Class 78th Watches the Future

by Spirit Soldier

We know the story. Class 78th loses their memories, and were forced into the killing game. Only a few of them survive the game. And what happens when those sixteen students, their memories of each other intact, watch the Danganronpa series? What happens if they see their future selves killing each other? Watch, as Class 78th watches their future.

107. Break Chapter 5

Hello readers and welcome to my new chapter. So, I took to rereading some of the past reviews of different chapters I've written over the years. Because of this, I just want to give my thanks out yet again; not just for all the positive reviews, but also for the patience you guys had for this fic to be done. I know there are a lot of people that would like for fics to be done faster (Not just for this one, but for fanfics in general), so knowing many of you are willing to wait for as long as needed for chapters to be finished is… uplifting, to say the least.

Really grateful that many of you have been very patient throughout the seven to eight years since this fic has been started. And I hope that each chapter continues to be worth the wait.

Anyways, to the chapter! Here, we'll be continuing forward with Byakuya's demand for answers. Will he be stopped? Or get the answers he wants? I hope you enjoy.

P.S. I'm also grateful to those who have/had become a patron at my Pat page. Every monthly donation is very much appreciated, and I hope the chapters (As well as the previews) are worth the price. On a related note, I managed to fully set up my Ko-fi account (Link to that is at my Twitter/X account). So, if you guys want to buy me a coffee for every chapter I post in the future (Or just for the chapters you really like), rather than be a monthly patron, I'm definitely fine with that.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danganronpa.

Chapter 106: Break Chapter 5 Part 1

The silence in the room was filled with tension, as the class looked between the Ultimate Soldier and the standing Ultimate Affluent Progeny. Some were still stunned, others anxious, as Byakuya's demand for answers brought the suspicion on Mukuro back to the forefront.

As for the girl herself, her head was kept turned away from everyone; remaining silent to the Togami heir's demand for answers. If anyone would get a good look at her face, they wouldn't be able to tell what she was thinking. They wouldn't find any indication of her guilt or innocence.

"Hold a minute, Byakuya!" However, before Mukuro could elect to speak, it was Taka who decided to speak in protest. Standing from his seat, he continued. "Didn't we agree to wait until the viewing is ove-"

"I made no such agreement. I merely said that we shall see if the next two chapters will reveal more to us." Byakuya cut off coldly. "And this one certainly reveals enough to warrant continued suspicion on Mukuro Ikusaba. So if she wants to prove her innocence, say anything, now is the time."

More of the students looked ready to protest. Ready to speak in defense of Mukuro, or stop the demand for answers before it could spiral to something bigger. But before any more could say anything else, do anything else…

"It's true."

Mukuro finally took it upon herself to speak.

And those two small words were enough to cause the entire room to go silent. Slowly, all fifteen pairs of eyes were turned towards the Ultimate Soldier; now a self-admitting Ultimate Despair. Looks of pure disbelief, as well as more narrowed eyes with growing wariness, being shared among the 78th class of Hope's Peak.

"S-Sis…?" Junko spoke, the bewildered tone in her voice being genuine.

"What… What are you saying…?!" Hina cried out incredulously, slowly growing pale. "What are you-?!"

"I am working for the mastermind. Been an ally of theirs even before coming to Hope's Peak." Mukuro continued, leaving no room for misunderstanding or denial. She stood up from her seat, facing all her classmates with her usual, stoic gaze. "And as a result, I am an Ultimate Despair."

That wiped any warmth left in the room, left with a chilliness the class was all too familiar with. Those like Hina and Chihiro looked completely devastated, betrayal clearly across their face. Those like Hiro and Hifumi were white as a sheet, looking incredibly fearful. Those like Celeste and Byakuya found their wariness shift nearly to hostility, now alert for any movement from the Ultimate Soldier.

The only one not sharing this feeling of betrayal, fear, or vigilance was Makoto Naegi. Instead, the lucky student retained his look of shock, having not expected Mukuro to reveal herself just like that. And while he's glad that the soldier was confessing herself, he had to wonder where it came from. And was… nervous at how his classmates would respond.

"Mukuro…" It was Sakura who broke the silence this time. While the martial artist did not look full blown aggressive, there still was a clear, intimidating aura as she stood and stared down Mukuro. "Explain yourself, further."

The soldier took a deep breath before speaking. "There's not much to explain. Before coming to Hope's Peak, I align myself with the mastermind. I know of their plans, and their goals; not just for Hope's Peak, but for the world. And I know of the killing game before we ended up here. It is not fully planned as we see it now, but there are budding plans."

"So… all this time… you were planning to have us killed?" Hina choked out in horror, now completely blue. "All the time you spent with us was just… fake?!"

"..." At that, Mukuro went quiet. Not out of unwillingness, but out of uncertainty as to what to say.

"I, I-I don't… I can't believe it…!" Chihiro muttered, in full-blown denial at the moment. Despite his words, the devastated look upon his face showed the programmer's acceptance of this confession. "I can't believe… that you… any of us…!"

"J-Junko…?" Slowly, Sayaka turned towards Junko, her own distress clear in her tone and features. "Did you-?"

"N-No!" The fashionista stuttered out, using her own shock to play a convincing act. "I didn't-! Muku never-! Sis… why?!"

Mukuro resisted any desire to turn towards her twin sister. To respond. She doesn't know what she would say, what she would do, if she directed any attention towards Junko. Doesn't want to find out the hard way.

"That would explain why Junko was not a part of the killing game." Celeste noted, her gaze remaining fierce. "However, the question on my mind right now… is why wait until now to reveal yourself?"

"A good question." Byakuya spoke in agreement; his eyes filled with a similar distrust his counterpart had for Sakura. "You saw, just like the rest of us, what the mastermind did to you. You saw your own death at your ally's hands. Why keep quiet until now? What got you to reveal yourself to us, when you kept it secret before?"

Mukuro met the gazes of distrust with no fear as she explained. "Partly because I knew all of you wouldn't take the news of my alignment positively, regardless of when or how it's revealed." She admitted. "But as for the main reason… it is complicated."

"We have time." The Togami heir shot back.

"It's not something I could so easily explain without revealing more of what I know." Mukuro argued calmly. "To be more blunt, it is linked to the mastermind's identity."

Her last sentence definitely got the group's attention. "So… you know who the bastard is…?" Mondo growled; not at her, but at their unknown, would-be jailer. The biker himself would be held back by his own chivalry from showing any full-blown hostility towards the self-admitting Ultimate Despair. "The one behind the damn bear?"

"Yes." Mukuro answered bluntly. And before anyone could demand a name, she continued quickly. "However… it's best that you all find out for yourself, rather than hear it from me."

"Why not reveal it yourself?!" Leon exclaimed, looking angrily at the soldier. "Or are you still partnered with the bastard?!"

That got Mukuro to clench her fist, stopping any conflict from showing across her face. "...It's not a matter of my alignment with the mastermind." She said, avoiding the second question altogether. "It's as Kyoko said during the first trial for Sayaka; as well as the investigation in Sakura's death. You have to see the mystery be unraveled yourselves. If I tell you now, it'll just sow more confusion and leave everyone dissatisfied."

And she was being completely honest on that front. Even if she wanted to reveal her sister right here and now, the soldier knows that it'll merely cause a lot of chaos; and her class will be left in disbelief, unable or unwilling to accept the truth. They need to figure it out, or see the mystery themselves, in order to become fully convinced.

And if, for one reason or another, the last chapter doesn't reveal Junko… then she'll do so herself and brace herself for such chaos. Possibly to Makoto first, before anyone else.

"And who is your allegiance to now?" This time, it was Kyoko who spoke up. Like Byakuya, Celeste, and Sakura, her gaze and posture was fully alert, staring coldly at the Ultimate Soldier. "Do you plan to stand against the mastermind, now that you saw how expendable you are to them?"

"..." Yet again, Mukuro went silent. The answer should be easy. Now that she revealed herself to her classmates, she should be able to say that she stands with them. At the very least, say that the mastermind's eventual betrayal leaves her little choice in the matter.

However… she couldn't muster the will to say any of these answers. Not now. Not with Junko gaze still aimed at her.

"H-Hey! Did you not h-hear the q-question?" Despite her fear, despite shaking like a leaf, Toko hissed at the soldier. "Hurry up. T-Tell us if you're going to s-stand against them. It's e-easy, isn't it?"

"..."

"...You're not actually still loyal to them, are you?" Sayaka spoke slowly in horror; giving Mukuro an incomprehensible stare. "After what you saw… seeing what they would do to you… why would you still work for that monster?!"

"..."

With every passing moment, the fear, hostility, and sense of betrayal increased among the class. Some looked ready to restrain the Ultimate Soldier, others were ready to speak their own disbelief and horror, and a few looked ready to run or cower.

But, yet again, at the height of this rising tension, of this air of fear and betrayal… Makoto cut through it.

"We still have one chapter left." The Ultimate Lucky Student stated, standing up from his seat. He looked at his classmates with a composure that was surprising even to himself. "If things go as well as we hope it does… then our future selves will have the opportunity to figure out all the mysteries. That includes the mastermind's identity. So let's wait for that… and then ask Mukuro where she stands with us."

Now all eyes were on Makoto, looks of bewilderment, suspicion, and consideration being shared amongst those gazes. Seeing how composed he was led to more than a few of them forming quick conclusions.

"You knew." Byakuya stated, not asked, flatly.

"I did." Makoto, in return, didn't deny it. Merely nodded in confirmation.

"How long?"

"The night before we watched the third chapter."

"And you didn't bother to inform us of this…?" Byakuya questioned, sounding more annoyed than angered or suspicious.

"All I had was a note that said that Mukuro was working with the mastermind. Didn't know for sure if I should believe it or not." Still showing a remarkable amount of calmness, Makoto merely shrugged at that. "And when Mukuro told me herself, I decided to keep quiet. Give her the chance to tell all of you herself."

"Wait… you were given a note that told you that Mukuro was working for the mastermind, and you decided to confront the Ultimate Soldier by yourself?!" Hifumi exclaimed incredulously. It was a disbelief slowly being shared by several of the students. "That's…!"

"Suicidal!" Hiro finished, sounding both baffled and fearful. "You could've gotten gutted, man!"

"Not likely. Remember, Spirit is here, so he would've stopped that from happening." Makoto pointed out, reclining his head towards their host. "Besides… despite the note, I still wanted to trust Mukuro. You can call me naive, or arrogant, or whatever, but that's how I felt at the time."

It wasn't an intentional dig at the future Kyoko's words about him being arrogant; still, the present detective had to stop herself from flinching.

"The note, you mention… who gave it to you?" Celeste questioned that little piece of information gaining her attention.

Once again, Makoto shrugged. "No idea. It was anonymous. Slid into my door that night with no clue as to who wrote it or gave it to me."

Of course, that earned a lot of suspicion from several of the more intelligent students. Of course, it was not aimed at the lucky student himself; but at who gave him that note. Cause the only ones who were in this… area? Dimension?... were just this class, plus their very host. As far as they knew, at least.

"I'm not telling you guys to trust Mukuro. Or to let any of this go." The luckster continued on. "Just that we have one more chapter left to get more information. Mukuro already revealed the truth about herself to us. Let's give her the chance to figure out who she'll stand with."

"...You still trust her, Makoto?" Hina asked, her voice soft and filled several different conflicting emotions. "After knowing that she works for the mastermind… you still see her as our classmate? Our friend?"

Makoto took a deep breath before saying, "...I do. She could've lied to us. Could've denied it all. Say that she doesn't know, that this was all in the future. But she didn't. She may not have told us everything, but she's being honest now. That's enough for me to give her another chance."

None of them knew what to say to that. Many of them were still reeling, still processing the sudden confession from Mukuro. But seeing their class representative, their lucky student, vouch for the soldier kept anyone from saying or doing anything rash.

And through this silence, some of the more observant took note of Makoto's posture and tone. It… lacked the awkward, yet optimistic aura that they came to know the luckster for. As if he was zapped of any sort of his usual energy.

"I'm willing to let this go for the time being. However, there is one question I would like to ask before I do." Sakura spoke up. Her focus was then put back on Mukuro. "What is the mastermind's ultimate goal? What are they attempting to achieve?"

"...It's as they stated several times before. They want to bring despair to the entire world." The soldier took a deep breath before explaining further. "If you're asking if there's a motive beyond that, then no. It isn't about gaining power, or control, or wealth. Not about any sort of revenge, or leading a revolution. The mastermind isn't looking to gain anything substantial, or reasonable."

"They, in simpler terms, just want chaos. And want the whole world to feel that very same chaos. To prove that despair triumphs over hope."

And once again, silence reigned over the room, as the class slowly digested what she said in horror. As Mukuro said, they all heard Monokuma say similar stuff in the previous viewings. But to have it confirm that, yes, it was indeed more than just mad or aggravating rambling… it was almost too much to take in.

"...Why would you work for someone like that?" It was Sayaka who asked that question, the idol looking at the soldier with an indiscernible expression. "You already knew that this mastermind is a monster… you know they want nothing but destruction… so why?"

"...Cause I owe them a debt." Mukuro stated; giving the same answer she gave to Makoto. "One I felt I could never repay."

It seemed as though silence would continue to reign dominant, with the tense and cold air remaining with it. Some of the students still looked disbelieving or devastated; others wary or in musing. Regardless, there were little to no positive feelings aimed towards the Ultimate Soldier of their class.

As well as growing suspicion a few were feeling towards another member of their class…

"I'm gonna head to my room." For the first time since this viewing started, Makoto was the first to start leaving the room. "We still have one chapter left. Hopefully… that'll give us the answers we need to defeat the mastermind."

"Makoto-!"

"Wait, Makoto-!"

But the luckster paid no mind to his friends' calling out to him. He needed to think. Needed to process… everything that had happened in this chapter. Needed to put a bit of distance from his classmates for a bit.

Needed to step away from the detective he'd grown close with for a little while.

The class watched with varying emotions as their lucky student headed up to the second floor of their rooms. Worry and guilt were the most prevalent of eyes, all of them having guesses on what was going through Makoto's head right now.

"...One more thing I want to say." Mukuro spoke up, gaining the attention back on her.. "I admit, in regards to the mastermind, I'm still unsure on what to do. Uncertain if I should fully stand against them. And because of this, I'm uncertain if I have any right to say this."

"But one thing is clear to me. Makoto Naegi is someone I want to protect. And from this point on, I plan to do so."

Her words caused several eyes to widen in surprise at that. But Mukuro wasn't done. "For me, none of the time with you all was fake. Despite my allegiance, I saw all of you as classmates… as friends." She stated strongly. "But Makoto was the first to open my heart. Showed me a light I've not seen before. And that light is something I'm willing to protect. Whether it be from hostile strangers, the mastermind themselves… or anyone within this class."

Her not-so-subtle threat brought chills down the spin of several in said class. But none was able to say anything, as the Ultimate Soldier swiftly left the room and headed upstairs.

'...So you really loved Makoto, huh Mukuro?' Sayaka thought softly to herself. As a contender for Makoto's heart, she obviously knew of her rivals in the class. Mukuro, despite her stoicism most of the time, is someone she clearly saw as someone who gained a hard crush on their luckster. And her words moments ago erased all doubt of the soldier's sincere, and not-so-hidden affection. Still…

'If so… If Makoto means that much to you… if you consider us all friends…' Why continue to align herself with the madman that would wish for their death? Who would, in the future, kill the soldier herself?

"...Let us disperse. Give ourselves time to think, and rest, once again." Sakura advised the remainder of the class. "When tomorrow comes, we will finish this viewing, and find out all that we need to know. Once it is finished… that's when we will decide on what to do."

None of the students disagreed with the martial artist. Slowly, they all began leaving the living room, either heading upstairs or in the recreational room. Some continued to worry for Makoto; others had guilt alongside that worry. Some were focused on Mukuro's confession and what that entails…

And a few were beginning to connect dots as to the identity of the mastermind.

(WIth Makoto)

It took some time for the lucky student to process everything he watched.

Though honestly, he wasn't sure why it was difficult to think. Much of what he saw and heard at the end was things he either already knew about, or have some knowledge on. The only thing that was difficult was… Kyoko's actions.

"I wouldn't let you get framed for something you didn't do, Makoto. No matter the situation."

Again, those words came to haunt him. Taunt him. Like some sort of ghost mocking his own belief in his classmates.

Again, the luckster was not blind to the fact that in the end, Kyoko went down to the garbage chute to save him. He also wasn't deaf to her confession and apology to his future self. And he was grateful, very much grateful, that the detective made the decision to rescue him.

However… that didn't change that she abandoned him in the first place, as she had admitted herself. That she outright implicated him as the killer when she had to prove her own innocence. That if it wasn't for Alter Ego, and his intervention of the execution, that there wouldn't have been any opportunity for Kyoko to save him. She would've just stood by and watched him get crushed.

And that hurt. Hurt very much. No matter how many times he tried to remind himself that this was the future, that their future selves were amnesiac and didn't know each other as well as they do now, that her own life was in danger… it didn't lessen the twist in his stomach. It was to the point he had to curl up in his own bed to try and ease that pain.

And it wasn't just Kyoko either. Hina, Toko, Hiro, Byakuya… none of them hesitated to vote for him as the blackened. He got that there were very few options; that defying the mastermind would've meant death. And if it wasn't him they voted for, they would've voted for Kyoko. Still… couldn't there have been anything that they have done? Something to stand alongside him?

When the chips are all down, when all his friends simply just abandon him? Abandon each other at the face of death? At the chance to escape? To keep their secrets? For revenge?

'No!' He shouted in his head, holding said head tightly in anguish. 'You shouldn't think like that! This is all because of the mastermind! You know this! They are the ones manipulating us to kill and turn against each other!'

They wiped their memories in the first place just so there's a greater chance of the class turning against each other. If they have their full memories of their time during Hope's Peak, of the things that possibly happened to the world, of each other, there wouldn't have been any chance that they would kill each other. It's only thanks to the memory wipes, along with the mastermind constantly pushing them into corners, that things happened the way they did.

And when they finally did unite together, when Kyoko herself was cornering the mastermind, the bastard took to cheating. That was the result of him almost getting executed. At the end, the fault lay at the hand of the one controlling the sadistic little machine.

'You know this! You know that the one we should be focusing on is the mastermind…!' Makoto continued to tell himself, tearing up. 'So why… why can't I just let this go?'

"Makoto…"

The luckster twirled his head in surprise towards the door, to see Mukuro standing in front of it. The soldier looked uncertain, a rarity in Makoto's experience with the girl, but didn't look ready to leave or anything like that.

"...I forgot to lock my door, didn't I?" Makoto deduced rather blankly, already putting the pieces together.

Mukuro nodded. "You should really learn to be more careful, Makoto." She chided softly. "Still… I'm glad the door was unlocked this time. It gives us the opportunity to speak."

In response, Makoto looked away morosely. "I just need some time, Mukuro." He reassured her. "A lot of what we saw… it's hard to process it all. I just need to think, that's all."

Mukuro could see that it wasn't the whole truth. While she's far from the greatest from understanding human emotions, Makoto is still someone who wears his heart to his sleeves, so even she can see the anguish her light is attempting to hide. And it was anguish she desperately wanted to get rid of.

But she wasn't sure what to say to get rid of it. Wasn't sure if she was the right one to do it. So she didn't press.

"Of course…" Instead, she simply nodded to his request. "But before that… there's something I want to say. Something that I've already told the class, at least in part."

When the luckster looked at her curiously, Mukuro took a few more steps inside, closing the door behind her. Straightening herself up, she continued. "I'm uncertain as to what I'll do once the mastermind is revealed." She admitted once again. "While I can no longer bring myself to stand with them in their plan for worldly despair, I don't know if I could bring myself to fully fight against them. You're right in that… that it's more than just a debt."

Her words didn't surprise Makoto, not after Mukuro's confession in their break after chapter three. If anything, he felt some relief, along with a bit of happiness, that the Ultimate Soldier was working her way to breaking away from the mastermind's hold on her.

What did surprise him was her next words.

"However… no matter where I stand with the mastermind, I will support and protect you."

Mukuro paid no mind to the luckster's widening eyes, and continued. "Out of all my classmates, it's you I consider the closest with. You were the first to open up my little world, to present to me something different from the mastermind's world of despair." Despite her monotone voice, there was a strength to words that was also reflected in her eyes. "To give me a light, show me hope, even when you didn't mean to do so. And even now, when you know that I'm an Ultimate Soldier, you continue to show me kindness. You stood beside me when you had every reason not to."

"So that's why… from this point, my loyalty will be with you. So long as you're within my sight, I won't let anyone else lay a finger on you, Makoto."

To say Makoto was stunned was an understatement. He definitely wasn't expecting a declaration of protection from the Ultimate Soldier. He wanted her to stand beside him and his class, definitely; but to say that she planned to specifically protect him? That caught him out of left field.

Yet… it filled him with a warmness that countered the darkening feeling in his heart. He was touched, deeply touched, that Mukuro would go out of her way to make this declaration. And while he hoped there won't ever be moments where she would have to protect him, it was proof that whatever bond they shared was undoubtedly real.

Some may call him naive for easily believing Mukuro's words, the words of someone who was an ally of a despair-hungry maniac. But for whatever wariness he may have had, he just couldn't see nor hear any lies from the soldier. Just a sincere, earnest desire to protect and stand beside him.

"Thank you, Mukuro…" And with such an honest, heartfelt declaration, all the hopeful boy could do was smile at her with as much sincerity as he could possibly muster.

Said smile caused blood to rush the girl's cheeks, warmth filling her from the emotions behind that smile. Still, she did her best not to lose her composure. After all, it would be embarrassing to flounder after making such a serious affirmation.

And so, she turned herself around, intending to leave and give Makoto some time to herself. But just as she was opening the door, Makoto spoke.

"You know, I don't know if I could ever forgive the mastermind. None of what we saw has happened yet, but knowing that they planned for it to happen…" He trailed off softly. "However… if we are given the chance… maybe we can show them hope."

His words caused Mukuro to stiffen up in pure disbelief. Was he actually serious? After all they saw, what she had told him about Junko, would he really…?

"You said before… that they want to prove that despair is greater than hope, right?" Makoto continued further, his voice still soft. "So maybe… instead of just stopping them, we can show the mastermind something greater than despair. Give them a hope that they cannot possibly deny. I think, in that way… that would be the best way to defeat the mastermind. This Ultimate Despair."

For a moment, Mukuro just stood there, unable to move or say anything. Then, rather robotically, she stepped out of the room and closed the door. She then began heading into her own room, giving herself a moment to rest before heading downstairs to eat.

Give herself time to stop this pounding heart of hers, and wipe away whatever face she may be making.

'Makoto…' She knew, right then and there, that she made the right decision. Despite everything he saw, despite the anger and hatred he had shown for the mastermind, and in the midst of his own anguish… he had the idea to show her sister hope. To him, the mastermind was nothing but a stranger, yet he desires to beat them through sheer kindness.

The pragmatic soldier in her saw this as something foolish, she will admit, offering mercy to an enemy who likely will never take it. But the girl who loved her sister, even with all that she has seen? The girl who found herself developing friendships with her classmates? As someone who had developed ever-so rising feelings for the luckster she pledged herself to?

She couldn't help but find hope in his words.

She then started wondering; if Junko considered herself the Ultimate Despair…

Then could Makoto, in return, be considered the Ultimate Hope?

And that's the end. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. The confession part of this chapter became much longer than I had expected. Then again, in hindsight, such a big reveal to the entire class would warrant a long discussion. Again, hope you guys enjoyed all the tension. And apologies for those looking forward to the confrontation on Kyoko's abandonment of Makoto. But with how the fifth chapter of Danganronpa ended, Mukuro's allegiance would end up at the forefront.

Will there be students that confront the detective on what her future self did in the next chapter? Will Kyoko find time to talk with Makoto about it? Will Junko find time to cause more shenanigans, or will Mukuro's sudden confession leave her too bewildered to do anything? We shall see, won't we? Review, favorite, and follow and I will see you later.