Chapter 1: On Road to Despair (Daily Life #5)
Warning: This fic contains intense violence, lots of OFFENSIVE cursing (thanks Monoyena, you fucking asshole!), character death, gore and blood, sexual innuendos, and possible spoilers for the Danganronpa series. But hey, everyone lurking in this fandom has at least played the first Danganronpa so no need to worry much there! Right?
With that said, please enjoy!
Bright lights.
Flashing cameras.
And the excited cheers and actions of hundreds of people, awaiting the limousines to slowly line up toward the carpet. Security guards were lined up against the carpet, holding back every paparazzi and fans, each with markers and pictures of different actors set to walk on this beautiful legendary footwalk.
Standing in the middle of the carpet was a news reporter with long brunette hair, smiling brightly in anticipation and excitement. Holding a microphone and looking directly into the camera, she began the live broadcast.
"Hello Hollywood! This is Savannah Morrison, reporting live at this beautiful red carpet! It's an exciting day for all you movie fans because we're here live at the Grauman Chinese Theater, in honor and celebration of both fresh and old blood after the premiere of Matthew Direkuta's new film, 'Moral Despair', starring big names such as Lian deCaprice, Jonathan Deep, Thomas Shipp and of course, rising star Manon Vivienne Levesque, who I hear is making her first ever debut on the carpet tonight!"
She winked at the camera.
"Stay tuned, because this is definitely not something you want to miss!" Savannah declared.
…
"Remember what to do?"
"Oui, Papa."
"Hold still. Your face needs to look pretty for the camera."
"Oui, Maman."
Manon let her eyes wander outside of the one-way window of her limousine. She felt bile slowly build up her throat. It was a clear sign that she was nervous. She could see the crowds of people lining up just to see her. She could see the tabloids and the paparazzi snap bright pictures and lights. Cameras were all directed at limousine after limousine. Eventually, it got to that point where her head had shifted directly toward the window.
"Tch, Marie!"
Manon felt her chin being roughly forced back into her parents' direction:
Dorian and Celine sat across from her in the rather extravagant limousine seats. Celine, her mother, had her entire makeup kit out, applying it on her cheeks to make her look as stunning as she did in the tabloids. Dorian, her father, could only sit cross-armed, watching her every movie.
"I told you to hold still," Celine frowned. "Do you really want to look like a hag on camera?"
"Non, Maman," Manon simply said, her lips frowning slightly.
"Then, asseyez-vous," Celine ordered.
She applied a little more eyeliner, a little roughly and desperately this time. If Manon didn't know any better, her own mother was practically baiting her to move so that she would accidentally poke her eye with that stick. Manon looked down, feeling as if she were nothing more than a doll for her own parents to dress up.
"Marie," Dorian sternly spoke up. He breathed a sigh, clearly showing off his frustration. "What are you not doing right now?"
Manon blinked, slightly confused.
"I… don't know, Papa," Manon bit her lips.
"Smiling," Dorian answered for her, signaling her to widen her mouth. "You are Manon Vivienne Levesque. The entire world is watching you. You don't smile, then Manon is weak. You cannot show the world that Manon Vivienne Levesque is weak. Do you understand?"
"Oui, Papa," Manon looked down.
"Again…?" Dorian leaned forward.
"Oui, Papa," Manon forced a smile.
"...Hmph, better," Dorian leaned back, folding his arms.
"All done," Celine sighed in relief, cleaning up her makeup kit.
She had applied the last of what was needed to make Manon's face as sparkly and doll-like as possible. For Manon however, it felt as if her face had grown heavy from all the chemicals and fluids her mother had placed on her face. She bit her lip again.
Celine lightly slapped her cheek.
"Don't bite your lip," Celine ordered. "Your lipstick will be ruined."
"Pardon, Maman," Manon looked down.
"And fix your accent," Celine shook her head. "Manon Vivienne Levesque's English is supposed to be perfect!"
Manon tightened her grip on her dress.
"Oui, Maman," Manon simply said.
The limousine came to a grinding halt. And for the first time, Dorian and Celine feigned their own smiles, giving what Manon perceived to be a false look of support. Funny. To think that her own parents were better actors than she was. She noticed her father gesturing to his mouth.
Inwardly, she grimaced.
Outwardly, she forced her own smile.
"Bonne chance, Manon Vivienne Levesque," Dorian feigned a smile. "Nous allons surveiller."
Then, the chauffeur opened the door…
…
As soon as Manon climbed out of the limousine, she was met by an abundance of blinding lights and cheers. She did everything in her power to try not to cover her eyes from the lights. After all, that went against what Dorian told her to do. She understood why though. The photo-ops were important in capturing an actress's body in her full glory but at the same time, with every flash, she felt defiled.
She noticed that the limousine containing her parents had pulled away. And yet at the same time, even with them gone, she still felt their presence looming over her.
So, she forced herself to pose and smile at the camera.
She forced herself to wave her hands, politely.
Some of her fans held out pictures for her to autograph. She politely refused those.
"And there she is!" Savannah's voice announced as the reporter rushed over to her. "Rising star Manon Vivienne Levesque! First time on the carpet, right? How are you feeling?"
"Um, zis is a new experience for moi, pardon," Manon sheepishly chuckled.
"Oh wow!" Savannah blinked. "Your accent is really thick! To think you actually sounded genuinely American in 'Moral Despair', that's really impressive!"
"Oh um, merci," Manon awkwardly curtsied.
Crap.
"If you don't mind, your viewers from home have a lot of questions for you," Savannah began. Before Manon could politely refuse, Savannah continued on anyway. "For example, how does it feel to work with fellow Hope's Peak alumnus, Matthew Direkuta? Viewers have pointed out that you attended the same classes together at Hope's Peak Los Angeles! Fitting for a school focused on Ultimate Film Talents!"
Manon attempted to answer but Savannah quickly continued on.
"And speaking of Ultimate Film Talents, insider at Warner Sisters says you and Hope's Peak Brasília's very own Ultimate Actress Arianna Rodriguez are in deep competition to play in Great Girlwig's adaptation of Barbie! Is this true?!"
Once again, Manon attempted to say something, but Savannah continued to bombard her with heavy questions.
"And how is your relationship with Lian deCaprice? I hear there's some romantic tension blossoming between you two! Do you agree with Thomas Shipp's view on Scientology? You're not a member, are you? What about the outcome of the trial between Jonathan Deep and ex-wife Aubrey Seen? Do you think Jonathan Deep really is innocent or…?"
Manon blinked, clearly flustered.
"Um…" was all she could muster.
…
Manon stared at herself in the mirror and sighed miserably to herself. To be in the company of so many people… To be watched by everyone everywhere… To be asked so many questions that even she didn't know the questions too…
The premiere hadn't even started, and she was already exhausted.
How much longer did she have to endure this before she got to go back home…?
She looked at herself in the mirror. Despite how much makeup her mother had put on her to make her look perfect, Manon could see past that mask and see what she truly was: Someone who just can't handle it. Someone who just couldn't take this pressure.
Damn it.
She wanted to cry.
But doing that would ruin her makeup. Her overabundance of makeup and chemicals and all that other gobbly-gook she didn't ask to have on her face. Frustration. Sadness. Anger. All of it needed to be pent up inside. All of it needed to be hidden away… Hidden away, like her real face underneath all of that makeup.
She glanced at herself in the mirror, once again.
She bit her lip.
She sucked it up. She had to suck it up. For Papa and Maman. For…
She held onto the sides of the sinks tightly. She felt her stomach pain slightly from it all. But she can't let that affect. She needed to remain strong.
Because right now, she was playing the part of Manon Vivienne Levesque: a rising actress. Strong. An icon to young aspiring actresses everywhere. An Ultimate Actress. This was who she was right now. This was who she needed to be.
…
But deep in the pits of her stomach was a dreadful fear…
Did Manon Vivienne Levesque really have to be her New Life? Did she really have to be all that? Can't she… just be herself for a change?
…
"Hey, Manon, are you alright in there?" the voice of Lian deCaprice alerted her.
"Oh?" Manon turned her head toward the door. "Oh! Oui, Monsieur deCaprice! Une minute, s'il vous plaît!"
She turned back to her reflection and took a deep breath.
Yeah.
This was what she needed to be.
Manon Vivienne Levesque.
Strong.
An icon to young aspiring actresses everywhere.
An Ultimate Actress…
[Hotel Mirai]
"...It's time to face the facts," Yukihiko began. "There's only one thing we can do now… We need to think of someone to sacrifice."
(Manon's Room)
Sacrifice.
Manon knew of that word. How could she not? She's spent her entire life sacrificing bits and pieces of herself. Bits and pieces… all gift wrapped in a lovely box and sent directly toward the media, her parents, and the character of Manon Vivienne Levesque.
And she hated every single moment of it.
Sacrifice.
A concept she was all too familiar with. And to think that the game she was forced to participate in had that as its running theme. How cruel could fate be to drag her into a mess like this of all things…? It just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.
Why her?
Why her?!
At the moment, Manon sat back against her bed, arms and legs extended out as she thought back to the bomb Yukihiko had dropped last night's conversation with. To think that this time, instead of sacrificing bits and pieces of herself, they were now expected to sacrifice someone. And not just like part of themselves but rather actual lives.
Like actual human lives.
The thought sickened her.
And what sickened her more was the fact that she knew for certain that she didn't deserve this...
(Hallway)
When Manon opened the door, she snuck a peek outside. It was that time of day in which everyone would be gathered at the Lobby for their Morning Meeting. But truth be told, Manon wasn't looking forward to it. Who could blame her?
They were going to talk about who to potentially sacrifice so that the young girl may be saved. Manon wanted no part in having a discussion with that. She would prefer to stay out of that limelight if she could. She would prefer it if she could like… Do something a little more relaxing.
And no.
This was not an invitation for her or any of them to throw a party. There were still children in danger after all.
Manon slowly stepped out and stretched out her back. She made her way down the hall but the appearance of Kikuko exiting her room forced her to stop. Not because it was someone trying to get to the Morning Meeting but rather because Kikuko was speaking as she left her room.
"Just leave me alone, okay?" Kikuko hissed in a hushed tone. "I don't need you constantly looking out for me."
Kikuko had kept her door wide open. Based on her hushed tone, she was clearly frustrated with something. But after a while, she simply sighed sadly.
"I know…" she muttered. "I know… I understand, alright…? I just… I just don't want you repeating the same information over and over again. It's annoying…"
Manon didn't dare move.
"Just stay in there," Kikuko muttered. "And don't come out until I say so."
Kikuko closed the door a little harsher than she wanted to.
It was a moment that left Manon in a state of confusion. Was someone in her room? If so, she didn't hear anyone but perhaps they were speaking silently to her… Wait. Could it be?!
"Oh la la~" Manon spoke up with a smirk.
Kikuko jumped, looking as if her soul had nearly left her body.
"W-What the–?!" Kikuko widened her eyes. "Manon! Er. Um. I mean…"
Kikuko cleared her throat and bowed at Manon, politely. It's an act that Manon was all too familiar with. Kikuko was clearly caught in an act of some kind and now she was trying to act as if nothing had happened. Of course she would know it. She's been doing it all her life!
"Manon," Kikuko spoke in a calmer tone of voice. "What are you doing here? Why are you not at the meeting yet?"
"I could ask you ze same thing, Madame Unmei," Manon smirked.
Kikuko kept her hands in front. She held onto them tightly and bit her lips.
"I… had something to take care of," Kikuko gulped.
"More like someone…" Manon deviously smirked at her. "Perhaps a special someone, oui?"
"W-What?" Kikuko blinked, her face flushing slightly. She shook her head and tried to retain all sense of composure. "Um. Ahem. No. It's not what you… Um… I must… I must…"
Manon chuckled and gave the shrine priestess a genuine smile.
"Oh la la~" Manon teased. "No need to worry, Mademoiselle. I will keep zis a secret, oui?"
Kikuko simply held onto her kimono tightly. She didn't say anything for a bit, almost as if she were considering Manon's words. Then, silently she bowed her head, politely.
"Yes, if you could I would be very grateful," Kikuko simply said.
"Of course," Manon giggled. "Mais, on one condition."
Kikuko's eyes turned blue out of annoyance.
"W-What is this… blackmail?" Kikuko frowned.
"Non non non," Manon shook her head, frantically. If she came to that conclusion so quickly, whomever she was hiding in her room has to be a big secret, right? "Zis is not blackmail. Ze condition I wanted is you to tell me who it is you are sleeping with first. Parce-que… I found out first~ Oui?"
Kikuko blinked. She looked down, slightly embarrassed.
"It's… It's not… I… Um…" Kikuko held onto her kimono tightly.
"Not now!" Manon held out her hands, eyes widened. "Only when you are ready, Madame Unmei! No need to be flustered now!"
Kikuko seemed to relax slightly at that idea. Once again, she tried to maintain her composure. She lowered her head with a polite bow and closed her eyes.
"I… Of course," Kikuko cleared her throat. "Please forgive me for acting rather strangely. I suppose I have no choice but to accept your proposal. Please do not tell anyone what you have seen or potentially heard."
"Oui~" Manon smiled at Kikuko, placing a hand over her heart as if she were honoring a scout.
Kikuko sighed in relief and bowed her head in acceptance.
"Thank you," she simply said.
Without much of a word to say, Kikuko simply headed off to the Lobby. Though, based on how quick she was to leave, Manon could understand just how uncomfortable she must've felt being caught like this. And out of respect for her private affairs, it took everything Manon had to not just go and knock on Kikuko's door to find out who was hiding in there…
(Lobby)
Catching up to Kikuko at the Lobby, Manon noticed that today's Morning Meeting was functioning a little differently than it had the prior days.
For starters, the moment Manon and Kikuko had walked in, an argument between Issac and Yukihiko had slowly grown quiet at the sight of the newcomers. Both of whom, were giving each other dirty glares, in respect to the fact that these two wouldn't walk into a chaotic meeting in the first hour of their morning.
Also, the place was emptier.
The usual people who would have been attending weren't here. In fact, the only ones at the meeting at all were Alina, Beauté, Issac, Kazuki, and Yukihiko. Kikuko narrowed her eyes at the sudden disappearance of most of their fellow peers.
"Where is everyone?" Kikuko questioned.
"Oh, well, Aidan said he was going to the park early to find the children," Alina pointed out, looking down. "Not sure about everyone else though."
"Did zey do ze same thing?" Manon questioned.
"Doubt it," Issac shook his head, rubbing Isolde's neck. "After what Yuno suggested last night, Isolde and I came to the conclusion that everyone's shacking it out in their rooms."
The toymaker simply brushed his pink hair to the side with a small sigh and a shake of his head.
"Can't really blame them, though," he added, giving Yukihiko a dirty glance.
"And so, you think the alternative is to blame me?" Yukihiko cradled Loofah in annoyance.
"Yukihiko, he didn't say that–" Alina tried to intervene.
"Hey, it's Isolde who's blaming you, not me," Issac shrugged.
"O-Okay," Alina looked down. "Here we go again..."
"Her logic is that because you went ahead with the whole 'sacrifice' someone here schtick…" Issac continued along, ignoring Alina's attempt at playing mediator. "...Everyone else isn't really looking forward to joining us today to humor the idea."
"Hey," Yukihiko glanced at his nails. "I'm just being reasonable here. With the level of restrictions, we have in the park now, finding those children is a lost cause. If we want to do something to save them, sacrificing someone here is what we have to do."
Issac raised an eyebrow at Yukihiko. He remained silent for a moment, but it was clear that through his silence, there was something being concocted on his mind. Or rather, something being told to him. He had stifled a chuckle before perking his ear toward Isolde.
"Huh," Issac blinked. "What's that Isolde? You think that Yuno should be the one to sacrifice himself?"
"W-What?" Yukihiko recoiled, slightly hissing. "W-Why me?"
"Hey, that's just what Isolde suggested," Issac shrugged. "But… I think I'm willing to agree."
"H-Hey, guys, come on," Alina begged.
"Oh come on," Issac folded his arms. "The one who started telling everyone that sacrificing people would be the best option was you, wasn't it? So, why don't you show a little initiative with your own words and do just that? Offer yourself up to Yena and take one for the team?"
"Oh, you absolute scumbag…" Yukihiko shot Issac a threatening glare.
Manon watched this back-and-forth occur between the babysitter and toymaker. Funny enough, both of them seemed to own toys of their own, but she didn't think it was a good time to mention that. Instead, she stepped forward and–
"Enough…" Kazuki suddenly stole the spotlight from Manon.
Kazuki had kept quiet throughout this discourse between toy owners. And this time, the philanthropist had decided to show off his hollow eyes and darkened expressions. Instinctively clutching onto the side of his neck where his scar would be, Kazuki kept his head tilted and eyes glazed at his peers.
"No one is sacrificing anyone here…" Kazuki started to say.
"Whew, thank you Kazuki," Alina sighed in relief.
"...But me…" Kazuki finished.
"W-Wait, what?!" Alina widened her eyes.
"And so, our suicidal philanthropist volunteers to be our first victim, hm?" Beauté remarked at the bar she loved to sit at. "How elegantly fitting!"
The mysterious Ultimate simply giggled to herself as the other five glanced at Kazuki in bewilderment. But all they received in response to their surprise was the look of submission to his fate.
"W-Wait, Kazuki, you can't!" Alina looked at him, frustrated. "What about our conversation?! I told you, you're not some lonely speck in the ocean, you're–"
"This isn't about that…" Kazuki shook his head. "This is about doing what's right. And right now… the right thing to do is save the life of a little girl. If it means sacrificing my own life for her… I will gladly do it."
"So, are you saying that you volunteer yourself as a sacrificial tribute?" Yukihiko narrowed his eyes, though slightly relieved that it wasn't him having to make the tough decisions.
"Was I not clear before…?" Kazuki smiled to himself.
The philanthropist closed his eyes and nodded. Based on this reaction, Manon could tell that this had been something he wanted for a long time. She could tell that it was nothing short of the misplaced ideals that the very concept of sacrifice can give someone. And yet, for some reason, she felt it was out of place for her to protest.
"If this is truly what you want…" Kikuko began. "Then, are you sure you are up for the task, Kazuki?"
"Of course…" Kazuki nodded. "All that's really left for me to do is figure out a method and–"
"I can't believe you!" Alina pouted. "You're really going to go ahead with this?!"
Kazuki felt little need to respond to the maestro. He simply kept his eyes closed as he straightened out his tie. Unsatisfied with the lack of response, Alina turned to Kikuko and Manon, next.
"And you!" Alina first berated Kikuko. "Why are you encouraging this?! I thought you'd side with me on this matter!"
This time, it was Kikuko who closed her eyes. Alina had a point after all but even Kikuko didn't know why she would side with something so terrible. Maybe it was just the desperation and fear creeping on the back of her hand… Or maybe it was something else entirely…
"And Manon!" Alina placed her hands on her hips. "At least say something! You've been quiet about all of this!"
"Eh, quoi?" Manon blinked.
Noticing how nonchalant Manon's response seemed, Alina sighed and shook her head. She folded her arms uncomfortably.
"Nevermind!" Alina frowned. "I just– I just can't believe this is the conclusion we're reaching now! There has to be another way! There just has to be–"
"Ah heh heh heh…" Beauté spoke up, amused by Alina's outburst. "Oh, don't tell me that idiot's pacifistic ideals passed on to you. This is the only way, can't you see? Kazuki Nobukatsu here is doing everyone a favor by giving his life away for the sake of saving the child. You can't go and blame others for not thinking this to be the right call…"
"Right call?!" Alina frowned. "Nothing about this is right!"
"And going off wild goose chases that will inevitably get the little girl killed is?" Beauté countered. "Oh, you sad little girl."
That shut her up.
She bit her lip and tried to voice a response, but nothing came out. Whatever Beauté had just said, definitely hit a sore spot for her. Instead, she turned to Kazuki, eyes pleadingly.
"Please, Kazuki!" Alina exclaimed. "At least… At least give us a little more time if you're going to do something drastic!"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow.
"And how much time do you want?" he questioned.
"...I… Enough time…" Alina stated. "Just give the rest of the people who want to do something enough time to do something. Okay?"
Kazuki considered this response for a moment. After a while, he sighed.
"...The girl dies tomorrow… Miss Summers…" Kazuki reminded her. "Whatever it is you're planning on doing… Do it quick…"
Kazuki closed one eye and glanced at Alina, warily.
"...And I pray you're not just wasting time just to protect me…" Kazuki remarked. "There are more important lives in this game…"
That seemed to be the end of that conversation, no matter how much Alina wanted to protest about how little time that was. Kazuki had given his five peers a nod and simply walked off toward the park. Yukihiko seemed slightly annoyed that they were going to have to keep up this good-willed charade a little longer but relented at the thought that something was going to be done.
But no one was more conflicted than Alina, who stood helplessly as she considered what Kazuki had said. Manon walked forward. She wanted to reach out to her, but hesitation stopped her. Alina and Aidan were undoubtedly the two people under the most stress in this game and the fact that they were the ones in charge of keeping the peace was very… understandable.
And yet, why was Manon hesitating on trying to go up to Alina just to comfort her?
Why wasn't she so willing to speak up?
Manon considered her reasons. But perhaps she considered them a little too slowly, because by the time she had even thought of her third reason, Alina had walked off with Issac and Kikuko to the park. Yukihiko had similarly left…
Which left Manon with…?
"Ah heh heh heh…" Beauté smirked, having kept her eye on her this entire time. "This sure isn't like the movies now, is it?"
Manon didn't say anything.
Instead, she just left the room, with nothing but conflicted thoughts in her mind…
[Happy Highway]
(Hollywood)
As Stanczyk and Monoyena had said yesterday, the moment Alina, Issac, and Kikuko stepped foot into the Happy Highway, their collars beeped. They froze for a solid minute before the jingle played:
Red Light
Green Light
One, two, three!
And yet, even after, none of them moved.
"So, anyone care to tell me the color?" Issac asked.
The toymaker didn't make a step but he did turn around, to show off his collars. Fortunately for him, that didn't trigger any shocks. An interesting thing to make note!
"Oh um, it's Green," Alina blinked, looking down.
Ah. That was probably why.
"Wait, mine?" Issac blinked before shaking his head. "No, no. I'm talking about Isolde. Mind telling me what color her collar is…?"
"Huh?" Alina blinked. He meant the caterpillar?
Alina had turned to face Issac. Though, she also didn't take a step forward. She tried her best to spot the color on the back of Isolde's neck but primitive instinct had her nearly moving from the place she had been standing in.
God.
This was annoying.
She narrowed her eyes in hopes she could see the color of Isolde's collar. Was it…
"I think it's Green…" Alina stated. "Erm, what about mine?"
"Green," Kikuko simply answered, bowing her head.
With a breath of relief, both Alina and Issac took steps forward. Even though they both received answers for what color their collars had, fear of being shocked was definitely creating some forms of hesitation throughout their minds.
"And mine?" Kikuko turned around for Alina and Issac to freely examine the back of her collar.
"It's…" Alina began to say before widening her eyes. "...Red."
"Is it?" Kikuko blinked before sighing. "How unfortunate. I suppose I'll have to stand around here for at least ten minutes."
"Hey, if you want, we can keep you company," Issac waved at Kikuko with a smile.
Kikuko glanced at him for a moment. She folded her arms and kept a calm and very straight face. Shaking her head, she bowed her head politely.
"It is fine," Kikuko merely said. "Please go on without me. It's only ten minutes after all."
"Hey, if you insist," Issac shrugged.
"Hang in there, Kikuko," Alina looked at her somberly.
With nothing else but a nod from Kikuko, Alina and Issac traversed toward the Ultimate Doctor's Attraction, for no other reason but to get off of the road. The Traffic Jam Parade wasn't set to start yet but it was better safe than sorry after all…
[Ultimate Doctor's Attraction]
(Outside)
By the time the pair arrived at the Ultimate Doctor's Attraction, Alina groaned to herself. Checking the time on her eTicket, it was clear that the next jingle was among them. It realistically hasn't even been ten minutes and Alina was already seeing everyone's point in the Morning Meeting.
Things have gotten so much harder to move around the park now.
At this rate, it was going to be nearly impossible to find the girl.
Alina stopped herself and sighed. She covered her face. This did not go unnoticed by Issac, who simply walked back toward her, a look of concern on his face.
"Hey, Summers, you alright?" Issac questioned.
"I'm fine, I'm just…" Alina forced a smile. "I'm just… God. What if Yukihiko is right? What if this really is the only way?"
Issac raised an eyebrow.
"And what brought this up?" Issac asked.
"Look at where we are, Issac," Alina groaned. "We just got to Riku's Ultimate Attraction and the next Red Light, Green Light jingle is about to play again! How on Earth are we supposed to live like this?"
Issac didn't say anything about that. He simply rubbed the back of his collared neck, instinctively. Probably because he really didn't have an answer to that question.
Alina folded her arms. She tried to keep forcing herself to be optimistic but her optimism was dying away as the clock ticked. At this rate, whatever time she had to figure out an alternative was draining out. Sand filtering away in a metaphorical hourglass.
"...I just don't want anyone here throwing their lives away…" Alina muttered to herself.
Issac stared at the maestro. Her commitment to this second-in-command role was very inspiring. Issac had to give her that. Out of everyone here, it was clear that she was trying her hardest. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he realized it, his words ended up being replaced by something else altogether.
"H-Hey… Summers, there's someone over there," Issac pointed out.
"H-Huh?" Alina blinked.
The maestro noticed Issac pointing toward the Pit Stop. The gift shop remained closed. A single glance from afar was enough to tell them that much. But what really caught their attention was as Issac had said.
There was someone there.
Not standing, but lying on the ground.
Alina covered her mouth in shock. With little to no hesitation, Alina hurried over toward the body. Issac reached out his hand suddenly…
"H-Hey, Summers, wait!" Issac exclaimed.
But Alina didn't care.
She needed to make sure.
She needed to make sure…
[Central Plaza]
(DL-6 Experience)
The constant smell of corpses was sickening to Mara's olfactory receptors.
Even if the corpses of Hope and Alvin were removed, the smell of their presence was still prevalent throughout the room. The more Mara hung around the area, the more she could remember the gruesome sight. The sight of Hope and Alvin, screaming for their lives as they burnt to death.
She glanced on the ground, where their bodies would've been had they not been removed. Mara had to admit that it wasn't the first time she's seen a dead body. For a killer like her, it of course wasn't. But that didn't mean it made remembering what she had witnessed first-hand all the more difficult.
She grimaced.
Then, almost all too suddenly, her eyes flashed red. She swung her arm and grabbed someone by their jacket collar. Quickly, she roughly shoved them against the metallic walls, glaring at them murderously.
"The face of a killer. I know it all too well."
Mara's expression weakened and her grip on Riku Arakawa, Ultimate Doctor, softened. She dropped him to the ground and folded her arms.
"What are you doing here?" Mara frowned.
"Tch, I always come here," Riku's eyes started to twitch. "I bet you do too. Killers like you love the rush of revisiting crime scenes after all…"
"This coming from Dr. Yakuza himself," Mara muttered.
"Keh, don't compare me to such animals," Riku snarked. "I'm just having some light-hearted fun."
Light-hearted fun? Was insulting a known killer really his idea of having fun? Mara watched him carefully. He certainly didn't seem bothered by her presence. In fact, he wasn't telling her to go screw off or anything like that. It was almost like he was sharing this space with her.
Unexpected from a prick like Riku Arakawa.
"So, how did it feel?" Riku suddenly asked.
"What?" Mara folded her arms.
"To kill your own mother," Riku said. "How did it feel?"
Mara's eyes flashed red again. And once more, Riku felt himself getting dragged closer to her by his jacket collar. She roughly shoved him against the wall once more. And based on the discomfort of Riku's face, he most likely was more uncomfortable with the fact that she was touching him rather than the fact that she was practically putting him in a chokehold.
"Do you have a death wish?" Mara seethed.
"If I did, I'd be a little more helpful with what's been going on…" Riku mustered out, intensely. "Now… quit soiling my favorite jacket. I asked a simple question…"
"You're tactless," Mara growled.
"What'd you expect from an Arakawa?" Riku let out a choking scoff.
Mara dropped him.
Riku picked himself up and took the time to clean himself up. He took out his hand sanitizer-packed syringe, shooting out some drops and allowing him to rub it all over his hands and jacket collar. With a sigh of relief, he stuffed his hands inside his pockets.
"So, what do you want to hear me say, huh?" Mara folded her arms. Her fiery eyes never changed color. "Yes. I loved it. I soooo loved it when I punched my mother so hard she flew off the stairs and broke her neck. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Riku stared into her fiery eyes like a hunter staring down at a gorilla straight in the eyes.
"Tch, you seem to have some precognitive idea of me that I don't know whether to find amusing or insulting…" Riku folded his arms. "I'm not here to ask you whether you enjoyed it or not. I'm asking you how you felt."
"And why do you care so much?" Mara frowned.
"Because I want to know what kind of killer you really are…" Riku's eyes grew hollow and his grin turned twisted. "Everyone here seems to think you're a monster, biding her time till someone comes along and steps into your territory. And yet, I've seen real monsters and they're nothing like you."
Riku raised up his jacket collar, staring at her intently.
"So, what's a fleshbag like you posing as the most monstrous monster in the group?" Riku questioned.
"You can believe what you want," Mara folded her arms. "I'm not obliged to tell you anything…"
This is what happens when you put two stubborn people in a Free-Time Event scene together…
"Fine," Riku grumbled. "Then, I suppose I'll have no choice but to assume you're just playing this silly charade for fame. Or rather, for infamy…"
Mara clenched her fist, getting ready to strike a punch if need be.
"Y'know, you're starting to really piss me off…" Mara growled.
"And you're testing my patience…" Riku narrowed his eyes. "When I ask a question, I expect an answer."
"Again, why do you even care…?" Mara muttered.
"Keh," Riku stifled a chuckle. "Because I'm the Ultimate Doctor. And it's a doctor's duty to help those in need."
"Right, like I believe that," Mara folded her arms. "You're yakuza. You're a criminal who cares only for himself. And from the way you treat others, you obviously have some end goal in mind."
"Tch, once again, I ask you to not lump me in with those animals," Riku muttered, glancing away. "But then again, I am a yakuza only by association. And you also forget one thing that yakuza members love the shit out of…"
"Oh yeah?" Mara raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
"They have a sense of honor," Riku revealed with a twisted smile.
Mara contemplated that answer. Compared to crime families in other countries, yakuza clans were always known for their honor and loyalty to their own clans. So, already, he wasn't wrong there. But it was confusing when it came from Riku. After all, he claims to want to be removed from any association from the yakuza but still wants to retain that sense of honor…?
Mara was willing to call BS on that statement.
"Am I really supposed to believe the Arakawa Family, the second most powerful crime family in the world, believes in the old yakuza ways of honor?" Mara seemed slightly amused by that idea.
"Keh," Riku was just as amused as she was. This was definitely not the response Mara expected. "Is that all you know of the Arakawa Family?"
Mara started to bandage her wrists in thought.
"Once upon a time, the Arakawa Family was just like any other yakuza family in Japan," Riku chuckled to himself. "Traditional. Complex. Built by faulty ideas of honor and loyalty. And yet, their methods were callous, brutal and dare I say, cowardly. They operated based on fear and intimidation. And for that, they were cursed to play second fiddle to the Kuzuryus."
"Kuzuryus…?" Mara folded her arms. "Like the Kuzuryu Clan? The clan being led by–"
"That Ultimate Yakuza brat?" Riku lifted his jacket collar up to cover the lower part of his mouth. "Of course. Unlike the Arakawas, they earned their operation through respect and reputation. And you know what makes them even more impressive…?"
Riku took out an apple and stared at its shiny skin.
"None of them were killers," Riku revealed. "Sure, there was the talk of cutting off fingers here or there, but almost none of them resorted to their basic animalistic instincts. They were deserving of the number one crime family in the world."
"Get to the point," Mara looked impatient.
"The point is you scare everyone as much as the Arakawas do…" Riku bit into his apple. "But I see right through you. You're a killer but you're not an animal. Not like them… So, for the peace of my mind of being right, answer my question. How did it feel to kill your mother…?"
Mara remained silent.
Was that really the reason behind his lore drop? Was that really his end goal? Just for the satisfaction of being right? Mara didn't know what to think about Riku at this point but what she did know was that if she didn't answer anything right now, she'd probably be even more pissed and annoyed than she was originally.
She glanced away.
"...Terrible," Mara simply said. "There. Are you happy now?"
"Very…" Riku simply snarked, taking another bite from his apple and tossing it directly behind him. "Good chat."
That was it?
Really?
All of that for just a one-worded response on her part? Mara noticed that Riku was preparing to leave but there was no way she was going to let him. Not after having to endure a condescending speech that she didn't ask for. She glared at him and spoke up.
"Did you really just come to me to ask that for the satisfaction of being right?" Mara frowned. "Because if you did, then you're just as bad as the Arakawas. For someone who claims to not associate with them at least..."
Riku paused.
He kept his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"I already told you," Riku said, his eyes looking deader than usual. "I'm the Ultimate Doctor. It's a doctor's duty to help those in need. It's your choice to believe me or not…"
"And what makes you think I needed help in the first place?" Mara narrowed her eyes.
"Keh," Riku turned back to her with a twisted grin. "Because you're pathetic. You and I both know what you really are and yet, you're not doing anything about it. It was annoying. That's all."
Mara didn't say anything regarding that.
And this time, she let Riku leave the room. She simply stood there, dumbfounded by her conversation with the doctor. As much as she hated to admit it, what Riku said really resonated with her. She truly was pathetic. And she hated that she felt that over what Riku had to say to her.
Mara glanced at her bandaged wrists, grimacing.
She supposed that despite their hostility toward each other, both she and him, Mara and Riku, grew closer together. And it definitely wasn't the event she had expected to be involved with today of all days…
When Riku left the DL-6 Experience, the doctor kept his hand shoved in his jacket pockets. His conversation with Mara was uneventful to him. It wasn't like he cared about his peers. He just wanted to do it because it was annoying. Yeah, that was all. That was what he kept telling himself anyway.
He crossed the Stanczyk seal on the ground as he thought grimly back to his little history lesson of the Arakawa Family. And the more he thought about them, the more he felt his own hands tighten at the mere mention of the name. He muttered obscenities under his breath. He glanced at the entrance of Piero's Playground and spat on the ground.
Screw his life.
Once again, his smile turned twisted as he glanced at the sky. His eyes turned black and hollow as his mouth twitched into a snarl. He wanted to laugh but the deadness in his voice and eyes prohibited from doing so. But it was clear that he was amused. Painfully amused.
"Wonder how life's treating you now, Hiroshi Arakawa," Riku snarked. "Keh. You old sac of bones…"
Riku stared hatefully at the sky and kept himself strained. The point of his moment was to release all that pain he had seeped out over his little free-time event with Mara. And goddamn did it feel good to curse the name of Hiroshi Arakawa…
…
"Riku!"
And like most good moments, they never last. Because here came yet another annoyance running up to him. But instead of the usual smile he hated seeing, it was a look of desperation and slight frustration from one Ultimate Maestro.
"There you are!" Alina exclaimed. "Where have you been?! We tried knocking at your door but you weren't there!"
"Tch, so what?" Riku folded his arms. "Are you here to invite me to yet another showing of that terrible show?"
"W-What?" Alina blinked before frowning. "This has nothing to do with the show! It's Aidan! He's unconscious! And we need your help!"
Riku blinked.
That was definitely not what he expected to happen today…
[Hotel Mirai]
(Lobby)
"N-No… please Mister Aidan, wake up!"
It was just as Alina had said and Emmeline had just yelled.
Aidan had been carefully set on the couch but he was out like a light. Unmoving. But based on what Riku had found through his stethoscope, he sighed to himself. Almost instantly, the room had held their breath.
Swarming the room was Alina, Beauté, Daisuke, Emmeline, Issac, Kikuko, Roderick, and Yumi, who watched in concern. Okay, correction. It was Alina, Daisuke, Emmeline, Issac, Kikuko, Roderick, and Yumi who watched in concern. Beauté stayed at the bar counter, watching in amusement like the bitch she was.
"Is he…?" Yumi was the first to ask, slowly beginning to take her hat off in respect.
"Although–" Riku was about to say before Daisuke suddenly wailed out.
The larger fast food employee had covered his mouth, trying hard not to tear up. But it was clear that what had happened to Aidan, although unclear, was devastating toward him. He shook and began to sob.
"A-Aidan no!" Daisuke exclaimed. "H-He's dead isn't he?! I… I… I never got to tell him how I felt! God damn it! Why does this always happen to me?! I'm so stupid! So stupid! Stupid stupid stupid–"
"Pipe down, you stomach acid-filled balloon!" Riku exclaimed, annoyed. "He's not dead! He's just unconscious!"
"H-He's… H-He's not…?" Daisuke blinked, feeling slightly relieved.
"Based on his erratic heartbeat, blood pulses, and slight discoloration from the neck, it's clear that the idiot moved on Red when he wasn't supposed to and took one too many electric shocks," Riku grumbled. "He's going to be fine. He just needs plenty of rest, water, and a slap to the face for being unbearably stupid…"
He said that last thing with coldness in his eyes.
"Um, let's not…" Alina smiled in relief. "Look. I'll watch over him and make sure he's comfortable when he wakes up."
"Nay, so all this be some sort of false alarm?" Roderick sighed to himself. "Ye all be trying to send an old sailor down to Davy Jones Locker with all this news…"
"I believe the age gap is not so different between all of us…" Kikuko pointed out.
With this alarming news of Aidan's unconsciousness having settled down to mere stupidity, it was a job well-done for Riku and he, along with the others, promptly left elsewhere. The only ones who remained were Alina, Daisuke, and Beauté.
"S-So, you'll take care of him, right?" Daisuke asked Alina, twiddling his fingers, nervously.
"Y-Yeah, of course," Alina smiled sweetly at Daisuke. "But I have to ask…"
Alina started to give Daisuke a teasing look.
"Should I talk to him about what you've just said…?" she questioned.
"H-Huh?!" Daisuke widened his eyes. His face flushed red and he covered his face in an attempt to cover it up. Of course, the more he tried to hide it, the more obvious it became to Alina. "I… I… I don't know what you're talking about! Oooooh. Stupid me! Why'd I say that out loud? Now I'll be dubbed a freak! Siiiiigh!"
"H-Hey hey, relax," Alina blinked, clearly not experienced in the ways of dealing with Daisuke. "I was just joking!"
"Y-You were?" Daisuke peeked out through his fingers.
"Yeah, of course!" Alina gave him a genuine smile. She tilted her head with a smile. "Your secret is safe with me!"
She pumped her fists in determination, giving Daisuke that sense of relief and relaxation she was looking for.
"Th-Th-Thank you," Daisuke closed his eyes with a gulp.
He looked down in embarrassment. Probably second-hand… as he was still shaking whenever he was near the one person that pretty much knew his not-so-secret secret.
"U-Um, I'm gonna…" Daisuke began to stutter. "I'm gonna… I'm gonna go now! W-When Aidan wakes up, please tell him I told him to get better!"
Scurrying off timidly, the large awkward giant quickly headed to his room where he would promptly consider ways to kill himself out of embarrassment. Wasn't Alina's business anyhow, so she simply gave him a wave that he was unable to reciprocate. Turning back to Aidan, she noted the discoloration on his neck.
She instinctively touched her own shock collar, nervously.
To think that electric impulses from shock collars could have such an effect on the human body. But at the very least, he was alive. That was what was most important, right?
"Ah heh heh heh…"
"Oh," Alina sighed to herself. "I forgot you were here…"
"Or perhaps you were just ignoring me and hoping I would get bored and leave," Beauté smirked.
She trailed her fingers around the rim of the empty wine glass.
"Ah heh, you don't have to worry, however," Beauté smiled sweetly at Alina. "I've been getting a little bored of just sitting around doing nothing. But please tell Aidan when he wakes up to not hurt himself in such a fashion again…"
Alina blinked.
Wow. Did Beauté actually care–
"It's just not fun if he dies early," Beauté sighed as she placed a hand on her cheek, somberly. "Truly…"
Nope.
She's just a sadist.
Beauté gave Alina one last sinister look before hopping off the bar stool and heading straight into her room. Now alone with Aidan, Alina stared at the de facto leader of the group and sighed to herself. With everyone giving their own requests of what to tell Alina… it was fair to say that she had one too.
And it wasn't one she was exactly happy to say to him…
[Ultimate Actress's Attraction]
(Outside)
The Ultimate Actress's Attraction always felt threatening to Manon Vivienne Levesque.
Just staring at it now, Manon couldn't reckon why it felt that way to her. Maybe it was the roller coaster tracks that loomed over the entire park. Maybe it was the cinematic poster picturing Lady Radiance fighting Spellcaster. Or maybe it's the fact that Lady Radiance was played by an entirely different Ultimate and not her.
Whatever the case was, staring at the entrance to the attraction was nothing short of intense thoughts trying to mess with her mind. Ultimate Actress's Attraction…? Manon knew all too well she didn't deserve to be staring at an attraction meant for someone else… In fact, she knew all too well she didn't deserve to be the keeper of such an extravagant attraction…
In short… She…
"You finally decided you want to ride this baby, huh?"
Manon swiftly turned behind her.
At this point, it felt like a shared habit for many people to just jump in and interrupt trains of thoughts with words. It was no different for Fábio Barbosa, who had shown up with both of his hands in his pockets.
"Don't bother with it," Fábio shook his head. "Your back is going to tank a hit."
"Oh la la," Manon sheepishly said. "You mentioned some zing similar to zat…"
Fábio shrugged with a matter-of-factly expression. Manon glanced at him, trying to retain that level of showmanship she often showed others.
"Why are you here, anyway, Monsieur Barbosa?" Manon questioned.
"I could ask you the same thing," Fábio grimly smiled and avoided eye contact. "We both know you're not here to ride the thing."
"And you are…?" Manon raised an eyebrow.
"More like hoping someone would come ride with me," Fábio twirled a strand of his ringlet hair. "...What about you?"
Manon said nothing for a bit. She gripped her shirt.
"...Monsieur Barbosa…" Manon looked down. "You knew Madame Rodriguez, oui?"
Fábio's expression became grimmer than expected. Just hearing that last name was enough to get Manon to regret asking about what he had thought about her. But at the same time, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious.
"...Why are you asking me?" Fábio looked away, folding his arms.
"Well, I was looking at ze poster and–" Manon tried to explain, but Fábio cut her off.
"No, I mean, why ask me?" Fábio repeated. "I'm sure you've met her a few times throughout your career. Think you also competed against her for some role…"
"...Quoi?" Manon blinked before remembering. "Oh la la~ Oui! Oui! But zat is not why I am asking! I just… I am just curious about what you zink about her. Zat is all!"
Fábio glanced at her curiously. He stifled a chuckle.
"Fine," Fábio relented. "Want the short answer or the long answer?"
"Erm, any will do…?" Manon simply answered.
"I hate her," Fábio bluntly said.
In fact, it was so blunt, Manon was almost at a loss of words at how seriously nonchalant he was about this opinion. She had a feeling he wasn't too happy with her but how deep that level of unhappiness ran was very surprising and a little off-putting.
"For the longest time, Arianna Rodriguez was the poster child of Hope's Peak Brasília," Fábio explained. "Everyone in the school and nearby communities knew the name. If you yelled out Hope's Peak Brasília, it'd be impossible to not catch one person thinking about her. It was… annoying… Really, really annoying."
Fábio let out an icy cold breath, showing off just how irritated he was at even having to talk about her.
"I'll have to give Brasília some props though," Fábio shrugged. "Without Arianna Rodriguez, they probably wouldn't be the second-best Hope's Peak school in Hope's Peak International."
Fábio dryly laughed.
"Heh, all part of the marketing," Fábio muttered. "What a joke."
"Mais, you were ze next poster child of ze school, though, oui?" Manon blinked. "Did you not like ze spotlight?"
Fábio crossed his arms and glanced at Manon, plainly. It wasn't a look of anything toward her. In fact, it was more like a look of consideration over how to answer this. After a moment, he shrugged and sighed.
"You want the truth?" Fábio asked. "I liked it. I really did at the time. But only because I was just as stupid as everyone else…"
Manon said nothing, letting Fábio continue.
"You see, when you're the face of a prestigious academy, you become a role model to younger Ultimates everywhere," Fábio explained. "And the thing about role models is, no matter what you do, the new never outbeats the old. So, you can imagine how quickly my three seconds of fame fell flat when I was constantly compared to that girl…"
Fábio stuck his hands into his pockets, bitterly.
"You should be more like Arianna Rodriguez," Fábio stated. "Arianna Rodriguez would get better grades than those. Arianna Rodriguez was able to do this at this moment of time, why can't you? God…"
Fábio looked down.
"...It was so... so annoying…" Fábio grimaced.
Manon softly looked at him.
"Is zat why you came to ze New Life Program?" Manon blinked. "Why you…?"
Fábio chuckled.
"Believe it or not, no," Fábio shook his head. "When I became the Ultimate Figure Skater, I knew what I was getting into. Obviously, I did. How couldn't I? To say that I couldn't handle the pressure is just insulting. Plus, I still enjoyed some aspects of it…"
Fábio folded his arms.
"Though, what really got to me in the end was…" Fábio trailed off. "...Tch. Sorry. It's not something I want to talk about."
"Non, non, I understand," Manon shook her head, smiling softly at him. "I am glad you told me some zing so difficult, Monsieur Barbosa…"
"...Yet, I'm the one who doesn't understand anything…" Fábio said.
Manon blinked in confusion. But that was when she realized that it was her turn to tell her story. Fábio had pierced a serious stare toward her, meaning the spotlight was on her. She gulped inwardly.
"Why did you want to know how I felt about her?" Fábio narrowed his icy glare. "Seems a little out of the blue, don't you think?"
Manon said nothing for a bit. But after a moment of silence and uneasiness from the looks Fábio was giving her, she sighed to herself.
"I suppose you are correct, Monsieur Barbosa…" Manon looked down, twiddling her fingers. "But ze reason I wanted to ask was because I… Well, I zink it would be more appropriate to say zat I look up to her. I guess I just wanted to know just what kind of person she is from someone who went to ze same school as her…"
"Again, didn't you meet her in person at least a couple of times?" Fábio raised an eyebrow. "Can't you make up your own conclusions about her?"
"Well, oui, but zat was mostly on camera!" Manon countered. "Zerefore, I only knew Madame Rodriguez in public, not behind ze scenes."
Guess that made sense. Public appearances were always different from what goes on from behind the scenes. But needless to say, Manon knew that there was no way for Fábio to help her on that front.
Rightfully so, he sighed.
"Look, I admit, my hate for Arianna comes from projection," Fábio muttered. "But even so, I'll tell you this now. Looking up to Arianna Rodriguez isn't a smart thing to do. What you like about her is just going to disappoint you in the end."
"...Oui," Manon merely looked down.
She was already disappointed by the answers she was getting from Fábio. She supposed she shouldn't have asked someone who clearly exhibited a distaste for someone whose presence was constantly overshadowing him.
She watched Fábio sigh to himself once more and turn to adjourn this conversation. With his hands stuck in his pockets, Manon felt guilty that she had upset him by recounting a clearly hefty part of his life. She needed to make it up to that so…
"Pardon," Manon apologized. "But before you leave, you also asked me why I am here…"
Fábio stopped and turned around, curious.
"...Monsieur Barbosa, I... Feel like a fraud," Manon bit her lip. "When I look at ze poster and zee Ultimate Actress's Attraction, I zee not Manon Vivienne Levesque but Madame Rodriguez. When I look at zis attraction, I always zink zat I don't belong here. Or rather, zat zis attraction… It's not mine."
Manon shook her head.
"Ze true Ultimate Actress is Madame Rodriguez, not Manon Vivienne Levesque," Manon trailed her eyes toward the poster of Lady Radiance and Spellcaster.
"So, another person who feels overshadowed by Arianna," Fábio seemed slightly amused by that. "If I had a nickel for every time that happened…"
"Monsieur Barbosa," Manon seriously stared at him. "Zis is no laughing matter. I do not know who I am. I do not know what my purpose is. I do not know why I am even here when zere is someone outside much better zan me…"
Manon looked down.
"Zat is why I stand here looking at Madame Rodriguez's glory," Manon simply stated. "Because I zink it's unfair. Zat I, a fraud, am here instead of ze real Ultimate."
Fábio took in her words. Then, with another icy sigh, he walked over to Manon.
"Look, first off, sorry for chuckling at my little joke," Fábio shrugged.
"Oui, it's okay," Manon gave him a grateful look.
"Second," Fábio continued. "You're not the only one who feels that way here. None of us know why we were chosen for this game or what we're supposed to be doing here. In fact, before we were tossed in here, I'm willing to bet that everyone was just as lost as to who we were too…"
Fábio twirled one of his ringlet locks.
"Want my two-cents?" Fábio asked. "Now that we're actually here, I think the answer to your question is much simpler than you realize. Who are we? We're just people stuck in a twisted Killing Game. Our purpose? Survive. Why are we here? Well, that's what I want to know too…"
Manon considered those answers and whether or not she'd be satisfied with it.
"But what I do know is that you're Manon Vivienne Levesque, Ultimate Actress," Fábio continued, sensing her dissatisfaction with that generally broad answer. "Who cares that there's another Ultimate Actress out there that's better than you? There's always going to be someone better than you in the long run."
Fábio pointed at her.
"So, quick thinking you're a fraud," Fábio stated. "You're as much of an Ultimate as the rest of us. And why you're here instead of someone else, doesn't matter. You're here. And you're going to have to find a way to survive if you want to escape… just like everyone else…"
Fábio pocketed his hands after saying his piece. He awaited Manon's response. Imagine his surprise when he saw Manon smiling at him gratefully.
"Your words are fantastique," Manon gave him a mock curtsy. "Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Barbosa!"
Fábio blinked.
She was certainly taking that well. Keeping his hands in his pockets, he shrugged and nodded at her.
"Yeah, no problem," Fábio simply said. "If you ever need a fresh reminder of what I said, you know where to find me…"
"Of course!" Manon smiled at Fábio.
Giving her one last nod, Fábio simply walked off, leaving the actress behind.
And once again, Manon turned back to the poster of Lady Radiance and Spellcaster. Her smile quickly dropped into a frown. Despite everything that Fábio had told her as a matter of encouragement, she was still dissatisfied with his response. That fraudulent feeling still plagued her.
Monsieur Barbosa was wrong.
She didn't feel like she was an Ultimate. She didn't feel like she deserved to be here. She didn't even feel like she was Manon Vivienne Levesque.
She was just Manon.
A fraud.
And yet despite everything, Manon knew for a fact she was going to need some of Fábio's constant reminders right away. After all, based on their conversation, it was clear that Manon Vivienne Levesque and Fábio Barbosa had grown closer together…
[Hotel Mirai]
(Lobby)
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
That was the first thing Aidan heard when he woke up from the foggiest of naps he's ever had. Most probably because what he had just gone through wasn't really a nap but a moment of which his connection to reality was shut off temporarily and instead, he was trapped in a void of darkness hidden inside his mind…
So, a nap.
Aidan got up from the couch with a jolt and felt his heartbeat slow down. For the longest time, he felt his blood pressure and heartbeats quicken in pace, but by the time he had recovered from his mindscape, everything was slowly returning to normal. The pain in his neck though?
Slightly numb now.
"A-Alina?" Aidan blinked. "Ugh… Where am I?"
"You're at the Hotel Lobby," Alina sat next to him. She handed him one of his signature bottles of water. "Water?"
"H-Hey, that's my line," Aidan frowned.
Alina stared at him for a brief moment. Then, without warning–
SLAP!
"O-Ow!" Aidan rubbed his cheek. "W-What the heck was that for?!"
"That was from Riku," Alina said. "In his own words, that was for being an idiot…"
She paused.
"And I guess part of it was also from me for how nonchalant you're acting about all this," Alina shrugged.
"W-What?" Aidan blinked, confused. "W-Wait. Alina. What's going on?"
"Do I really have to spell that out for you too?" Alina started to pout. If she really wanted to, she'd give him another slap but Alina was far from the slapper. "Aidan. We found you knocked out at the Pit Stop. Based on his Ultimate Doctor skills, Riku found out you received a lot of electrical shocks. Meaning…"
Alina folded her arms, looking at him disapprovingly.
"...Ah, crap…" Aidan rubbed the back of his neck, realizing what that meant. "So, you know that I tried to take off the shock collar…"
"Y-You what?!" Alina did not know that.
"Um… Oops?" Aidan blinked and sheepishly smiled.
Alina blankly stared at him.
…
"Yeah, so, as it turns out, trying to take off the shock collar by any means is enough to get you an extra shock…" Aidan rubbed the side of his cheek, wincing. "Add that to my frustration of just walking around and receiving shocks and then, next thing I know, I'm here at the Hotel Lobby. Heh. Well, at least we know!"
Aidan gave Alina a thumbs up.
"Put your thumb away!" Alina glared at him. "Do you know how stupid and dangerous that was?! You could've had your brain fried! You could've had your heart explode! Don't you know how worried everyone was when you showed up unmoving?!"
Aidan didn't say anything about that.
"Aidan," Alina frowned. "Daisuke was crying. Like, literally crying. What the heck is wrong with you?!"
Aidan blinked.
It was at this point that Aidan's face started to fill with regret. He looked down. He really didn't expect this kind of reaction from Daisuke apparently and even Alina. In fact, this was the first time he's really seen Alina this mad… ever.
"I… I'm sorry," Aidan glanced away. "Look. I was just frustrated. I just… everyone was so dead set on sacrificing each other that I was desperate. Desperate enough to do everything in my power to just…"
Alina bit her lip in that regard.
In fact, that topic was exactly what she wanted to talk to Aidan about. She sighed to herself and found herself and Aidan sitting next to each other.
"You know what you have, Aidan Brighton?" Alina pouted.
"...What's that?" Aidan looked away, guilt ridden.
"You have a Savior Complex," Alina folded her arms. "You spend your entire time trying to figure out how to save everyone when all it's doing is hurting everyone involved."
Kinda like me…
Alina widened her eyes when that thought made it into her mind. She went silent for a moment. But it didn't seem like Aidan had noticed just how oddly silent she had gotten. He had contemplated the idea for a moment before chuckling.
"I guess I have my sister to blame for that," Aidan smiled to himself.
Alina turned to him, surprised.
"You have a sister?" she asked.
"Twin sister, to be exact," Aidan revealed. "Her name is Nadia. And together, we were like the dream team. Powerful together than alone. And back then, we were inseparable."
Aidan leaned back against the sofa with a sigh.
"Inseparable until one day, we kinda had to be separated," Aidan explained. "I got accepted into Hope's Peak New York as the Ultimate Track Star. And everyone, even my sister, was proud of me. They were all counting on me to make it big and help the family out. But it just felt weird, you know?"
Aidan frowned.
"All my life, it was always me that had the responsibility of looking out for everyone," Aidan rubbed his hands together as he leaned forward. "Mom. Dad. Nadia. I was the golden child. While my sister dabbled in makeup tutorials, I was the star athlete of my school. So, of course, I had the most promise in carrying on the family name, Brighton. And as such…"
Aidan chuckled.
"...Well, that's how everything got dumped onto me," Aidan smiled to himself. "The Future of the Brightons. The golden child. The better twin."
Aidan graciously took the water bottle that Alina had kept with her and sipped from it.
"...Honestly, I hated it," Aidan laughed. "So much responsibility was expected of me to do everything… I guess it kind of seeped its way into here. But then again, it's not like I had much of a choice. Being responsible was set to be my purpose in life. I just took what I was taught and I just went with it…"
"...Was your sister an Ultimate as well?" Alina asked.
"No," Aidan shook his head. "Maybe she will be but Hope's Peak International was more interested in me than her."
Aidan took another sip like he was taking a swig.
"But it really surprised me at the time," Aidan sighed. "I mean, Nadia and I never went anywhere without each other. So, being separated from her felt so weird. I've always done everything I could to take care of her and she did the same for me. It just… It just sucks…"
Alina didn't say anything for a bit.
"Do you know how that feels?" Aidan asked, looking at Alina. "To be separated from someone you thought you were inseparable from?"
Alina blinked.
She looked down and forced a smile, remembering something somber and yet heartwarming.
"...Of course I do," she revealed. "I… might not have a sibling bond like you did but I used to have friends."
"Used to?" Aidan blinked.
Alina remained quiet for a moment and once again, she forced a smile. But this time, the smile had a hint of authenticity behind it.
"...Molly Blessen," Alina smiled to herself. "Nicolas Caos. My bestest friends in the whole wide world. When we were young, we did everything together. Sleepovers. Parties. Playdates. You couldn't name a more memorable trio of friends."
Alina trailed her hands over her pant pockets.
"And just like you and Nadia, we always looked out for each other…" Alina said to herself. "We were each other's responsibility. And no matter what happened, we believed that for the longest time, our friendship would never die…"
"Until it… did…?" Aidan didn't want to assume. But with how Alina was wording her tale, even a moron like him could see where this was heading.
Alina nodded.
She confirmed it.
"Everything broke apart in an instant…" Alina simply said, trying to maintain her smile. "Before I knew it, I had lost everything I cared about."
Alina played with her hands, uncomfortably.
"For the longest time, I felt like a failure," Alina explained. "Our friendship was my responsibility to maintain and yet by the time I had realized what had happened, it was over. I lost my bestest friends in the whole wide world."
Alina felt it harder to keep that smile on her face.
"After that, I never really made another friend ever again," Alina smiled sheepishly at Aidan. "Until now that is. Now that we were all kind of stuck in the same situation here… That old feeling of responsibility came back… and…"
Alina turned to Aidan with a weakening smile.
"Look Aidan," Alina sighed. "I get it. You've been the responsible one all your life. You've always had to be the one to take care of everyone. I'm sure everyone here appreciates your efforts but if you hurt yourself in the process, you're not really helping anyone here…"
Alina bit her lip.
"In fact, you're just hurting others if you keep this up, y'know?" Alina forced a smile. "So, just stop acting like every do-gooder leader and making sacrifices we never asked for, alright? Sometimes, you need to let others do what they have to do…"
She trailed off.
Instantly, Aidan felt that something was off about what she had just said. Almost as if she were hinting something to him. He tried to wrap his head around that statement. What was Alina trying to say to him? Was there… something behind those words. He glanced at her confused. That's when he noticed the somber look on her face.
"Hey, Alina, what are you–" Aidan began to ask.
He noticed the regret and guilt in her eyes. Admittedly, he wasn't the brightest of the Brightons, but it was clear that her backstory dump wasn't what was causing her to feel regret and guilt. Emotionally, he understood. Alina was keeping something from him. And it was…
"...What happened at today's Morning Meeting?" Aidan carefully asked.
Alina didn't say anything.
She looked away.
"Alina, what happened?" Aidan frowned.
Alina couldn't hold it in anymore. If she was going to say something, better it be the truth than a lie he would inevitably find out…
"Kazuki volunteered as a sacrificial tribute," Alina felt her throat tighten. "I told him to wait until we found the girl but… knowing him…"
"And you're letting it happen?!" Aidan stood up suddenly, looking miffed. "G-Goddamn it, Alina! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Alina didn't say anything in that regard.
It didn't take Aidan much to realize why.
"...Because you knew I would try to stop it…" Aidan realized.
He clenched his fist.
"...Well, you're right," Aidan frowned. "I will."
"Aidan, please, at this point I think–" Alina tried to grab him but Aidan stepped away from her.
"No Alina!" Aidan frowned. "Look! You're right! Okay?! I do have that sense of responsibility for everyone trapped in this place! I know that what I'll do would only hurt the process but if you think for one second that I'm just going to sit here knowing full well that someone is going to kill themselves, you're wrong!"
"Aidan!" Alina called out. "Wait! Don't!"
Too late.
Aidan had already run out of the Hotel Lobby and headed directly toward Piero's Playground. Alina sat on the couch, watching him through the window as he continued to go on his heroic escapades. She had to admit that even now, everyone was right about him.
He really was an idiot.
Ignorant.
A fool.
And yet, despite all of that, Alina would be lying if she said she didn't admire his reckless courageousness. Perhaps it was a sign of how Aidan and Alina had grown closer together, despite the otherwise dramatic ending to their conversation.
Alina took out a picture from her pant pockets and glanced at it warily. She closed her eyes and sighed to herself as she held it close to her heart.
[Happy Highway]
(Street)
Green light means go.
When Aidan reentered the park, he didn't hesitate to keep moving. His collar would've reactivated now and as luck would have it, no zaps. Meaning, the back of his collar must've been Green.
Good.
Because he was going to need this amount of luck if he was going to stop what was happening. And even luckier, was the fact that he saw who was trying to look for: Kazuki Nobukatsu, standing right in the middle of the street section. Watching him was Alisa and Manon, both of whom were on the Clucks Deluxe side of the street.
Monoyena was also there, having set up a lawn chair beside Alisa and Manon and enjoying a bucket of fried crispy shrimps.
"What the heck is going on here?!" Aidan rushed over to the scene. "Kazuki! I know what you're planning on doing! Don't do it!"
"...Whatever do you mean?" Kazuki yawned, outstretching his arms. "...I'm simply standing and talking with my good friends… Miss Zachary and Miss Levesque…"
"Erm, we were... huh?" Manon blinked.
"No, we weren't," Alisa looked at him, disapprovingly.
"Cut the crap!" Aidan glared at Kazuki. "Alina told me what you were plotting!"
Kazuki blinked. Then, he folded his arms and closed one eye. He gave the track star a smile and a shrug.
"...Then… She must have also told you that this was also my decision and my decision alone…" Kazuki began. He lowered his shirt collar to expose the scar on the neck… though covered by the shock collar. "Who are you to control someone like me…?"
"The guy who's trying to make sure no lives are lost," Aidan explained. "So, get off the street and let's head back to the Lobby. We can talk about this."
"Ha…" Kazuki chuckled. "What's there to talk about…? The decision has been made. Everything has been in preparation. So… I'm afraid we can't stall for more time anymore. Someone has to die… If not… That little girl will…"
"Fine, then I'll just drag you off of the street!" Aidan glared at him, walking up toward him.
"...I wouldn't do that if I were you…" Kazuki said, halting Aidan on the sidewalk. "Jaywalking is illegal… you know… And… Erm… Miss Zachary… What time is it now…?"
"5:58…" Alisa narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased by what was happening.
"...Two more minutes…" Kazuki extended his arms out, almost too welcoming of what was to come.
"N-No way," Aidan widened his eyes. "You're going to die from the Traffic Jam Parade?!"
"Oh… Not the Parade…" Kazuki closed his eyes with a smile. "Mister Yena happily obliged to do it himself…"
"That's right!" Monoyena munched on his crispy shrimps. He glanced over toward Aidan with a glowing red jagged eye. "So dontcha dare ruin this for me, boy scout! I've been itching to shoving my blade up a wanker's ass!"
"Ooh… I'd think I'd prefer it if you just slit my throat…" Kazuki rubbed his neck, chuckling sheepishly.
"Th-This is crazy!" Aidan quickly turned to Alisa and Manon. "And why haven't the two of you done anything to stop him?!"
"Erm, we can't," Manon looked down.
She and Alisa turned around to reveal that the back of their collars were both Red. Understandable. If they did anything, they'd probably wouldn't be of much help with the shock collar constantly shocking them and stuff.
Aidan tightened his fist.
Screw it.
Guess it was all up to h–
Red Light
Green Light
One, two, three!
ZAP!
The moment he took a step, he toppled to the ground in painful agony. He instinctively reached for his neck as he felt himself shake. That numbness in his neck turned back to the pain he was all too familiar with. He slowly stood up. Even though he had woken up from his last hit, another one would probably be enough to take him out.
Curses.
Of all the unfortunate timing-
"No!" Aidan grunted. "Damn it!"
Aidan turned to Manon and Alisa.
"Manon, Alisa!" Aidan yelled out. "Your collars!"
"Erm, um…" Manon gulped.
Together, Manon and Alisa turned around to reveal that the back of their collars hadn't changed this time. They were still stuck at Red. Of all the unluckiest things to happen…
"You've gotta be–" Aidan cursed to himself.
"Shhhh…" Kazuki smiled at Aidan. "...It's starting…"
…
Aidan widened his eyes as he turned around. Never in his entire life was he so terrified to see a marching band of Parade Floats loom out of whatever holding area they were prepared in. The first Parade Float, the Police Parade Float, was well on its way, making its way to Kazuki.
"So… This is what it feels like to see your life flash before your very eyes…" Kazuki smiled to himself. "...What a surreal feeling. Had my collar not been Red… I would've stayed at the Hollywood section road…"
Kazuki took a step forward and recoiled. He winced in pain.
"Yep…" Kazuki sighed, folding his arms. "Still Red. Guess I have to wait…"
"Damn it!" Aidan cursed to himself.
Part of him really wanted to jump and knock Kazuki out of the way but him being unconscious wouldn't help anyone for that matter. He noted that the Police Parade Float was well on its way at a really slow speed, but that didn't help his heart from pounding. If he was going to get Kazuki to move, he needed to do it his own way.
"Kazuki!" Aidan turned to Kazuki. "Listen to me! There's still time to reconsider this!"
"...What are you talking about?" Kazuki chuckled. "...The Police Parade Float is right there…"
"Okay, but how do you know that Monoyena is really going to keep his word?!" Aidan exclaimed. "You really think having Monoyena kill you is going to spare the girl?! That's not how this works! That's not!"
"Oi, idiot, did those shocks scramble yer brains or somethin?!" Monoyena snarled. "Of course that's how that works!"
"And how long do we have to endure this twisted version of Red Light, Green Light?" Kikuko frowned, not daring to step forth.
"That's where it ties into the Survey!" Monoyena continued. "This game will only continue until someone dies! Whether it be the girl I'll kill in three days… or one of you wankers!"
"So, in other words, we have to endure this for about three days, counting today," Fábio folded his arms. "Until someone… dies…"
"I only said that this Red Light, Green Light biz continues till someone dies," Monoyena cackled. "Whether it be the girl I kill or one of you wankers! I never said how you wankers should die. Therefore, letting me kill one of ya blokes is like a dream come true and A-Okay for ya to move on to the next level!"
"Next level?" Alisa caught that, raising an eyebrow.
"Precisely…" Kazuki bowed. "Thank you, Mister Yena. If I may ask for one last favor before I die… Could you perhaps donate my organs to the children's hospital back home for me? I'm sure they will–"
"I'll eat yer organs instead, how about that?" Monoyena twirled his Barbie Blade as he started to drool inside his bucket. "Now go and die, ya right-winged prissy prodder!"
"...I… have no idea what that means but that sounded very rude…" Kazuki simply folded his arms.
The Police Parade Float was inching closer and closer. With time, the entire Parade was going to be delayed and Kazuki was going to be dead. What the hell was Aidan supposed to do now?! He watched. For the first time, he felt helpless… And not like the past few days helpless. Like really helpless. Like the only thing he could do was watch all of his work fall apart as Kazuki's death was nearing.
The Police Parade Float inched closer…
"N-NO!" Aidan screamed. "KAZUKI! DON'T!"
…and closer…
"YES!" Monoyena started shaking his bucket of crispy shrimp enthusiastically. "YES YES YES! FUCKING DIE!"
…and closer…
"...This is fine…" Kazuki shrugged.
…and closer…
Alisa closed her eyes, unable to watch. All the while, Manon stood next to her, muttering something under her breath. She was taking in breaths. This entire moment… This entire moment right here… It was…
…closer and finally…
"NON!"
"W-What?" Kazuki blinked.
"...Huh?" Monoyena blinked.
...
...
...
...
...
...
An ungodly electric shock blasted through his veins, forcing him to let out a scream of pain. But by the time that single shock subsided, he widened his eyes and tried to look at his surroundings.
Kazuki was in the garden with the three palm trees, safely away from the actual road. The Police Parade Float had long passed him. The Parade had not been delayed. Aidan and Alisa's faces were filled with shock. And Monoyena? He had gotten out of his seat, equally shocked, and had practically dumped his crispy shrimps all over the floor. Judging by his face, he was not happy.
"NO!" Monoyena yelled as he started to march around his lawn chair with a snarl, a consecutively glowing red jagged eye, and double middle fingers into the air. "NO! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK! FUCKY FUCKY FUCKY YOU!"
Monoyena pointed his Barbie Blade toward the garden where Kazuki was.
"YA FUCKING FRENCH WHORE!" Monoyena yelled, his glowing jagged red eye practically on fire. In fact, he was practically stabbing his bucket with his Barbie Blade. "WHEN THIS PARADE IS OVER, I'LL SIZZLE YER TWINKY ASS FROG LEGS, SLURP ON YER SNAIL SLIME-COVERED INTESTINES AND BEAT YA ON THE HEAD WITH A BAGUETTE TIL YA START BLEEDING BLUE CHEESE! YA HEAR ME?! YA FUCKING RAT-SMOOCHING BITCH! I'LL FUCKING INVADE YER HOMELAND LIKE THE GERM–
Okaaaay, that's enough of that.
He was losing it, big time.
And Alisa was getting very uncomfortable having to stand next to him.
"French… whore…?" Kazuki repeated.
It took him a while, but he finally figured out what had happened. Lying beside him was the unconscious Manon. She was breathing but a little erratically. She had… pushed him off of the street. At the cost of getting zapped numerous times…
Kazuki sat there by her side, dumbfounded.
And all he could do was share a glance with the relieved yet worried Aidan and Alisa…
[Hotel Mirai]
(Lobby)
"Roderick, Alisa, you guys are in charge of watching over Kazuki. We can't have him doing something like that again."
"Aye."
"Yes. I'm sorry I couldn't do much earlier."
"No, it's fine. I understand why you couldn't…"
Kazuki couldn't hear anything but the ringing in his ears. All voices around him were muffled. He saw nothing as he stared straight forward. He hadn't said a word since he was brought back to the Hotel Lobby. He never drank any of the water Aidan had offered him. And all feelings of thought? Numb.
Completely numb.
"What about Miss Manon?! Is she going to be okay?!"
"She suffered the same injuries as the idiot did. She just needs rest but other than that, she's alive. When she wakes up though, please slap her across the face for me too. You morons need to learn to be careful…"
"Riku. Now's not a good time to–"
At the mere mention of Manon, Kazuki's eyes trailed toward the Hallway toward everyone's rooms. Manon had been carried into her own room. She was still unconscious. However much shocks she must've taken, she must've taken quite the handful pushing him and herself out of harm's way.
"Speaking of morons. Let me just say something to Kazuki…"
Kazuki's vision was blocked by the sudden appearance of Fábio. There was a clear look of disdain on his face, something that was often only shared against the topic of Hope's Peak Brasília or Arianna Rodriguez. But for the first time, that look was directed toward Kazuki.
And the voice was no longer muffled.
"What you did today was stupid, and it got someone else hurt…" Fábio berated him. "Think about that long and hard the next time you try something as stupid as that again…"
Kazuki opened his mouth to say something.
I just did it because I thought it was the right thing to do.
I volunteered as a sacrificial tribute.
I was supposed to be the only one who got hurt.
So why did Miss Levesque…?
But nothing came out. Instead, he closed his mouth and never let his eyes waver away from the direction of the hallway where Manon was.
God.
What had he done…?
(?)
The girl hugged her knees. She remained in the spot she had always been all day. She kept her back against the wall, with her only form of contact being a small ventilation system between her and Nick. The two haven't said anything to each other in a bit. Instead, they've remained still, wasting the days away until rescue would hopefully come…
"Lucky?" Nick suddenly called her.
She stifled a small chuckle at her name.
"Yes Lil' Nick?" the girl, Lucky, chuckled.
If she could see his face right now, he'd probably be making that adorable pouty face he loved doing whenever he was called something as silly and lame as that. Despite her situation, she couldn't help but think warmly about it.
Heh.
Lil' Nick.
And just as Nick had many nicknames of his own, so did she. Her favorite? Lucky. That was the name she loved being referred to as. Because to be referred to as Lucky meant that she was special. Special enough to take on the world. To take on the world with…
Her thoughts trailed off as she remembered her current predicament.
Heh.
Ironic, wasn't it? She thought she could take on the world as a ten-year old and yet here she was… Locked up for who knows how long? Locked up with her best friend Nick and with little hope of rescue to come for them. She rested her head against the wall as she heard Nick speak to her with slight disappointment.
"Lucky, come on," Nick frowned. "At least use my other cool nickname!"
"Oh yeah, as if Nicky is so much better," Lucky chuckled.
Nick said nothing to that regard. Instead, he decided to change the subject back to what he had wanted to ask originally. Just based on the tone of his voice, he seemed to have calmed down slightly but there was still anguish in his voice.
"Lucky… I…" Nick sighed.
"Hey, Nick, what's wrong?" Lucky blinked, trying to look for him through the ventilation system.
"Do you think…?" Nick struggled to say. "Do you think we'll see…"
It was clear that Nick was trying to formulate a sentence but all thoughts of freedom of the outside world were suffocating him. Practically drowning him in his pent-up tears. And before Lucky could give him a response, she heard it.
No.
Both of them heard it.
Footsteps.
Hope reignited in their hearts as both of them had turned their respective locked doors. Loud footsteps from the outside. Could it be? Did all signs of hope answer their calls? Nick and Lucky watched the doors with anticipation.
…
But only one door opened: Lucky's…
…
As the hallway's bright light seeped into the otherwise dimly lit room, Lucky widened her eyes. A man, whose appearance was hidden in a shadow created by the dimly lit room had walked in. They wore that mask that not in a million years, Lucky would think to be the bane of her nightmares. The marshmallow-shaped mask with two X's over their eyes. Just seeing him again... Lucky knew all too well that this was not a manifestation of Hope.
No.
It was something far worse.
"N-No!" Lucky screamed as she tried to run toward the darkest corner of the room, in hopes that somehow, she'll be protected from the man. "P-Please!"
"L-Lucky?!" Nick yelled. "W-What's going on?!"
"Don't be such a brat and come with me!" the man had roughly grabbed her by the wrists, dragging her frail and weak body from that corner. "I am not having a good day today!"
"N-No!" Lucky screamed. "Let go! Nick! Help!"
She tugged, thrashed, and kicked. But no matter what she did, she was just a child trying to fight back against a clearly stronger adult-figure.
"L-Lucky, wait no!" Nick yelled through the ventilations. "Let go of her, whoever you are! Let go of her!"
But the man never listened to any of these children. Instead, all Nick could hear next was the sound of a sobbing Lucky being dragged out of her room…
…then a slam…
…
…and then silence.
"W-What?" Nick widened his eyes. "M-M-..."
He couldn't mutter a word. Whatever had happened… It terrified him. He hugged his knees. What was going on? Who was that man? And where did he take Lucky? Nick didn't know the answers to any of those questions. But all he knew now was that he was alone.
Alone in a dimly lit room.
Truly… Truly alone…
"...P-Please…" Nick whimpered to himself as he buried his face into his knees. "C-Come back… Don't leave me…"
DANGANRONPA: TWISTED TRAGEDY
And here we are, Daily Life 5 of On Road to Despair! Yet another chapter of Twisted Tragedy! Whether this is a W chapter, is entirely up to you, the readers, to decide :D
Big updates! Trials Part 1 AND 2 have been completed! Trial Part 1 has actually been edited and will be edited again once Investigation comes out! Trial Part 2 still needs to be edited and well... we'll see how it goes! Regardless, I've finished writing for them and although Trial Part 2 took me like one try to write... therefore, it makes me kinda nervous that I may have to rewrite it at some point... Oooh. Let's not think about that. Both Trials are pretty much good so therefore, Daily Life 6 is going to immediately be in the works.
School semester is over, but I have one more final paper. So, until I finish that paper, Daily Life 6 ain't coming out till later :D Hopefully before I leave on May 15 :0
This chapter was a little difficult to write, I'll admit. Kazuki trying to kill himself? That was planned. Manon sacrificing herself to save him? That was not. But it fit the theme of this specific Daily Life well so, I'm not complaining :0 Also, Red Light, Green Light? It effing sucks. Not only are our characters restricted in movement, but I'm restricted in writing with this motive going on! Have to consecutively come up with what everyone's color is... when the jingle plays... etcetera... etcetera. A body has to drop at some point, right?! ;-;
As per the norm, gotta give a shoutout to ExtraMeme's Danganronpa: Obscurity's Disgrace. Like, I literally HAVE to shoutout his story because it's the most Manon-like story yet! And this was Manon's chapter! :D Not shouting out to Nathan until he gets his next chapter out so, sorry buddy :D Also, I know you're going to give a shoutout to ExtraMeme's Danganronpa at the end of your next chapter anyway, so this is just me planning ahead ;D
Special shoutout to Photographer of Faith, who allowed me to cameo her character, Savannah Morrison, into the story. She just got married so a grand congratulations to her and seriously. Thank you for Savannah ;-; She's made Manon uncomfortable to a tee!
Hope you enjoyed the FTE's! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Hope you enjoy how I'm handling Manon, Sempi, because somehow, she ended up being harder to write than I thought XE AKA, please let me know how I'm doing with not just Manon but all of your characters! Any feedback? Criticisms? You want to rizz me up? Sorry. Not interested.
Anyway, Daily Life 6 is underway! A body is soon to appear! If you're going to predict who's dying, the time is now because your guesses are gonna be finalized once the next chapter rolls around ;D Until then...
Daily Life 6 is in the works! Corrupted Hope, my baby! I'll be back for you, I promise ;-;
(Writing some fluff here that is approximately 19 words just so I can hit exactly 16K. There we go)
Playmates Remaining: 16
Aidan Brighton - The Ultimate Track Star [Omakin]
Alina Summers - The Ultimate Maestro [Otterplay]
Alisa Zachary - The Ultimate Clockmaker [ExtraMeme]
Beautè Morose - The Ultimate ? [Grandma Sue]
Daisuke Kido - The Ultimate Fast-Food Employee [CandleFire45]
Emmeline Swan - The Ultimate Lepidopterist [Prince PokePersona]
Fábio Barbosa - The Ultimate Figure Skater [Rayy12]
Issac Santiago - The Ultimate Toymaker [oddlyillregular]
Kazuki Nobukatsu - The Ultimate Philanthropist [emberblitz321]
Kikuko Unmei - The Ultimate Shrine Priestess [WolfieRed23]
Manon Vivienne Levesque - The Ultimate Actress [Sempi]
Marabel "Mara" Garcia - The Ultimate Karate Master [Epifanio Therion]
Riku Arakawa - The Ultimate Doctor [theotakureader101]
Roderick Cutler - The Ultimate Deep Sea Fisherman [Orlando Butler]
Yukihiko Yuno - The Ultimate Child Caregiver [Weekaro]
Yumi Gundo - Ultimate Gunslinger [MrUtenaHolic]
Guest Stars:
Savannah Morrison [Photographer of Faith]