halfway through it, one of our bandmates found a note. A note that had apparently been written by me."
"Someone set you up?" Chihiro asked, earning a nod from the musician. "Did you tell them it wasn't you?"
"Of course I did, but they found out another thing I was keeping hidden. I was in talks with this agency to see if I could become an idol. It wasn't exactly my dream but people seemed to like my brand of music. I wanted to keep it a secret, but my friend found out and decided to sabotage us. On top of that, she revealed this secret to all of them. They all blamed me even more."
She bowed her head, hair covering her face. "We formed our club for fun, but over the years, we became so super united! All of us had our part to play, and it was super fun. We had a lot of creative differences, which was what led me to reconsider my stance. But at the end of it all, I decided to become an idol, and proposed the idea to my clubmates, to become a huge band the likes of which the world had never seen! But my friend spoiled it all… The fallout was particularly terrible."
"How bad was it?"
"As bad as you can imagine," she replied, pulling her legs closely to herself. "My friends started calling me names, asking me if I truly cared. Some started wondering if I wrote my own music or if it was stolen, because she had accused me of plagiarism as well. All of this was happening during our set, the pyrotechnics finally went off and sent fireworks all over the place. The goddamn venue almost burned down, and at the end of it all, we were blacklisted."
Her shoulders shook a bit as she held back her tears. "My deal with the agency went south, they found out who we were, and headed for the hills. Our school had a damaged reputation, my friends all hated me and on top of that, this girl I was really into said I was an awful person, all because of something I didn't even do. And my best friend? Well… she managed to get recruited by Butterfly Heart."
"Butterfly Heart?"
"Sayaka's Idol Group. That's what they're called. And you know what sucks even more? My friend knew that was the name I wanted to give to our idol group. Because the girl that I liked was totally in love with butterflies. I even got this in her honor," she said, pulling her sleeve up. There on her wrist, was a bright orange monarch butterfly. Chihiro took a hold of her hand, running her fingers over the tattoo.
"Wow… it's so pretty."
"Right? Monarch butterflies represent change, transformation, and hope. Our change from a Light Music Club to an Idol Group. Our transformation from teenagers into young women, and finally, hope for the future… and Satomi Aoba ruined all of it."
The Ultimate Programmer didn't really know what to say. She wasn't too into idol culture, and only knew of Sayaka due to her popularity. She didn't imagine that one of her bandmates had once been friends with Ibuki. It was completely unimaginable. The copper-haired girl grabbed Ibuki's hand, giving it a light squeeze.
"None of it is your fault, Ibuki. It all happened because of this Satomi girl, right? Do you have any idea why she'd do something like that?"
"Honestly, not really. But after it all went down, I started to think back on everything. I realized how jealous she always seemed to be. How annoyed she was that she wasn't as popular as me or the other girls. She always wanted the spotlight and could never have it. I think she did it to send a message to me, I was the club leader after all."
The musician let out a sigh, shaking her head. "What sucks even worse…? Satomi did it completely unprovoked. How long will it be before she does the same thing to Sayaka? Before she pushes her out of the way and becomes the new Ultimate Pop-Sensation? She did it to me, to our clubmates… who's to say she won't do it again?"
"Then you have to let Sayaka know about this! If she thinks Satomi is her friend, she's likely unaware of the snake that's sitting right next to her!"
"I can't do that. It could ruin their idol group, and I know how hard Sayaka has worked to become so popular. She's worked herself to the bone. The Idol industry is so rough, the choreography is painful enough, but imagine the singing, the fan interactions, the photoshoots? It was something that I wanted to experience myself, but it was a brutal life. The last thing I want is to do anything that would end with her losing all of it."
"It's better than not telling her." the programmer said, a firm look on her face. "If I knew something about someone else, who could potentially hurt one of my friends… I'd definitely tell them. And if someone knew something I didn't, I'd like for them to tell me."
"I suppose so but… honestly, I haven't even told you the worst part of it all," Ibuki said, chewing on her lip. "You'll probably hate me for this but… I took revenge on Satomi."
"Huh? You took revenge on her? How so?"
"I followed her career online. I ended up posing as a boy from another high school, using fake pictures and everything. Once I convinced her that I was real, I got her to tell me her current address. I ended up using that information against her. I gave it to someone online, and they ended up posting it all over the place." She admitted, a look of regret on her face. "Fans and creeps started showing up at her apartment, completely unannounced. Butterfly Heart's parent agency even made a statement, and they had to go on hiatus for a while. Satomi ended up almost taking her own life because of this."
"Oh… Ibuki…"
"I'm an awful person. I let my own emotions take over my mind, and I did something horrible. But what could I have done? Satomi ruined my chances, our chances to become a great idol group. Everyone else in our club ended up suffering while she moved up in the world. It was unfair, to all of us."
Chihiro didn't know what to say. There were so many things floating around her head, so many questions she had. But at the end of it all, none of it mattered. She just smiled at her friend, giving her hand another squeeze. "It's alright, Ibuki. It was a genuine mistake, all of us make mistakes. I don't want to say it was justified or anything but… Well, I think the right thing to do is to let Sayaka know."
"I've thought about it, but I can't, Chihiro. The last thing I need is to be blamed for ruining another group. I know what Satomi did was awful, but what I did to her was way worse." she replied, holding back tears. "I'm a terrible person, Chihiro."
"Not as bad as me. I've been lying to everyone about who I am since the beginning. Everyone thinks I'm a girl when I'm not." the programmer said, a firm look on her face. "I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. I want to become stronger, I'm tired of being so scared of this school and of Monokuma. We can't let him continue his heinous crimes."
"But-"
"No buts, Ibuki! We have to come clean about who we are and what we did. Open your envelope, read the secret contained within. I don't think the others will mind much if you tell it and your own. Removing it from the playing field is how we win." the programmer said, a cheerful look on her face.
"I suppose you have a point," she muttered quietly. She grabbed her envelope, sighing as she slid her fingertip beneath the flap. She pulled its contents from within, reading what was written on it. She let out a small laugh, sniffling a bit. "Well, what are the odds?"
"Huh?"
The musician handed the paper over to the programmer, whose eyes grew wide in surprise. "Chihiro Fujisaki is a Boy."
"Well… I guess that works out. If you get chosen, Ibuki… I want you to tell everyone."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I am completely alright with this." Chihiro said. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his own envelope, pulling it open. Much to his surprise, he saw what was written on it, noticing it matched what Ibuki had just revealed to him.
"Ibuki Mioda doxxed her former friend, Satomi Aoba, causing the temporary Hiatus of Butterfly Heart. This also led to the suicide attempt of Satomi Aoba."
"Alright then, Ibuki. If you or I get chosen for this, let's come clean to everyone. Even if we aren't, I'm still going to come out. I want to become a strong dependable man, someone who isn't scared. Someone people can talk to about their problems. I want to help everyone leave Hope's Peak Academy. And to do that, I have to let go of my baggage, to finally break free from the secret I've been holding for years."
She grabbed Ibuki's hand, grinning. "Let's let go of these secrets, together!"
Ibuki nodded, sniffling a bit. "Yeah, let's!"
The Ultimate Musician found herself, leaning forward, giving Chihiro a firm kiss on the cheek, much to his surprise. "Thank you, Chihiro. You know… for such a cute girl, you are quite manly~"
"I-I am?"
"Hehe, course you are~" she replied, giving the programmer a small bite on the arm, much to her surprise. "Whoops, sorry~ I should have told you, when I'm really happy with my close friends, I like giving them little love bites."
"O-oh…?" the programmer asked, taken aback. "I suppose I don't mind."
"Let's go play some games at the Arcade, Chi-Chi~ I'm getting tired of being in this dorm, crying and shit. It'll be fun!"
"Okay, sounds like fun!" Chihiro cheerfully said. He, of course, wasn't prepared to be pulled into a run by the musician, forcing herself to match her friend's errant pace.
Location: Art Room, Hope's Peak Academy 3F
Day: 20
Time: 2:00 PM
It was quiet in the art room, save for the occasional sounds of hammering. The Ultimate Biker decided he needed to blow off a bit of steam. So, he decided to come to the art room to work on his birdhouse. The mansion he and the others had been working on had fallen to the wayside, partially built. He didn't know when they'd return to it, but he hoped it would be soon. It was coming out great after all.
After the current motive had been issued, he had been thinking a lot about his own life. He already knew what the Mastermind had on him. It was obvious after all. Only one significant event had happened in recent times. But it was still something he didn't want to think about, or even have people exposing. As he hammered away at the wood, he felt his grip on the hammer growing tighter and tighter, until he had been slamming the nail harder and harder. He had struck the workbench with such force that a piece of it had flown off, a large chunk of wood missing from the edge of the table.
Growling, he threw the hammer across the room, with enough force that the claw embedded itself in the wall. At the same time, the Ultimate Moral Compass had been in the process of entering the room, taken aback by the hammer that had flown dangerously close to his head.
"Aaaah!"
Mondo looked up, cringing a bit. He let out a sheepish sigh, rubbing his neck. "Sorry, bro. I didn't see you there."
"It's quite alright, but try not to make it a habit of throwing tools. You could seriously hurt someone."
"Trust me, I didn't mean to. I just lost my temper and lashed out, like I always seem to do," he said, sitting down in a nearby chair. "I'm not gonna lie man, this motive's fuckin' with my head."
"You shouldn't let it. After all… this is designed to pit us against one another. But if we hold tough, we'll overcome it. All we must do is reveal our secrets to each other. Thus, eliminating the Mastermind's hold over us."
"Tch… it ain't that easy."
"Of course it is."
"Alright, then let's hear it." the biker said, looking up at him. "You preach about how we should reveal them, so go ahead. Tell me your secret. I bet it's something like lying about your attendance record or some shit."
"You couldn't be further from the truth," Taka said, his voice losing its pep. He sat down across from Mondo, folding his hands over the table. "Tell me, do you know the significance of the Ishimaru name?"
Mondo tilted his head, clearly confused. "The fuck? Of course, I don't, man. Why do you ask?"
"It leads into my personal skeleton, you see. I come from a long line of famous politicians. At one point, the Ishimaru name carried a lot of weight in Japan. Following the end of World War II, Japan's government adopted a more Western approach, drafting a constitution similar to the United States. The National Diet was erected, and no longer did the Emperor hold absolute power. It was far different from the former way of doing things,"
"Alright… I follow you so far."
"Well, my grandfather was the first Prime Minister elected after the war. Thus, he carried a great deal of public support and admiration. Not only that, but the title of Prime Minister had a new kind of weight to it. After all, Japan had committed many atrocities during the War. The nation wanted to see what this newfound government had in store for them."
He smiled a bit as he leaned back in his chair. "Toranosuke Ishimaru had earned his title, not through work, but through his genius. In the modern parlance of this academy, he was most certainly qualified for the title of Ultimate Politician. He proposed a great many changes, was a man of the people, well-loved and respected. He won in a landslide election, and promised to bring Japan back to its former glory. To use World War II, not as a reminder of what Japan had done, but as a learning lesson for the future. So that no one nation would commit such heinous atrocities. He boldly claimed that the nuclear attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima were sent to them, to remind them of just how small Japan was, compared to other nations in the world."
"Goddamn… The balls on the guy. Saying some shit like that… and the people ate it up?" the biker asked.
"Hook, line, and sinker. He didn't hesitate to speak his mind, and the people loved him for it. He was set to have a long fulfilling career in the Japanese Diet. He had hashed out deals with the United States, allowing Japan to enter a Post-War Economic Boom, putting our nation far ahead of its contemporaries. You know how they say Japan is about 80 years ahead of the world? It all started with him."
He paused, his smile falling. "Though that would come to an end, not even a year into his career."
"What… really? But he seemed like he was on top of the world. What happened to him?"
"A woman happened to him."
Mondo's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh…"
"My grandfather was a great man, but he became embroiled in something he shouldn't have. You see, for such a great man to exist, there needed to be someone there to be a thorn in his side. Thus, members of Japan's underground made it their mission to sabotage the man who was against them. After all, he wished to eradicate all crime, and thus banned weapons all over the nation. The Yakuza didn't like that. So they started toying with him, playing him for a fool…
This woman came out of the woodwork, managed to woo him, to the point where he made terrible decisions. My grandmother had tragically lost her life in an accident, so he was a single man by this point. This woman took him to the cleaners, making him do things he normally wouldn't. This ended up affecting him greatly, to the point where it put into question his authority as the Prime Minister. Have you heard of Watergate?"
"Watergate… I think I have. That was that shit in the 70s with President Nixon, right? In America?"
"That's right. Let's just say, what happened to my grandfather was the Watergate of Japan… way before Watergate. When the scandal broke out, it took the whole nation by storm. People tried to keep the peace, but rioting started. They wanted my Grandfather's head. He tried to calm them down but was met with furious denial. He ended up having to resign. The scandal? Well, the woman who had been intimate with him had proof of various dealings he had been involved in. All of them are false, of course, but the public didn't know that."
"Shit… so he was set up?"
"Yes. The fallout was so bad, that anyone with the Ishimaru name became labeled. They were publicly shunned. My father, who was only 19 at the time, had to deal with the fallout as well. He was a young, up-and-coming detective. He was compared to his father, even when he told him he had nothing to do with the man. No one believed him. His career ended before it began. Even now, he works as a police officer, but he's had to work his way up from the bottom, and he still gets reminded of Toranosuke."
Kiyotaka remained quiet for a moment, licking his lips. "I will say, I loved my grandfather. He was a man wise beyond his years, always telling me not to make his mistakes. He said that if he had kept his head low, followed the rules, and did his job, instead of chasing after a piece of ass, as he put it, we would have gone down in history as a well-respected family. Now, the Ishimaru name holds the same weight as Emperor Hirohito or Hitler… Perhaps not to their degree, but still infamous."
"Must have been tough growing up, huh?"
"It was. My mother always reminded me that I wasn't my grandfather, and not to let people bully me. And I didn't! From the age of 5, I started proving myself. I did my school assignments on time, and stayed behind to clean the school. I tutored struggling students, helped the teachers out, and organized fundraisers. I didn't miss out on a single day of school, even when I was sick, even when I was told to go home. Following the rules is what kept me sane, what kept me from going down the same path as my Grandpa."
"You can't compare yourself to the man, though. You are your own person man, I think you are just being too tough on yourself." Mondo said, earning a laugh from Taka.
"Perhaps, my friend, perhaps. But I believe in leading a disciplined life, to keep on the straight and narrow. It's why I'm such a stickler for the rules. I believe in hard work and the merit of our efforts. Having a good head on your shoulders and good morals are what separates us from the animals. It's what allows us to see clearly, what helps us avoid the vile people trying to ruin us. That's it… the truth behind my secret."
"Damn, dude… I didn't think it'd be something so serious," he said, quietly glancing at the nails and tools on the table. He closed his eyes for a moment, frowning. "It's a lot different than mine is. No one ended up dead in yours, but someone did in mine."
"What?"
"You remember how I told everyone I had an older brother?" he asked, earning a nod from the moral compass. "His name was Daiya. I'm the reason he's dead."
"I beg your pardon? You… killed-"
"I didn't kill him, let's get that straight," he said, becoming a bit defensive. He sat up straight, taking a deep breath. "We have a code in the Crazy Diamonds, once you leave high school, your time has come. My brother was the one who started the gang, managed to absorb all the other gangs around Japan, make'em divisions of the Diamonds. I was his kid brother, following in his footsteps. His word was law, he held that much authority across the nation… But I didn't."
He let out a bitter laugh. "The boys thought I wasn't the right fit for the Diamonds, but I worked my way up. I wasn't gonna get special treatment because I was Daiya's kid brother. No. If I didn't know my hog inside and out, then I didn't belong in a biker gang. So I worked hard, taking apart engines, making custom shit, helping recruit new members, keeping shit in line. Eventually, I became Daiya's right hand…"
"I see… so you started from the literal bottom, making it all the way to the top?"
"Pretty much, yeah. I ran security for our boys, keeping an eye on everyone, making sure none of them were bein' rowdy, stealing or breaking shit. Of course, not every gang in Japan wanted to follow the lead of the Diamonds, so we had to rough some of them up. The usual shit. During one of those runs, Daiya met his future wife. Her name's Yui, she's super sweet, but goddamn is she a scary bitch. First time I met her, she bashed some random thug's kneecaps with a goddamn sledgehammer."
Taka found himself cringing a bit, a look of fear on his face. "R-really?"
"Totally. She was the leader of an all-female group of bikers. The Kawaii-Nekos, even had these big, pink vets with fuckin' Hello Kitty on them. They made me yack the first time I saw them. She just laughed. My brother was head over heels for her from minute one. Totally in love with her. She had to test him, so how'd they do that? A race from the furthest southern point in Japan to the furthest point north." Mondo said, chuckling. "She won, by the way."
"How did Daiya take it?"
"He didn't. He accused her of cheating, she doubled down and said she hadn't. They got into this heated argument, and somewhere along the way, he grabbed her by the neck. They fought like wild beasts, but ended up making out by the end of it." he replied, laughing as he spoke. "Daiya said that night was the best fuck of his life. He knew then he wanted to marry her. Yui redesigned our vests, added the personal touch to them, and settled on the front as well as the fake diamonds on them."
"I see, well it certainly does make the "Diamond" part stand out a lot more!"
"Hell yeah, we wanted to send a message after all. The Kawaii-Nekos became a subdivision of the Crazy Diamonds, led by Yui. All of the finest female bikers from across the world came just to join. The two were on top of the world, so of course, Daiya wanted to tie the knot. His graduation was fast approaching, and he knew he'd have to move on. Yui also agreed to his terms, choosing the next member of her gang. The two ended up getting married the night Daiya picked me as the leader of the Diamonds. But the boys… they didn't really like that…"
He wrung his hands together, shaking his head. "I wasn't Dai, I didn't have the same weight. He told them all to listen to my word as if it were law. Inspired me to be more firm, and I did. But they still didn't listen. As was our tradition, the old leaders would get a send-off. Every member of every gang would be present for a race. Daiya thought this was the way to get me to the top, and earn the respect of the boys. If I could beat him, it'd be the official passing of the torch."
"What… happened…?"
"We hopped on our hogs. Yui used her bra as the starting flag, something that Daiya scolded her for. But the second she brought her hand down, we shot off, followed by our boys. We raced hard, being neck-a-neck. He kept telling me that I had it, to push it forward, but I didn't listen to him, telling him to shut up. Like a dumbass, I went into oncoming traffic. Outta nowhere, this huge ass bus appeared, and I was right in its headlights. It happened so fuckin' fast man." Mondo said, clenching his eyes shut. He could still hear the engine, the screech of the tired.
He took another deep breath, holding back the tears. "Daiya pushed me outta the way, he got hit by that damn bus. Realizing what happened, I got up from the ground and ran toward him, but he was too fuckin' hurt. He tried to get him up, to take him to the hospital, but even he knew his time was up. He told me to keep my head up high, and to lead the Diamonds to greater heights. He died in my arms, man."
"Oh… Mondo." Taka quietly said.
"Yui was beside herself, all she did was hug and kiss him. She asked me what happened, and I told her he saved my life. The others just watched on, wondering what the hell was happening. Yui didn't want Daiya's image to be ruined, and she didn't want me to be even more hated by my boys, so she told me to lie to them. That's when I came up with the lie, that I had killed my own brother to prove to them that I was the true leader of the Crazy Diamonds. And that I'd do the same to them if they didn't listen."
He put his hands on his head, gritting his teeth. "Yui didn't hate me, she knew it was an accident. But hell after his burial, she fuckin' handed me a goddamn Pregnancy Test. She was carrying his kid. Not only did my dumb ass almost die, but I got my brother killed and left his kid without a father. It was eating me alive, but I couldn't tell the truth."
Kiyotaka remained silent, processing what his friend had told him. He didn't really know what to say. Mondo sat up against, a firm look on his face as he continued speaking. "That's the guilt I've been carrying with me, man. I can't tell anyone about what I did, that I got my brother killed, that his wife was pregnant, that my niece's dad died to protect her stupid uncle. All because he was a jackass who let his anger get the best of him."
"You can't continue blaming yourself for this, Mondo. It was an accident. Sure your anger got the best of you, but your brother sacrificed himself to save you."
"And if I hadn't been an idiot, he'd still be alive. Yui wouldn't be a single mother, and I…" he shook his head. "I came to this academy to run away, man. To hide from the truth… but I realized when Junko was executed that this was my punishment. My penance for causing my brother to die, and for lying to the boys, and claiming I killed him. It's what I deserve, my cross to bear."
Mondo stayed quiet for a moment, finding himself laughing. "You know I always made fun of bookworms and people that liked to read. But I remember reading this book once, after he had died. Yui gave it to me, told me I'd like it. Seemed boring to me, but now, I think about it a lot… there's a quote that still sticks out to me. "Sometimes, the Green Mile seems so long." What's going on here… this is my personal mile, and I gotta walk it. If I die here, so be it, but I'll still keep walking it when I get out."
"You mustn't give up, Bro!" Taka said, a firm look on his face. "I understand the burden you carry is a heavy one, but think about your niece. That little girl who is still here, a product of the love your brother had for his wife. Rather than punishing yourself for his death, you should consider making sure that his life, the life of that child, is guarded."
"Guarded…?"
"Yes. You wish to punish yourself for his death? Then accept that sin, but take it as a will to live. You atone for your sin but making sure that girl has everything. Make her feel loved, remind her of her father, ensure Yui is safe and sound, and surrounded by loved ones. Your niece is your brother's legacy. Make sure she grows up safe and sound, and doesn't follow in your footsteps."
"I never thought about it that way." the biker said, smiling a bit. "Oh, you should see her, Taka. Yui named her Honoka, because my brother saw that name on a sign somewhere. He said it sounded pretty, and she kept it in her heart. She's my brother's spitting image, long black hair, a firm face, bright chocolate brown eyes. She has some of his quirks too."
"That there, is why you should live for her, Bro. Daiya's legacy rests with her, but you shouldn't let his memory be a tainted one. Don't blame yourself for his death, instead, move on from it. Accept it, and promise yourself that it will never happen again. Your atonement shall be to ensure the happy life of his niece."
"You're right… You are absolutely fuckin right! I gotta stop feeling sorry for myself. I gotta look at the bigger picture. I'm responsible for my brother's death, yes, but I can't keep holding it against myself. I gotta let my brother rest, and enjoy the life he saved. But most of all, I gotta make sure his daughter feels her father's love." Mondo said, a grin on his face. "First thing I'm gonna do when I get out of here is take her to all of his favorite places. Make sure she knows what kind of man her father was. I'll teach her about his love for motorcycles as well, but not as a Crazy Diamond, just as a man who got a new lease on life. I'd love it if you tagged along."
"It would be an honor! Though I'm not certain I'd get far on a hog, as it were." the Moral Compass said firmly.
"Ah, don't worry about that. Yui will teach you, she's a hardass but she'll drill that shit into your head. And don't worry, we'll follow the rules and shit. I may be the leader of a biker gang but we're all licensed." he admitted, chuckling. "I needed this talk, man. Thank you. You definitely are a bro!"
"Glad I could be here for you. We won't let Monokuma's vile intentions change us, instead, we shall prevail over him. Through hell or high water, we will make it out of this academy alive."
"Hell yeah! I have another reason to get out of here, and that's Honoka. I need to make sure she's safe and sound!" he said, shooting to his feet. "Come on, bro! Help me finish this birdhouse, I want it to be a gift from me to her. She loves bird watching after all."
"It would be an honor!"
As the pair started their work on the birdhouse, they heard the room door open. The Ultimate Mechanic stepped into the room. Mondo gave him a nod. "Yo, what's up, Kazuichi?"
He didn't respond, instead, he just kept walking forward, heading straight to the warehouse. Mondo and Taka shared a look, both of them confused. The pink-haired man walked out after a moment, a tool belt around his waist, filled with various tools. This time, Mondo was a bit more forceful.
"Kazuichi?!"
"What?" he barked, glaring at the man. He cringed a bit when he saw the look on the biker's face. "S-sorry man. I was lost in thought."
"I could tell. What the fuck do you need all those tools for?"
"The tools?" he asked, glancing at the belt tied around his waist. "Ah, I need them for a project I'm working on."
"A project? Might I inquire as to what kind of project it is?" Taka asked, a curious look on his face.
"I found this old machine in the Physics Lab that I wanted to fix. I think it's part of the pizza parlor down in the Arcade. I was reading some manuals and found an ice cream maker, figured I could get it working, you know? Better than eating the frozen stuff in the fridge."
"Hoo boy… an ice cream machine? Man, I'd certainly love some fresh soft serve. I wish you luck man, I think that'd go a long way to cheering all of us up." Mondo said, giving him a thumbs up.
"Oh I know, trust me, this is going to change all of our lives forever. It's going to make everyone really happy! I'm looking forward to it!" he said, swiftly taking his leave. The pair shared another look.
"I dunno about you, Bro, but he wasn't acting normal."
"Eh… I don't blame him for acting the way he is. I mean, all of us are a little fucked up because of the bear." Mondo said, shrugging. "If fixing that machine keeps him distracted, more power to him. Come on, let's get this done."
"Alright." the Ultimate Moral Compass replied. Though he still looked worried, he decided to focus on what he was doing, putting his worries on the back burner.
A/N: I've been a little bit busy, so sorry for the late post. As always, you can check out the new chapter on Ao3 as this account is one chapter behind. I find it better to post new releases over there. I've been disillusioned with this site for years now, it is what it is.