Unlock and Reload Arc: Chapter One
(two months later)
*Crackle* *crackle* *crackle*
A lone television screen laid on the floor of the destroyed ruins, the screen cracked and the outer rim dented and bashed apart. Stray pieces of wires were revealed with sparks jumping around like excited children, going down some kind of technical waterslide.
The screen faded in and out, black and white dots raining down the surface like some sort of demented snowstorm. Miraculously, a signal seemed to be captured as the dots faded away to reveal a news reporter.
"…the unknown monstrosities that are ravaging the human race continue to add onto the mounting number of casualties around the world. This past week alone in Osaka, just one of these enigmatic beings tore through the city, its rampage starting from Osaka Castle before finding its way all up to the sea."
A picture of the devastation was shown right beside her to her right, showcasing the gruesome sight. There it was, a long, ruined trail of mangled buildings and rust shifted to the side like some sort of haunted valley, the path trailed erratically like some sort of monstrous sandworm making its way through this calamitous desert. Another picture showed the destroyed shrine of the Osaka Castle, the famous monument now a husk of its former glory.
"The number of monster sightings have been reported in other parts of the globe which includes the United States of America, Britain, China, Russia, Mexico, Korea. Experts believe that a total of ten thousand to a hundred thousand people are dying every day, the world's population likely to drop to two-thirds of the original population by the beginning of summer."
"Not helping matters is the rise of the terrorist group dubbed the 'Remnants of Despair'." The screen shifted to showcase a group of people wearing black and white bear-shaped helmets causing wanton havoc in a corner of a city.
"The Remnants of Despair are an influential, worldwide cult who perform acts of terrorism such as kidnapping, defacing historical monuments, and murder, ranging from small killings to genocides."
The picture changed to multiple pictures. One showcased the terrorists throwing bombs at a statue, another showed a picture of the sphinx with a bear head, and another showcased a group of people with the word 'MISSING' underneath their names and IDs.
"Rumors claim that the ringleaders are students from the now defunct Hope's Peak Academy titled the Ultimate Despair, but their identities have yet to be disclosed. They claim to be 'messengers of Despair, the harbingers of the truth that the world has longed to know' and that 'turning your eyes from reality is simply delusional, disdainful, and utterly despairing."
The screen shifted once more to reveal a logo ( . /danganronpa/images/b/b8/Future_Foundation_ /revision/latest?cb=20170530064839).
"Meanwhile, the Future Foundation, founded by Kazuo Tengan, has risen up to combat this new threat to humanity."
Once again, the screen shifted to showcase pictures of suited men and women with sunglasses helping people of all ages, helping them flee from an army of robotic, black-and-white bears. Some of them had unique weapons, megaphone-shaped guns, and blasting away at the demonic ursines.
"Munakata Kyosuke, Vice Chairman of the Future Foundation, has offered a few words in a requested interview with the organization."
A silver-haired man with cold, piercing blue eyes appeared with mikes and cameras surrounding him, lights flashing.
"The Future Foundation is doing all we can to quell the ongoing struggle with the ongoing carnage and Remnants of Despair since the incident from two years ago." Munakata said evenly. "Do not worry. It is our mission to fight back the Despair that has put its grip on the world."
"Munakata-sama." A reporter shouted with his mike pointed at the man. "Do you have any insight regarding how the calamity started in the first place?"
The silver-haired man paused, looking contemplative. "...No comment."
"So, the Future Foundation still has no answers regarding how the Demons and the Remnants of Despair started their reign of terror?"
"Our primary goal is to keep the people's interests in mind. We must look to quashing the beasts and the Ultimate Despair rather than question what has caused this incident in the first place. We have already done so for the last two months and will continue to do so." His eyes hardened. "And believe me when I say that I will personally lead the charge to exterminate any and all Despair in the world."
"What about Hope's Peak Academy?" questioned the man further. "This whole cataclysm started at the formerly renowned school of Hope's Peak where the building exploded and all those devils that now roamed Earth came from there. Do you have anything to say regarding the relationship between the school and our current apocalyptic situation?"
"...I will admit that all the evidence regarding the incident points to the beginning at the school, but I cannot say much about its connection with the Despair and the Demons." He shook his head. "We have not yet fully investigated the situation. The Future Foundation does not know the true extent of the situation or what exactly happened at Hope's Peak. All we know is that the school's existence is now a thing of the past."
He turned his head side to side, looking at the cameras and people holding those cameras before giving his final words. "We chose the name 'Future' to represent the future we strive for. Our future will not be tainted by the despair that has taken hold. The Future Foundation will bring Hope to the world no matter the method, no matter the cost. We cannot delude ourselves into clinging onto the past and its ideals."
The scene faded back to the reporter.
"Those are the words given by the Future Foundation Vice Chairman. With the situation looking bleaker every day, what will become of the future that Munakata-san is promising us? On another note, we will now be turning to the weather today. Morishima, can you give us your report?"
"Certainly Nishiike. Downtown Hiroshima looks like it will be facing a heavy downpour today. Experts advise civilians to stay indoors since the rain there has been causing unusual signs of misery for those caught in the precipitation, lately. The Future Foundation is looking into this case and…"
As the weather reporter rambled on, a rat scurried out from the cracked walls, dropping onto the cracked flatscreen before leaping off onto the ground. It quickly ran past the broken pieces of brick, various grimy items, and stray spikes embedded in the floor.
The creature skimmed through the halls until it finally made its way to an enormous hole in the ground, many times its size. Not wanting to fall in, the rodent quickly ran to the side along the rim, its nimble little paws able to balance the sidelines.
As it made it to the other side, the rat knocked down some pebbles into the hole, the pieces of earth plunging into the depths below.
The pebbles fell, then sharply accelerated its descent. Quickly, they passed through the hole till it entered a far greater space than the hole above before hitting the floor with a soft plop next to a red, worn-out sneaker.
Two hazel green eyes looked down with surprise at the tiny pieces of earth before their owner shrugged and turned back to what they were gazing beforehand.
Huff. Huff.
Puffs of air were exhaled heavily as thin arms dragged a broken air conditioner. Heavy grunts and wheezing was heard as the muscles tensed, straining to move the heavy piece of junk. The boy placed one red, mangled sneaker back and then the other, pulling with all his might.
He paused, trying to catch his breath. Putting a hand up to his head and pushing away long, spiky brown bangs, he wiped his forehead covered in no small amount of sweat.
Makoto Naegi sat down on the machine, giving himself a well-deserved break after what had seemed to be an eternity.
"I can't stop now." he said to himself, trying to raise his spirits. "Not yet. Not when there is still so much left to do."
The luckster got up and continued dragging the air conditioner to the corner of the room where the rest of the broken appliances were. They were all piled on top of each other, ranging from toasters, microwaves, boxes, bricks, and refrigerators.
Tiredly, the boy climbed the trash heap, trying to lift the air conditioner with him. He was never one for exercise before everything had happened and he was by all means weaker than he ever was, but he knew that if he wanted any chance of survival, he had to start taking action.
It's not like there were any other options to choose from.
Once the air conditioner had been deposited to the top, he began climbing down. Unfortunately, his foot slipped and he tumbled down from the pile before landing at the bottom with his back.
"Ow." he mumbled, rubbing the sore area.
Despite the pain, the teen got up and looked at the pile with satisfaction. It wasn't in the slightest very orderly or even safe with all the bottle caps, springs, wires, and broken pieces of metal lying around the mound, and Makoto wasn't even sure if it was stable to climb. Nevertheless, Makoto was feeling oddly proud of the junk pyramid he made during the past few days (weeks?) since he fell into the pit. The pile was definitely huge, probably reaching a good height for now, but it was in no way tall enough to reach the top of the ceiling.
Still, not bad for an ordinary guy like him.
"I think that's enough for today," he said, giving a relieved sigh. "All I need to do is not give up hope and keep up this routine, and I should be out of here in no time!" Naegi said with a hint of optimism in his voice.
A rumbling cry from his stomach interrupted his moment.
"But I should have dinner first." the boy muttered to himself.
The luckster dusted his hands on his now torn and faded trousers before making a few paces away from his 'project'.
Trudging through scraps, pieces of broken bricks, and making sure to avoid broken glass, Makoto found what he was looking for.
It was simply a small area cleared away of junk and other dangerous items that people do not want to be next to whenever they want to rest. A small, slightly dented, metal teapot stood next to the remains of some burnt wood, clearly used for a fire. A cooler somehow in fine condition laid a few meters away from the teapot, its contents filled with whatever leftover food Makoto managed to salvage, although they were already starting to rot. Fortunately, somehow happened to love cup ramen enough that Makoto managed to not starve to death (he simply had to reuse the only pair of wooden chopsticks he managed to find).
An old-timey chalkboard, the ones used with white chalk and the like, sat turned towards the cooler. The wheeled legs have apparently been broken off, so Naegi had to stick the chalkboard's wooden 'legs' into the ground in order to keep it upright. It already had several markings on the board, having been used by Naegi to estimate how long it has been since he was first trapped in this hellish underground (although the estimates are not very accurate).
There, at the center of the clearing, laid an old, dirty mattress with the springs below already popping up in the surface and a few suspicious stains on the fabric. Makoto could actually count himself a 'Lucky' Student for the first time in his life since it was the mattress that cushioned his fall from the ceiling and saved his life. The boy, during his first week in the basement, managed to find a moth-eaten blanket to match.
Makoto grabbed the teapot and went over to the cooler to grab a pack of instant noodles and a water bottle. He placed the pot onto the wood, dumping in the water into the pot. He got out the lighter he managed to find (underneath something that he would prefer to think about again) and lit the fire underneath the pot.
After a few minutes of waiting, Makoto found himself slurping the noodles from the plastic cup in his hands, sitting cross-legged on the mattress.
"Ahhhhh, it's almost like I'm having a picnic," he murmured, thinking about his current situation. "My diet on cup noodles probably won't be healthy for me, but they're better than nothing."
The boy sighed, putting the cup right next to him and looked to the ceiling. Tauntingly, the hole above him seemed to mock him, the opening revealing a light so far away that it looked more like a star than an exit. He gently laid down onto the mattress, staring up to the sky while raising up an arm, his fingers trying to grasp the light that was in his sight, but out of his reach.
Mom. Dad. Komaru. Maizono-san. Everyone. The brunette thought quietly to himself about his family and friends, putting down his arm. Are you guys safe? Are you guys okay? Are you guys hiding somewhere, trying to make sense of an abnormality that has invaded the normality that used to be a part of our daily lives? Are you guys worried for me, trying all you can to find out where I can be?
He clenched his fist. Are you guys gone just like everyone else? Are you gone, just like the people who were killed in this school and their bodies sliced up like pieces of meat, and their blood-
Or did you all give up on me? Written me off as good as dead? Those dark thoughts continued. I'm so ordinary enough that anyone would forget about me-
Makoto shook his head violently. "No. No, there's no point in thinking like that right now." He whispered to himself, his voice shaky. "Isn't the one thing I'm good at is being optimistic? Giving up isn't an option for me right now?" He placed a hand over his heart and gripped his shirt. "I can't give up Hope. Not when there are people still waiting for me out there!"
Feeling more invigorated than ever, he got off the mattress and turned towards the chalkboard and flipped the frame to reveal the part not yet marked by Naegi. Carefully taking out a very-much used piece of chalk, Makoto started writing out his own 'schedule' for the next day, determined to make as much progress as possible before turning in for the night. He then drew a small, vertical line. It was one of many other lines he drew signifying the days (he think were days) that he was stuck here, either trying to find a way out or waiting for someone to rescue him.
Yawning, Makoto took off his sneakers and threw off his now dirty and faded green hoodie, laying down on the mattress while wrapping himself in that old, moth-eaten blanket. The sooner he went to sleep, the more energy he would have for tomorrow.
Outside the ruins of Hope's Peak, a pair of combat boots stepped confidently in front of the gates that formerly kept out any non-talented people from interacting with Ultimates. The figure tried to push the rusted metal bars aside, squeezing through thanks to their training and size.
They stared at the massive infrastructure towering before them, quickly analyzing and calculating possible ways to enter. There were no discernable openings, likely having been during the start of the Tragedy. Nevertheless, they were undeterred.
Carefully, they put themselves in a running position, their fingers pushing against the ground while they lifted their bottom up, trying to build up momentum in their leg muscles. Giving a calm exhale, they gave a running start to the building, as fast as an athlete runner, creating a dust cloud from their explosion.
The person stormed through the courtyard, combat boots thumping against the ground before making a leap. The jump allowed them to propel in the air where a broken flagpole lay stuck between its forming standing area and a massive, leafless tree.
Hands covered with combat gloves caught hold of the pole and spun themselves around before angling themself in a proper standing position. Despite their narrow surface, the intruder began running across the pole with more elegance than a tightrope walker.
Once they reached the tree, the mysterious assailant jumped and fell onto one of the branches. The branch bent with this newfound weight, bending backwards for a moment before propelling the person a few meters into the sky and straight to the school's outer rim.
In just a few seconds, they pulled out a combat knife and slammed it into the wall, the blade digging into the material in order to prevent them from falling.
This individual carefully began to swing their legs, allowing them to use their feet to spring upwards. They took out the knife and jammed it on another surface, then repeated the action until they finally were high enough to jump and land on a window.
They clench their fist with the knife, heaving it back and pierced through the window with the cold steel. They pulled themselves inside the window and landed inside a classroom with a roll.
Once their roll was complete, the assailant brushed off their coat and immediately sprang outside the classroom and into the hallways. There it was, the huge chasm that had formed during the very beginning of the 'Tragedy'.
The person looked back, gazing at the rubble and the broken pieces of the ladder that used to be a part of the basement, now a mess of scrap and metal.
Calmly, they put down the huge backpack they were wearing and reached into it, taking out a coiled rope. Uncoiling it, they threw one end down into the dark chasm, the other end they carefully tied to a piece of machine that has been grounded down and likely heavier than them and the backpack combined. They looked down, their boots touching the rim of the pit.
And with great confidence, they leapt into the pit, rope and knife in hand.
—-
Ring-ring-ring-ring-ring-...
"Nnggghhhh."
Makoto groaned, not wanting to open his eyes just yet.
Ring-ring-ring-...
"Just a few more minutes." He muttered sleepily, waving one hand lazily before putting it back down.
RING-RING-RI-
"Alright! Alright! I'm up! I'm up!" Makoto complained as he lifted his head, rubbing the remaining traces of drowsiness from his eyes. Blurry green eyes stared unfocused half-liddedly as fingers stretched out to find the alarm clock apparently making that horrible noise, extending fruitlessly.
"GAH!" The luckster cried out as he once again fell to the ground (he was getting real tired of this), off of his desk.
Wait. What?
It was at this moment that Makoto finally took notice of his surroundings. Instead of the dark, cold, and uninviting atmosphere that was the basement, the luckster found himself in a warm classroom. Sunlight poured in through the windows, the rays reflecting off the several tables and chairs lined up in neat, uniform rows, facing a blackboard, and a teacher's desk in the front corner of the room.
And instead of the worn, faded clothes that Makoto had worn every day for who knows how long, Makoto found himself dressed in his school uniform, the brown blazer with the emblem of Hope's Peak Academy proudly embroidered on the pocket. He gently tugged the front of his suit, looking inquisitively at the logo.
RING-RING-RING!
The boy, jolted from his personal clothing inspection, looked over to the side, finally spotting the source of the noise.
There, above the classroom door, was a bright red school alarm just like the ones at Hope's Peak Academy, shrilly ringing without an end.
Hold on. Hope's Peak?
Makoto got up from his seat and decided to take a walk across the room, his gaze scanning over the contents of the room. He found one of Kuwata's baseballs inside one of the desks, its leathery white skin worn from all the times the Ultimate Baseball Star used it for pitching. A decorated bento box with a cartoon Mecha figure plastered on the top sat on top of another desk, likely coming from Yamada since no one else enjoys anime as much as he did. He even saw Owada's motorcycle at the far end of the room, parked and leaning against the cabinets.
A parched and worn out notebook caught the corner of the Ultimate's eye. He gently picked it up and opened the book.
Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama. Togami-sama…
It was clear that these things were all items owned by the members of Class 78th.
That could only mean one thing.
He was inside the 78th Classroom.
His homeroom.
But...
"That's impossible." The luckster muttered out loud.
So what was going on?
The alarm rang once more, pulling the boy's attention.
RING-RING-RING-
It was then that a sudden realization came to him.
If he was here, and if all the things that should not be here were actually here...
Then what if it had been a dream? What if all those days living on cup noodles and being down in the literal dumps was all a dream? That he was still inside Hope's Peak Academy where all his classmates were safe and that all the horrible events that have occurred wasn't real?
Without hesitation, the brunette ran towards the door, his heart beating with nervousness, excitement, and confusion as he poked his head outside...
...only to find an empty hallway.
"...hello?" He called out, looking at both sides of the halls.
The hallway was eerily quiet and empty.
"Hello?!" Makoto shouted, cupping his hands over his mouth. "Anyone there?!"
Still no answer.
Makoto walked out of the classroom where the door immediately shut behind him. It was only when the door closed did the alarm cease its noise. The luckster turned back to door with a frown and tried turning the doorknob, but whatever happened, the door was now suddenly locked.
"Oh, come on!" Naegi groaned, shaking the doorknob and slamming the door with his palm.
No matter how hard he tried, the door would not budge.
Sighing, he gave up and put his back against the wall, sliding down.
"Well, it looks like I'm stuck here now." He muttered out loud.
So, was it the other way around? That terrible, despairing day was a dream after all?
A dim, multi-colored light suddenly caught the corner of the young student's eye, causing him to turn his head.
There, a few meters away, stood a small, floating ember that was out of place in the monochrome school. It was the color of blue, yellow, white, pink and green, swirling around each other languidly, but at the same time, urgently.
The orb continued to float there, as if waiting for him.
Makoto, feeling an unknown sense of vigor and curiosity, slowly walked toward the small flame, staring intently at it, watching it flutter and dance in the air, its weak glow flickering like a worn-out lightbulb.
As the Ultimate got closer and closer, he could hear an indescribable, soothing warmth that seemed to emit from the orb itself, almost as if beckoning the boy forward.
Without noticing, he began walking faster, his legs taking steps, his pace quickening until he was practically jogging to the orb.
However, the moment he was a few centimeters away from the ember, like a startled butterfly, it quickly flew away from him.
"Ah! Wait!" Naegi called out, reaching out with one hand as if trying to grab the flame.
The sprite dodged his fingers and flew to the end of the corridor before stopping, almost like it was beckoning for Makoto to hurry up.
Makoto paused.
Is it...trying to lead me somewhere?
As if reading his thoughts, the flame bounced up and down.
Makoto took a step back, his face uncertain. "Wait a minute. Why should I follow you? You could be dangerous, for all I know."
The light only flickered, remaining in the same spot.
Naegi hesitated, biting his lip.
What if it was something dangerous? What if he was just leading himself into a trap?
Then again, what did he have to lose?
"Alright." Naegi said, steeling himself. "Lead the way."
The light rose up once more and began to float away at a steady pace with Makoto following behind. A trail of little sparks popped up as the little flame's stream, showering lightly to the floor but oddly enough did not seem to be harmful.
The student trailed after the sprite, able to keep up at only a walking speed, cautiously wondering just where they were heading. He spotted the classroom numbers on the nameplates on top of each class, starting with 78, 77, 76, and so on, as he walked through the hallways, sunlight from the windows showing the way.
Suddenly the Earth ground shook. Makoto fumbled, trying to regain his footing, his heart leaping into his throat.
"Oh no." he muttered, his face pale. "Is it just like that day? When that thing chased after us? I've got to be careful!"
The sprite in front of him floated up and down impatiently, looking like it was trying to tell him to hurry up and stop gawking.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." The boy responded back, stifling down his irritation.
Naegi continued to walk, more cautiously this time in case the floor could open up and swallow him like last time. He glanced at the fireball.
It's not my fault that I can't float like you. People have to worry about gravity, you know!
Still, he stayed quiet, putting one hesitant step over the other.
The hallway seemed to go on forever and ever. The two travelers already passed 70 and now made it to 69 (For some inexplicable reason, he could hear laughter from one certain Ultimate Fanfic Creator).
However, Makoto noticed something different this time. The hallways with the numbers ranged in the 70s looked like his school's hallways, but now, the hallways here were lit up in an eerie, pinkish light in a velvety maroon entryway. The smell of perfume was coming from each 'classroom' and when he popped his head inside one of the classes, he saw a huge bed with thick sheets and heard some jazz music.
He blushed. Perhaps the number 69 being the first number he saw was perhaps a bit more apt than he thought.
The boy immediately pulled back and shook his head. Now's not the time to think about such thoughts right now. He had to focus on trying to understand just what the heck is going around here. He had to find a way out.
Makoto looked to the side to see the small ember floating a bit further from him.
And hopefully, he will also find out what exactly the deal is with that weird, multi-colored fireball.
Just like before, the numbers counted down. 68 to 67 to 66 to 65...
As he just made it at the 59th classroom where the hallway was now instead of the...ahem...love hotel atmosphere, here began an interior more befitting of the traditional Japanese temples that Makoto visited when he was younger. The floor and walls were made of wooden planks that creaked under his weight. Lanterns lit up the room with a faint, golden glow, and paper sliding doors separated each of the rooms.
The luckster looked down. He was wearing his indoor shoes, but it felt strange to wear footwear at all in what seemed to be an olden home like this.
The ball of fire sparked once more, trying to catch his attention. For a moment, Makoto was worried about the area catching fire, but the sparks flew down harmlessly and simply disappeared into the floor.
"Okay, okay. I'm coming." He replied, slightly annoyed, stepping onto the tatami mat.
As he stepped onto the floor, the boy paused.
Huh. Weird. It feels like...
Suddenly, a weird sensation fell over the luckster. He gripped his head, trying to ease the sudden headache that overcame him. His mind was cloudy, his eyes were unfocused.
"Ggghh...GAH!" The brunette cried out, his head pounding like someone was hammering his skull with a metal mallet.
His environment glitched in front of him before the pain suddenly went away.
"What the...?"
Suddenly, he wasn't in the temple anymore. Instead, the hallway looked more reminiscent of a hospital. The walls were lined with medical equipment, the floor was tiled, and the lights were fluorescent. The smell of antiseptics wafted throughout the place, the scent making the boy a bit lightheaded.
He looked down and to his surprise he was no longer wearing his school uniform. Instead, he was wearing his casual attire. The green hoodie, black pants, and red sneakers, but in much better condition, the same way they were before falling into the pit.
"What's going on here?"
Panicking green eyes darted all over the place, looking for an answer.
They paused, staring above head where the numbers 58, 57 and 56 replaced the other numbers from before. The only thing that remained the same was the flame a few meters away, drifting unworriedly.
"H-hang on?" he cried, placing a hand over his head. "Wasn't I just in the 60-something hall just a moment ago?"
Trying to still catch up with the flame, Makoto walked but at a more uncertain speed, putting one foot and then the other. The hospital lights flickered eerily, reflecting off of the numbers overhead.
*Glitch*
Once more, Makoto felt a pain in his head and fell onto one knee as the world around him distorted. He was in the fortieth hallway, the scene before him looking eerily close to an aquarium with water tanks surrounding both sides.
He put a hand on one of the glasses, trying to pull himself up, only to find a huge shark staring at him.
"AH!" he screamed before falling on his rump. He turned his eyes up to see 48 hovering overhead.
He looked at his surroundings, seeing curious guppies and a grouper side-eyeing him curiously while a seal waved at him with a blubbery flipper.
Makoto could only scratch his head.
"I didn't even-"
*Glitch*
"-made it to the end this time."
He blinked.
It happened again.
The first time, he could write off as some sort of weird attachment to the hallway. The second time, he thought he was hallucinating. Now, he could no longer deny it but for some reason or another, somehow Makoto is teleporting to different areas of this seemingly endless hallway, counting down the numbers.
Now he was in the thirtieth hall, an area that looked similar to a funhouse at one of those carnivals that people go to to have fun. The sound of the clunking of a carousel horse and the buzzing of a Ferris wheel even played in his for a moment to fit the tone.
But what was the purpose of the hallways? What were these things meant to show?
All he could do was walk. Follow the flame that was the only consistent thing in this weird, crazy situation.
The numbers, as he walked through a maze of mirrors, counted down.
35, 34, 33, 32...
He just realized that all of these numbers, all of these 'classrooms', were all decreasing, all being reduced bit by bit.
Once he is there... once he reaches the end of where the ember was taking him...the destination… what would he see when there are no more numbers left…when the countdown reaches zero?
Those thoughts plagued Naegi so much that he didn't realize he was still walking until his face was up and close to his guide. It sparked and sputtered, but did not seem to be irritated. In contrast, it seemed to be pleased that Makoto was keeping up this time around.
*Glitch*
"NGH! Ah-!"
He glitched in and out of reality once, more collapsing to his feet. For a moment, he thought he saw some sort of bronze plating, but the moment already passed. He panted, the unlucky boy lifting his head up and seeing the number 28.
"The twenties now." He muttered, staring around at some sort of long hallway with metal plating. There were screens all over the area as well as some video cameras. He stared at one, wondering whether or not there was anyone watching him from their monitors.
And yet, as he held up his hand to his face, he kept seeing an afterimage of an armored palm not his, creaking as he twitched his fingers.
*Glitch*
The world shifted into a laboratory now, weird computers and machines surrounding. They reflected an eerie green light over him. An 18 was above where he was sitting.
He was too disoriented, his head too much in pain to take much notice of his new environment, just blindly stumbling along. The ember's light was the only guiding presence for him, but Makoto had to follow it. He didn't know why, it just felt important.
*Glitch*
The world shifted again, and like a tv, his surroundings once more warped to a different setting, but eerily familiar. It was the burning school hallway, similar to the hallways he ran through during the events from that day.
The smell of ash and smoke hit him full force, and for a moment, Makoto felt an immense terror as he looked up and saw the flames and the pain worsened even more.
His body felt heavy, giving loud noises like the sound of something scratching on a car's metal plating.
So distracted he was, he did not notice the numbers passing before him.
8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...
And then, finally, Makoto saw the end of the line, the last classroom. The door was the same color as the others, a brown-oak finish that looked worn, the doorknob dull and unpolished. A number 0 was the only marking on the door.
The ember glowed, flickering and dancing happily in the air, its little trail of sparkles showering him in its light. It was as if the little light was finally relieved that Makoto had finally made it, after what seemed to be an eternity of following it through the labyrinthine hallways.
He looked down at his hands.
What was the purpose of this? Was there even a purpose for this?
The flame bounced up and down in the air, as if sensing his uncertainty. Trying to encourage him, the sprite tried to nudge its glowing body towards the door.
The boy hesitated, his hand shaking.
Was it safe to enter? Was it some sort of trap?
"Is...Is anyone there?"
The only answer was silence.
The orb, once more, nudged the door.
Makoto sighed, rubbing his arms. He knew that it was useless to stand there, but somehow, there was something unnerving about what lies beyond that door.
He slowly, almost filled with dread, walked to the door and grasped the knob. The door opened with a slight creak.
Light emitted from the cracks the door made, almost blinding him for a moment.
Swallowing, he entered the room.
Εἶστε ὁ πρωταθλητής τοῦ ἐλπίς?
(the next morning)
Makoto rolled a tire down the trash slope, thankful for its round-shape making it easier to move to the large pile of accumulating pieces of junk. He hefted the rubber wheel using his legs as support and began climbing the heap, careful not to dislodge anything.
The brunette almost lost his footing a few times, but always managed to regain his balance. Maybe the inherent clumsiness that came with his bad luck was turning around for a change.
A few spare bits and bobs like a screw, empty soda can, and some marbles fell out from the heap, but those were fine. The whole pile looked sturdy and just some small pieces won't be anything too major.
He wiped the sweat off of his forehead, gazing proudly at his own construction.
After a few days since Makoto was first trapped here, he had started building what seemed to be an upward slope, using the scraps of metal, wood, and whatever else was available for his use. This was meant to be the base of his way out, making a pile big enough to reach the surface. The amount of trash here and from collateral damage from the disaster meant that there was an abundance of items that could be useful for helping him instead.
The only problem was...
Naegi looked over the mound, feeling his heart sink.
It didn't even reach halfway to the ceiling.
Even if the pile reached the height of the entire basement, there was still a chance that he might not be able to make it to the opening, not without a ladder. And Makoto was certain that the only ladder he was ever going to have was the one that broke apart during the prior events and was looming overhead, far away from him.
He shook his head.
"I did this much by myself." Makoto tried to raise his spirits, using a hopeful tone. "There has to be a way, and I'll figure it out!"
He took a seat, leaning against a small part of the pile and gazed around him.
"All I need to do is find more things and make the pile a bit higher. If I do that, there will be a better chance of me reaching the hole and getting out of here."
Makoto pulled up his knees to his chest and lifted a hand to the sky, seeing the hole in the ceiling using the gap between his thumb and pointer finger.
"I will live. I will make it out of here and go home. I will see my friends again. And Mom. And Dad. And Komaru. Everyone."
He smacked his cheeks and got to his feet.
"Alright. Enough moping." He began rotating his shoulder. "It's time to go back to work!"
Determination pouring into his veins, Makoto began searching the room once more, looking for things that can be used for his escape. He bent down and scourged through wherever and whatever he could find, analyzing shapes and weight to see how well he could carry the item and if it would fit with the current contraption.
However, as he was digging for trash, his mind wandered off to his dream last night. The details were blurry and he could barely remember anything that happened when he woke up. It all started with waking up in his classroom, that part he remembered clearly.
And he visited…an aquarium? A carnival? Some sort of traditional Japanese temple?
It was as though there was some sort of fog clogging up his memories, making it difficult for him to even envision the pictures he knew were inside his mind. Like trying to reel in that stubborn fish that refuses to surface, only knowing it's there due to its connection to your fishing rod.
The last part was the most important part.
It was a room at the end of that very long hallway.
Something had been calling out to him. In gibberish? No. In words that he didn't recognize but somehow understood.
It's just…
What were they again?
His thoughts were interrupted when a soft clunk echoed across the chamber. It was so soft that if he had worse hearing, Makoto wouldn't have heard the noise.
The student immediately dropped the scratched metal plate he had picked up, the object clattering onto the floor. His head turned back and forth, green eyes trying to search the shadows.
"Hello?" He called out. "Who's there?"
No response.
The luckster swallowed, trying to quell his nervousness and excitement. Was someone here? Was there an actual possibility that actual people were here and came to rescue him? Would he be free at last?
"Hello?! Anyone?!"
Silence.
Makoto sighed, disappointed.
"Guess it was just a cockroach."
He was about to go back to his work when he saw the flash of silver out of the corner of his eye.
He was thrown off his feet, tumbling down to the floor as empty bottles, wood, and rotten fruit flew in the air. Makoto slid across the floor laying facedown, feeling the weight of someone on top of him.
The terrified boy tried to pick his head up, his eyes trying to catch a look from the person only to shrink to pinpoints when a combat knife pointed only a few centimeters away from his pupils.
Carefully, he began moving his eyes up to see his assailant. A black luchador's mask stared right at him, shaped to look like it was grinning. The person was wearing a white coat and combat boots. Two pairs of gloves adorned their hands with one holding the knife that was currently about to gut the poor boy.
"Who are you?" Makoto whimpered, trying desperately to keep his voice even.
The person, with that horrible grinning mask, simply said nothing. Their fingers tightened around the handle of the weapon.
"Are you here to kill me?"
Still nothing. The person seemed to be frozen, almost contemplating their actions.
Makoto's heart thumped rapidly, especially as the tension in the air grew. His fingers twitched, wondering if he would be able to throw his attacker off his body and make a getaway.
Makoto's heart thumped rapidly, especially as the tension in the air grew. His fingers twitched, wondering if he would be able to throw his attacker off his body and make a getaway despite how unlikely it is considering how scrawny he was, especially after having only cup noodles to nourish himself.
But to his surprise, the masked person suddenly got off of him, sheathing their knife in their pocket.
"W-what...?"
Makoto quickly got up and crawled backwards, keeping a watchful eye on the other person.
Makoto quickly got up and crawled backwards, keeping a watchful eye on the other person.
The masked stranger stood still, their arms hanging loosely at their side. Their stance was tense. They were clearly alert, their fingers twitching, but they seemed to awkwardly shift from foot to foot.
"Naegi..." they said in a feminine tone that was oddly familiar.
"Wha...?" Makoto could only ask.
"Is that you?" they continued in uncertainty.
Makoto tilted his head, his eyebrows furrowing.
"Yes?" He said awkwardly. "...do we know each other?"
They didn't say anything, but the tension in their shoulders lessened. They stared at him for a moment with that grinning mask for a moment before they turned and walked away, their boots thumping against the concrete.
"Hey! Wait!" Makoto shouted, getting up and chasing after the stranger. They ignored his words, opting instead to pick up their pace. "Stop! I need you to-" He said, grabbing their mask. He froze.
Long locks of dark hair fell down like window curtains, reaching to the back of their neck. The person turned, their cheek revealing numerous freckles adorning their pale features. Light gray eyes looked at the boy in surprise as their facial features were revealed.
"...Mukuro?"
The black mask fell from the lucky boy's grasp as the two Ultimates stared at each other in uncertainty in that dark and enormous trash dump.
(Op- Zetsubosei: Hiiro Chiryouyaku/Despair: A Hero's Cure - watch?v=O-eDNfT3X1w)
The scene starts off with an old arcade machine in a dark corner of the room, the screen flashing colors before showing a start button. A player, their face unseen, immediately presses the button. As the tempo builds up, the scene shifts to multiple students in pixel, all grimacing.
Sayaka. Mukuro. Leon. Chihiro. Mondo. Kiyotaka. Hifumi. Celestia. Sakura. Junko. Yasuhiro. Asahina. Toko. Byakuya. Kyoko. And as it shifts to Makoto, he suddenly grins before it glitches to reveal an armored face appearing for only a second before the lyrics start.
Kimi no nozomu mono wa nani?/What is it that you desire?
Miminari uso mitai na hanashi/That fairy tale-like question rings in my ear
Dou yara boku no sekai wa/Looks like my world
Baguette shimaimashita/Has hit a fatal bug
A pixelated Makoto wakes up in the trash dump, clutching his head. He rises to his feet but as he does so, the environment glitches to reveal a ruined landscaping with a red sky, ruins and fire all around with laughing bears. His eyes widened as they reflected one of those laughing bears.
Saegiru bonnou/My vices get in my way
Soitsu ga iunya toukakoukan da to/The Devil demands something in return
Yuuwaku shitagai/So I'll sell my soul to him
Zaregoto ni oboredashita/And dive head first into his game
The scene shifts to reveal a smiling Junko smirking and reaching out a hand to an elderly hand. The hands shift into hand that is wearing a studded glove and the other with magma skin which is also on fire, extending out from the arm to a flaming head that then breathes fire.
Ousama Game kyousei sanka/King's Game demands I play
Kyohiken nante kiccha kurenai/I've got no right to refuse
Kaserareta Quest i wa/And the mission he gives me
Ano mobu wo korose/Is to take a life
A gun falls into Makoto's lap with him looking uncertain. Makoto looks up to the giver who is relatively unknown with their face sharpied out, then replaced by Mukuro whose lips begin moving, almost deriding him. Makoto grasped the weapon and stared at it. There was something written on it, but it was too blurry for Makoto to see. The scene shifts as he then aims the gun, the camera angles moving around to show that he was facing the long-nosed monster. The two glared at each other, green staring at sharp blue.
Zetsubou dance yabou mamire/Dance of Despair! Envy covers my body
Shoumen ni nigekonda genjitsu wa warattama/The reality I take refuge in laughs at me
Yokukou nai tokaitsuwari /I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any desires
Gizensha buttemo shikatanee ya/There's no point in trying to be something I'm not
Makoto ran with Mukuro beside him holding her knife and her long hair flying in the wind. The two charged at the beast as it too ran after them with its long nose. It swung its horn, intending to bisect them. Mukuro managed to dodge while Makoto slipped and fell. Luckily, the attack missed him too, but he dropped his gun so he had to go and try to pick it up. The monster's tail, unfortunately, smacked him in the chest and he crashed into one of the still-standing walls making it not stand anymore.
Akogareta yume nan dakke/So I expose my dreams to the light of day
Hero ni naritai no? (lol)/You want to be a hero? (lol)
Negai kuchi ni suru/I talk about my desires
Ainiku baka ni tsukeru kusuri wa nai yo (demo, moshika shitara…)/Unfortunately, there's no cure for foolishness (but maybe…)
Makoto woke up in a blank white room, only a small speck in the vastness of this so-called 'room'. It suddenly faded to black outlines of Junko Enoshima in the middle, a long-haired red-eyed man, and the flaming man, standing right beside her, along with a group of evil grinning people underneath them appeared. Makoto flinched back as Junko and the people underneath openly mocked him, but not before a multi-colored flame danced around him as though trying to ward them away.
As the beat continues, Makoto reaches a hand out to the orb, feathers and bullets falling around them. He grabs the orb in his hands and clenches it close to his heart before turning to the audience with a look of defiance on his face.
Ah yes. The ending song that could have been an opening to a shounen anime. "Zetsubosei: Hiiro Chiryouyaku" is by no means mine. The Lyrics are from their respectful writers and translators. I just wanted to add it in because I thought it would cool. Anyways, it looks like Makoto has been struck by Lady Luck herself when he reunites with the Ultimate Soldier, but only time will tell if it was a chance of good or bad luck. Thanks for reading!