Chapter Text
October 12th 20XX
A storm brewed inside Hope’s Peak Academy, slowly but surely enveloping all within the academy’s walls…
No, that wasn’t quite correct. You can’t stop a natural disaster, after all. Hmm… a bomb might be the better analogy? Yeah, let’s go with that. A time-bomb placed in plain sight for all to see, steadily counting down to the end.
What could be done about it? A number of things, but that depends on the sort of person you are.
I grouped people in two categories. Those with sight and the blind.
Not literally blind, but in the sense that seeing isn't the same as acceptance. Like the old men trying to obscure the bomb under a shroud of rumors. Others wished to ignore it outright and continue their daily lives. The slight differences aside, these fell into the blind group. That isn't to say ignorance was a crime. You wouldn’t serve jail time for it and there are some truths that are better left in the dark. Like, say you’re on a crash course for a disaster with no hope for escape. Wouldn’t everyone prefer peace of mind over worrying about what you couldn’t stop anyway?
What I’m saying...is that I won’t judge. I do admit to thinking differently though, because Ignorance was scary! Following the earlier example; even if survival was 0%, you could still do a whole lot with that info outside of surviving. As for what? That also depends on who you’re asking.
Oh, what would I do in that situation? I’d like to keep that to myself or else you might get the wrong idea about me.
What I can say is that I belong to the first category; those with sight…and well, if you acknowledged a bomb before your eyes, there’s typically three things to do:
Run.
Diffuse it.
Or…
Time's up. I'll save the last option for later.
Now to introduce who you could call one of the major contestants of this game, in a manner of speaking. That forgetful girl running for dear life.
---
*pants* *pants*
“Finally got away…” An exhausted, auburn-haired girl leaned back against the wall, scanning the halls and fortunately catching no sign of her pursuer...in addition to ignoring the very odd stares the students who passed by gave her.
Bunch of snobs!
Today started off just fine before he showed up! That might not have meant much from someone with chronic amnesia, but common sense suggested that giant scary men shouldn’t be chasing her! “Too scary, too persistent! what’s that freakshow want from me?”
No no no no, it wouldn’t matter even then. Even if he had business with her, Ryoko didn’t want anything to do with him. She had enough problems with this “Junko Enoshima” broad who was totally on hercase.
Ryoko didn't know when, but Enoshima had sent her a letter, with claims of having reaped all of Ryoko's memories and was holding them hostage. Enoshima then orchestrated a meeting. It turned out to be a very one-sided conversation where the demented woman spouted nonsense about killing.
Beyond that, the amnesiac didn’t know a thing about Enoshima…besides the fact that the illusive woman was off her rocker...but the part about her memories couldn't be ignored. She needed to talk to Matsuda-kun (whoever he was. She’d remember after meeting him!) and figure out a plan of action
But that was increasingly difficult to do thanks to her chaser. Whatever his deal was, it had nothing to do with Ryoko Otonashi. That was her name, and the one of the two things she remembered. The other being Matsuda! Who needed finding, asap.
With that narrow-minded objective in mind, Ryoko bolted down the hallway, lead by the notebook containing her thoughts.
“Matsuda-kuuuun!” Ryoko stormed into what was assuredly the correct room, her attention drawn to its sole occupant prior to her arrival. He’d jumped a bit into the air, eyes widened in surprise. He panicked as the laptop in his possession nearly fell out of his grip.
Not very coordinated overall.
Hmm, she wasn’t getting a fuzzy feeling. He was short, taking his appearance into account. The image of Matsuda in her head wasn’t so…mousey. “Hey, are you really Matsuda-kun?” She asked.
“Mhm” He replied
“Speak up. Which ‘mhm’ is that?”
“Erm…I’m not him?” He said in this half high pitched half husky voice. “Matsuda-senpai is out right now…I think.”
He’s not here!? Where else could she look!? “He has to be here! You’re not looking hard enough.” She whined gripping the boy by his shoulders.
“Uh, I don’t think searching around here will change anything. It’s not like there’s anywhere to hide…except the closet." He pointed to the closed cabinet. "…Matsuda-senpai doesn’t strike me as the hide and seek type.” He sounded familiar with the place…and he was technically right. “You don’t have to get so down about it. I’m sure he’ll show up in no time.”
He was awfully considerate, with that worried expression of his. “Suspiciously so.” She unintentionally blurted out, letting go of him.
“Suspicious?” He blinked
Might as well roll with it. “Yeah, it’s weird. You’re weird. Why care so much about someone you don’t know…unless.” He was interested in her for other reasons reason. “S-Stay back, pervert!” Ryoko distanced herself from the impure fiend.
“H-huh? You’ve got that wrong. I was just worried.” The boy raised his hands defensively, the chain of events occurring too fast.
Ryoko squinted her eyes. “No ulterior motives?”
He shook his head. “But um…could I ask you something?”
“Spit it out.” Ryoko said harshly. She wasn’t in a hurry since there was nowhere else to look and this was the only place she knew Matsuda would come to. Pressuring this guy was oddly fun. That’s the feeling she got from him.
“Did you, perhaps, forget me?”
....
“Am I supposed to know you?”
“I…think so." What an indecisive person. "There’s a rumor about a student who…has amnesia.”
“That’s me! I’m Ryoko Otonashi.”
“Oh, then, I’m Makoto Naegi. Did that jog your memory a little?” The boy said.
Ryoko skimmed through her notebook in search of his name…and she found it, in bold letters and underneath was a warning: “Danger. Omnivore man. Stay away.”
That meant…he was dangerous after all.
She closed the notebook, gazing at him with immense suspicion. “Okay, Naegi, if that is your real name!”
“It is.” He said with surety.
“Don’t interrupt me!” Ryoko yelled at him. “What are you doing here?”
“I…came to return this to Matsuda-senpai. He dropped it in the halls.” Naegi showed her a black e-handbook.
“What is it?”
“You…don’t have one? It’s the school handbook, our identification’s on here.” He was right. The screen showed Matsuda’s name and talent in full.
That was weirdly nice of him… “Show me your handbook.”
“Eh?” He was reluctant. Suspiciooooous.
“O-Okay, n-no need to glare at me.” He handed her one from his pocket.
Makoto Naegi, Ultimate Lucky Student – is what the book had written down.
“…You’re a luck magnet? What the heck?” Was that a talent?
“T-That’s the usual reaction. I…won a lottery ticket to get in the main course.” His speech pattern was way too timid. He’s a total herbivore!
She read more of the contents in the handbook. Nothing stuck out above the mundane. It was kind of a letdown.
“Your talent’s kind of a rip-off, but you sound like a nice guy, Naegi.” Yup her notebook’s way off. Maybe Enoshima tampered with it at some point. It’s not very reliable now.
“Hey.” She heard Naegi’s squeamish voice but didn’t pay it any mind. She had a more pressing dilemma.
“Hey….”
Not now. She was thinking. If she couldn’t trust this notebook then she was in big trouble.
“Hey!”
“What!?” Ryoko snapped…and froze when she was exactly why Naegi had been pestering her. He was presently in a very uncomfortable situation. Someone else had entered the room during her ruminating. Long black hair, corpse-white skin, a snake-like disposition and unbelievably tall.
All of these traits were familiar to Ryoko. She’d just spent 30 minutes running away from him!
“Eeek”
“Do you know this guy?” Naegi shivered in place, rendered immobile by the giant’s (who stood behind him and leered over ominously) hands planted on his shoulders.
“Nope. Not even his name.” Ryoko said.
“Bastard…you’ve forgotten me already.” Their assailant snarled in this oddly dignified way.
“I forgot.” She admitted, sifting through her notebook “Who are you again?”
“…Isshiki Madarai.” He snarled…and wow, he pulled off that fodder goon aesthetic pretty well. The name struck a chord with the small high-school student who lifted his head to get a better look at his attacker.
“Madarai-san? Aren’t you part of the student council?”
‘What? This guy’s a student!?’
The man chuckled in self-derision. “The student council…I wonder myself. After all, I am still alive.”
Ryoko blinked. “What’s with that phrasing?”
“You should know better than anyone else.” He threw her a murderous gaze.
20 unproductive seconds later
“…Was that s’posed to be a cool line? It doesn’t really work when there’s actually a gap in communication. It just kind of leave things awkward until you explain.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“T-The student council…there’s a rumor that all of them were killed over Summer break. T-The culprit hasn’t been found, if the rumor’s true.” Naegi’s face paled in fear of the older man’s applying any more pressure in his vice-like grip.
Well it can’t be a rumor if Snakey’s trying to kill me! “That’s why? I haven’t killed anyone! And if you’re in the student council, shouldn’t you have seen the culprit?”
“I…was not present. My comrades were lured and slaughtered. Perhaps those criminals did not consider me a genuine member…and merely the bodyguard.” He scoffed. “ I, the Ultimate bodyguard…lost my chance to exercise my talent when it mattered most. Can you even understand the humiliation I feel? You’d better be able to relate!”
Naegi yelped at the intense pain from Madarai’s fingers digging into his flesh. They're both pretty sensitive.
“Hm. Yeah, that kind of sucks. But at least you’re alive?” She said, half-heartedly.
“Yes…and I will use this immortal life of mine to repay this humiliation 100-fold. But first, I must find them.”
Ryoko singled out a word that stuck out. “Immortal?”
Madarai’s eyes narrowed. “Have you forgotten what you did to me earlier?”
That went without saying at this point. Not quick on the uptake, this guy.
“You dumped a shelve on me in the shed out back. Then escaped.” He said.
Ryoko’s eyebrows raised. “H-How are you fine after that?”
“As I said, I’m immortal.”
“Can I interrupt?” The hostage said boldly. “What’s this about revenge?”
“We were attacked, I shall retaliate in kind. What else would act as my motive?” Madarai explained in a voice that made it seem like he was speaking to a dullard. Ryoko shared the sentiment, it was a stupid question, even if it had nothing to do with her.
“…The student council is gone. There’s nothing productive about revenge. Instead, you should be trying to rebuild the council.” Naegi said.
Madarai sighed. “Why are you guys making me repeat myself? I’m a bodyguard, that was the only reason I was chosen to be among the council, and that reason has been smeared by the perpetrator of their deaths.” His grip tightened. “And even if I wasn’t their protector, the council were my comrades and classmates. Why wouldn’t I avenge their suffering?”
“Revenge won’t correct your failure. It’s meaningless.” Naegi said, not backing down from the man who’d scared him to death moments earlier. "And...you could also just call the police. Seriously, does nobody ever think of that option?"
“Materialistically-speaking, you have a point. However, only personal revenge will preserve their dignity; that is the greatest gift the living can offer the dead.”
‘They’re fighting. This is my chance to run.’ Ryoko plotted, already twisting her body to run for the exit.
“Oy, you better not be thinking of escaping again, girl!” Madarai caught her.
Ryoko groaned. “Leave me out of this, I’m just an innocent bystander! The student council, killings, all that junk has nooooothing to do with me!”
“…So it’s come to this.” Madarai said strangely, then looked down at Naegi. “Boy, I don’t think I’ve heard your name.” He said in a friendly tone.
That was a red flag if Ryoko ever saw one.
“Um…I’m Makoto Naegi. A first-year.” Aaaand Naegi tripped it without hesitation.
“Well then, Naegi-kun. For what is about to happen, I am sorry.” Madarai’s snake like arms motioned upwards, shifting from the lucky student’s shoulders to clamping on his head from both sides.
“E-Eh?” Naegi squeaked, his face turning blue.
It was kind of funny, in Ryoko’s opinion. He had so many expressions!
“ Let us just say you have quite bad luck.” Madarai’s threat was obvious. Even a mule would realize that Naegi's head would pop like a balloon if Madarai didn't get what he was after. “Will you talk?” He posed the question to Ryoko.
“It has nothing to do with me.” Ryoko repeated.
“I will absolutely get my revenge, and I will do anything for it. Will you allow me to test my resolve on poor Naegi-kun here?” His voice oozed malice.
“It has nothing to do with me.”
“I-I think he’s serious.” Naegi was utterly terrified….and to be honest, so was she. All the more reason to bail and distance herself from any further involvement
“You…are really going to leave him? When he’s in this mess because of you? How heartless can you be?” Her decision to flee had only hardened Madarai’s negative opinion of her.
“It’s Naegi’s fault for being so unlucky. It has nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me-…” She recited her mantra as if already mentally distancing herself from the chaos before her body had caught up.
Naegi and Madarai stared at her with bizarre expressions. The latter’s face settling into cold indifference first. “I see. Then witness the extent of my resolve.” He clasped at Naegi’s head, making the boy wince and with all his strength he-
“That’s enough!” A figure ran into the room, dashing towards Madarai. Before the bodyguard could respond, the intruder’s fist was already planted into his face. Madarai staggered back, covering his reddened nose with his hands.
Another blow came in the form of a roundhouse kick to the dome, and before you knew it, the pain in her butt was knocked flat out.
Naturally, this meant Naegi was free.
Meh
“Ikusaba-san.” Naegi beamed.
Ikusaba? Who was this? “Oh it’s a girl.” Ryoko noticed by the skirt. Ikusaba’s short hair, super flat chest and muscular arms made it hard to tell otherwise.
Naegi thanked the girl with fervor one would expect to give their savior. Ikusaba on the other hand returned the gesture with an embarrassed smile.
“I’m Mukuro Ikusaba. The Ultimate Soldier.” The freckled girl, who Ryoko had never met before, said.
“Ryoko Otonashi.” She replied. But soldier huh…you’d think Ikusaba would be a lot less…friendly. Stiffer. Well, not that she’d ever a person in the military to be sure. It’s just a feeling she had.
“What were you doing here, Ikusaba-san?” Naegi asked.
“I was passing by and heard all the noise.” Iksuaba gave a straight and direct answer.
How convenient. Was it Naegi’s luck?
…
The three engaged in an awkward and disconcerted conversation about what just happened, before another visitor appeared out of nowhere. This time almost literally. A small baby-faced boy, who looked like he belonged in elementary school was suddenly right next to her as if he’d teleported. Turns out his name was Yuuto Kamishiro, a student with no distinctive traits whatsoever; an attribute he weaponized into a talent.
He was The Ultimate Spy.
Apparently, he knew Ryoko from before, but she forgot about him too. He didn’t take it too harshly and was aware of her condition beforehand. With some protests from Naegi, Ryoko absconded with Kamishiro with the promise of reclaiming her normal life and leaving behind the mess with Madarai, which Naegi and Ikusaba would be left with clean-up duty.
All as well. It seemed Matsuda-kun wasn’t coming here anyway. If this guy was a spy, he might be able to lead her to him.
She stared back at Naegi just before leaving. There was something about that guy that seemed…off. Ryoko was predisposed to dissecting and analyzing her environment. Usually, she reminded herself that most of her surroundings were irrelevant and she should stop attending to them. Could it be that she was inquisitive by nature?
If so, it would explain why she was curious about this boy she’d never met before and most importantly, was not Matsuda-kun. Naegi was eerie. Her preconceptions was of an unreliable, meek boy, however, the look in his eyes had blown them away.
For a moment…a moment not even Madarai had noticed when the two argued…but Naegi had stopped being afraid. Instead he challenged Madarai’s ideals with a mysterious strength, a resolve that didn’t waver even when the bodyguard subconsciously applied more force to crush his shoulders.
Maybe he was kind of suspicious, after all.
-Makoto Naegi-
Naegi and Ikusaba were left to themselves. The latter girl who’d improved in the art of emotional expression staring anxiously in the direction of their new acquaintances.
“You should go after her. I’ll take care of things here.” Makoto said, surprising Ikusaba.
“Why? She looked fine to me.” Ikusaba replied.
“Otonashi-san has amnesia apparently and I’m not too comfortable leaving her with Kamishiro-kun. Um…I guess I’m a little worried.” And she was too.
“What will you do about him?” Ikusaba’s gaze fell on Madarai’s unconscious form.
“I’ll call security and explain. No need to worry about me.” His words that couldn’t be any more inappropriate. A potential victim asking to be left alone with their assailant.
Ikusaba looked like she was having an internal conflict between two equal and opposing decisions. “A-Alright, if you’re sure.” She settled on heeding his advice.
“I am.” He waved and showed Ikusaba a charming smile “Hurry before you lose them.”
Ikusaba (reluctantly) took off, leaving only two in the room.
Makoto’s warm smile thinned, as he placed one hand on his hip.
“Why do I have to be the one to say it if she’s that concerned in the first place?” Makoto chucked affectionately. If Mukuro wanted to protect her sister, she should go for it. He won’t stop her.
He phoned security, telling them about Madarai’s crazed actions. Of course, leaving out details involving Junko- uh Ryoko now, I guess. One would think calling Junko by a different name would take some getting used to, but he was aright with it after a second. It wasn't like he knew the fashionista all that well to begin with.
“What’s she up to anyway? First, she ditches class and now she’s lost her memory? I don’t get her at all.” Makoto mused to himself.
Yet someone answered anyway “Enoshima’s motivations – illogical they are – all begin and end with despair.”
The monotonous voice sent a shiver down Naegi’s back as he turned around in shock. His surprise quickly dying down upon taking in that absurdly long (and never brushed) hair. A tall male standing behind him with a face that looked like it had never worn a smile in his life. “…H-how’d you get in here?”
“What is the meaning of this?” Izuru Kamukura said in a no-nonsense tone. Makoto could tell he wasn’t referring to Isshiki Madarai. He hadn’t spared a glance at the fallen bodyguard’s way.
“That’s his normal reaction, and I usually take the backseat in conversation so…force of habit?”
“Is that so? I presumed you had more self-control.” Izuru said. "How inconvenient."
“Not really, when you’re one of the only two people in the world who knows about me. He’s better at conversation anyway.” Makoto said fondly, as if praising the younger sibling who surpassed him. A gesture bordering on narcissism if taken in a certain context. Makoto had no brothers, he was referring to the other personality he’d cultivated at a young age. One that had taken on an adorable life of its own, separate and unaware of his.
“You know, when you told me Junko had messed with her own memory, I thought you were pulling my leg. Isn’t she planning something with the 77th class? Giving herself amnesia sounds like a huge self-imposed roadblock.” The baffled Luckster held the laptop to his chest.
Izuru stared intensely at the pc.
“Enoshima’s actions often lack sense. If life was a chess-game, she takes needless and disadvantageous risks to keep the game going. For this reason, anticipating her next move with logic is next to impossible. It is both her strength and weakness.”
“No idea how sabotaging yourself could prove to be a strength, but I won't complain.” Makoto shook his head.
“...you are fine with letting her run free?” Izuru changed the subject.
“You mean Ryoko? Mukuro went after her, she’s probably safe.”
“Why are you not seizing this opportunity to capture her?”
Makoto stared at his senior with bewildered eyes. What’d Izuru think he was? “I’m not a kidnapper, and Ryoko hasn’t even done anything wrong, technically speaking.”
“I see. So you do not even perceive her as Enoshima.”
“We talked a bit and she seemed like her own person. A bit goofy but a good person, I say let her have fun.” He nodded, dismissing Ryoko’s predicament like it were no problem of his own.
“A good-natured person that would leave you to your death.” Izuru disagreed.
‘No seriously, when did he get here?’ Makoto thought but chose not to voice. “You saw that huh? Everyone makes mistakes. Self-preservation is hardly a crime.” And with Junko out of the way, he had an easier time bringing the remainder of class 77 to his side.
In turn Izuru chose not to voice Makoto’s hypocrisy.
“That said, if Junko was going to erase her memory in a spur of the moment, I really wish she’d have done it before killing off the student council.” And sending the whole school into a frenzy after uploading a video. Some doubted it was real at first, but well, the council kind of up and vanished when the semester began. Hard to disprove, in his opinion. But the school was damn sure trying their hardest to cover it up...even with all those protests from the reserve course.
What'd they call it again...oh right, the "parades".
He turned to Izuru with a weak glare. “And you shouldn’t have helped her.”
“The student council murdered one another. I killed but a single man, who initiated the confrontation.” Izuru Kamukura made no excuses for himself, and he couldn’t care less for justification. It was merely stating a matter of fact.
“Self-defense huh. Even so, you could at least have disabled him without killing him.” Makoto pouted. “I’m mad.”
Izuru arched an eyebrow.
“I...can try to be mad.” Makoto gave him a toothy smile. “Oh well, it’s all in the past now and you seem to have gotten a cool souvenir from it.” He referred to the very noticeable scratch on Izuru’s cheek. A baiting remark that received no reply. “That was a joke. Please don't hurt me."
“Assuming Enoshima hadn’t interrupted by trying to flee…how would you have responded to Madarai’s resolve?” Izuru replied.
“Oh, you mean that stuff about the student council’s dignity?” Makoto reflected on the humiliated man’s hardened determination to protect the memory of the council and seek retribution against their murderers. Many could call Madarai's fervor to see his friends avenged, an admirable goal…but honestly... “I can’t bring myself to care.”
The dead are dead. No need to tie down the living with their problems.
Satisfied...or unsatisfied (he couldn't tell), Izuru turned around and walked out of the room.
"Wait up!" Makoto tailed him, finding it difficult to keep up with the older boy.
...
Incidentally, that bomb analogy I made earlier? Refers to the student council’s killing game.
There were 3 options to choose from when dealing with a bomb. You can either run away. Try to diffuse the bomb or… make use of it. It’s not uncommon to see explosives used productively, like blowing up old buildings with dynamite for reconstruction.
As an opportunist with an aversion to ignorance, I chose the third option and planned on using this bomb for my purposes. Unpleasant right? In my defense though…
I’m hardly alone in that thought.
-Isshiki Madarai-
Isshiki Madarai recovered 46 seconds into Makoto and Izuru’s conversation but feigned unconsciousness. He’d heard every relevant word before their departure, his assumptions and excessive methods vindicated.
“I must tell…my brothers.” He struggled to stand after the defeat Mukuro Ikusaba handed to him. The information he now possessed was too vital. Ryoko Otonashi and Junko Enoshima were one in the same. Thus, that woman who fought them earlier was a fake. Actually, it was likely Ikusaba herself. The fighting style gave it away, and furthermore, they were sisters.
Izuru Kamukura had killed at least one of their members.
Makoto Naegi was somehow involved.
Such was the information he'd gained. The hit list grew, and he would make sure they would be narrowed to none, when all was said and done. Once he and his brothers recovered, they would avenge the student council, that was their only reason for living. A task not given but set of their own will as the only way to atone.
Or so he thought.
Isshiki Madarai limped out of the room, completely unaware that he acted not his will but the machinations of another. An unwitting pawn in a sense, outwitted into believing nobody in the room had seen through his feint.
-Izuru Kamukura-
The steps of the Ultimate Hope echoed throughout the empty hallway after separating from Makoto Naegi. He had noticed from the very beginning and intentionally directed the discussion with the lucky student, revealing intricate details about the tragedy that befell the council.
Why?
‘Because it would be interesting. Why else do I do anything?’ Izuru, already having mapped out multiple uses for the bodyguard…among other potential pieces. “Time to pay my teacher a visit." Yasuke Matsuda – The Ultimate Neurologist and the man responsible for rewiring Izuru’s brain – was his target. His little experiment was well underway.
...
Hm…there was also that one member of the council that should have survived – Soshun Murasame. He could be useful as well, supposing he still lived. Even Izuru couldn’t tell what fate would befall the sole survivor of the killing game. Despair was simply that unpredictable.
So a game of musical chairs to determine the whose hands the bomb would land, began.