"Ah, Master, you're here," Alter Ego greeted Chihiro as he left the Bio Lab, immediately noticing Chihiro's read face and pointing it out "are you ok? Your face is quite red? A fever?"
"N-No...No fever..." Chihiro felt his forehead "I'm just...a little hot..."
"But...you've just left a cold room..." Alter Ego stated.
"Whatever!" Chihiro brushed it off "in any case, we need to find a place to watch these DVD's. We need to figure out what's going on with them."
"May I suggest the AV room on the first floor?" Alter Ego asked.
"Yeah, I was thinking that too," Chihiro said "but before that...What about this hint that Monokuma gave you?"
Alter Ego actually hesitated for a moment, before he showed Chihiro what it was.
"Are you sure Master?" Alter Ego asked "remember, this hint is making Mondo and Taka look shifty..."
"Yes, but that's why I need to see it..." Chihiro said "I need to know what it is that's got them-"
"You don't understand what I mean," Alter Ego said "I didn't mean from how they were acting...Looking at this...I know you don't want to doubt your friends...but this paints them in a completely different light than what you thought..."
"Huh?" Chihiro asked "what do you mean...?"
Alter Ego refused to reply, but the Monokuma he was inside had an expression that simply said "it's your choice..." and they outstretched a paw. In the paw was what appeared to be a photograph. It was overturned, so Chihiro picked it up...and flipped it over...
And he let out a small gasp.
In it were faces that he recognized all too well. The faces of the people that he had come to school with...
Mondo...
Taka...
Mukuro...
Kyoko...
Leon...
Sayaka...
Toko...
Hina...
Hifumi...
Sakura...
Hiro...
Taeko...
...Makoto...
And Byakuya...
Not only that, there was an additional 15th student in the picture, however, due to the positioning of Taka's arm, it was hard to make out her face. All Chihiro could see was that she had blonde hair.
That must be the 16th student... Chihiro thought but...why!? This doesn't make sense, why is the 16th student there...no...in fact, why is EVERYBODY here...!?
The very fact that all of these classmates, dead or alive, were in the very same picture, made no sense. Not only that, but all of them were wearing some kind of uniform, one that Chihiro had never seen before.
Upon a closer look however, Chihiro suddenly noticed...he was wrong...not everyone was in the picture...There was one person missing...
Himself...
Everyone in the 78th class, excluding Chihiro, were in the picture. It shouldn't have been that big a surprise that Chihiro wasn't in the picture, after all, he had no memory of taking it. On top of that, the photo couldn't have been taken prior to the killing game starting up. The first time that he'd ever met any of his classmates was in the entrance hall on the day the killing game started, in fact, with the exception of Sayaka and Makoto who knew each other from middle school, it was the same case as everybody else.
What didn't make sense was not the fact that Chihiro wasn't in the photo...What didn't make sense was the fact that everybody else was...Chihiro thought, as mentioned already, they'd all met for the first time here, but the fact that this picture exists...proves otherwise...
But did that mean...
They all...lied...?
""Hint" my ass!" Chihiro pocketed the photo "I understand less now that I did before! There's no way this picture could be real!"
"I was able to scan it," Alter Ego said "when I received it, I scanned it for the validity...The photo has not shown any signs of being edited in any way. Besides, doesn't it look too real to be a fake?"
Chihiro didn't want to admit it, but Alter Ego was right. The photo was far too realistic to be a fake. But...How could it be possible...that all of the classmates that Chihiro had grown to know up until this point...were conspiring against him?
Chihiro shook it off. He didn't know why he was even believing it. Like Kyoko said, any hint that Monokuma had handed to Chihiro would be nothing more than attempt to throw them off track...For what it was worth, he had to ignore it.
🔫Chihiro's Photograph added to the Truth Bullets🔫
"Anyway," Chihiro said "let's get down to the first floor, why don't we?"
Alter Ego and Chihiro arrived at the AV room, hoping to be able to watch the DVD's there. Alter Ego took the liberty of powering up the device, and Chihiro placed the CD's down next to them, and slotted one of the DVD's he'd received into the drive. The DVD itself had "Interview 11" on it. Chihiro picked that first because 11 was his lucky number.
"Alright...let's give it a shot..." Chihiro said quietly to himself.
The room was silent, as the video started playing. The screen however remained black...It may have only been a few seconds, but Chihiro stared at the dark screen for what felt like a very long, uncomfortable time. Suddenly, and without warning, the video began...
When Chihiro saw what showed up, he felt his body stiffen and sweat come down his face. The video showed the place that Chihiro didn't recognized, but that was only because he had never been to the room prior, which was the Headmaster's Office. He also didn't recognize the Headmaster, who was in the video, albeit only from the back of his head, but he was able to put two and two together upon seeing him...However, neither of these were relevant. His attention was focused on the other person in the video. It was a boy of about High School age, with spiky, desaturated brown hair, and washed-out hazel eyes. He wore a zipped-up dull green hoodie with a red stripe along the zipper, and an open black jacket with gold buttons over the hoodie. There was no mistaking it...
"Makoto!?" Chihiro instinctively gasped.
Indeed it was the now deceased Ultimate Lucky Student. Chihiro felt as if he'd been struck in the back of the head. Logically, it had been a matter of days since he'd watched Makoto get executed, but it had felt like an age since he'd seen his face. The face that Makoto bore however, was one of the utmost seriousness.
[Let us begin the interview...] noise started coming through the speakers, the audio being the voice of the Headmaster, [you'll have to forgive me. I'm recording this interview. I'm not very good at multitasking, so I can't easily conduct an interview and make notes at the same time...Haha...]
Jin's awkward laughter was a sign that he was making a lighthearted joke, but Makoto's expression didn't budge an inch.
[In a way...the recording itself is almost a substitute for a written contract,] Jin continued [it isn't because we don't trust you. It is merely here as a precaution. Please, don't let it bother you.]
Makoto nodded to signify he understood. Jin reached down and lifted some papers that were on his desk.
[Well then...I'll get straight to the point...] he sighed [you could very well end up having to spend the rest of your life in this academy. Makoto Naegi...Do I have your permission?]
[My...permission?] Makoto parroted, looking unsure of himself. Why wouldn't he be? There's no way someone could easily accept to living their whole life in this hellhole academy. That's what Chihiro was thinking at least, but then Makoto responded... [Yes...You have my permission to take me into your care...]
"What!?" Chihiro coughed in surprise.
[Thank you...And...I'm sorry...] Jin bowed his head in shame [I promise to do everything within my power to make sure you remain safe. I'll put my life, my name and my title as Headmaster on that...]
The video cut there. Chihiro was so shocked that he had instinctively gotten to his feet while watching. While he could absolutely say the same thing about everything else that had happened in the Killing Game thus far, this video, more than anything...
"It makes no sense!"
Chihiro pounded the desk as he said this. He had spent so long with Makoto, teaming up with him and Kyoko with the sole purpose of getting everybody out of the school alive, something that Makoto wanted more than anyone else, that he was willing to give himself up at the trial to ensure everyone else's survival.
He wanted out of here so badly...! Why would he agree to stay here for his whole life!?
"No! No, this can't be right!"
Chihiro scrambled to take out the CD and randomly picked up another one to put in, hoping the other CD's would provide him with answers. He didn't really pay much mind to which one he picked up, but it had "Interview 3" scribbled on it in marker.
But while Chihiro was seeking answers...all the CD and the next video did was throw him into an even deeper confusion...
The next interview video was a recording taken from the same angle, with Jin still sitting at his desk and facing the student he was interviewing. Instead of Makoto though, someone that Chihiro recognized even more appeared. They had a small, lithe stature and doll-like appearance with short, light brown layered hair and hazel-colored eyes. They wore a girls' winter school uniform set, featuring a long-sleeved dark green jacket, a white shirt with a large Peter Pan collar secured with a thin dark ribbon, and suspenders...
It was Chihiro himself...He was, beyond a doubt, looking at himself.
[Before we begin Chihiro, I need to let you know that I am recording the contents of this interview...I'm sure I don't need to tell you why, but just in case-]
[I-It's ok...Mr Kirigiri...] Chihiro in the video stammered [I understand...]
It was even the same voice, undoubtedly. It would be physically impossible to recreate Chihiro's voice unless the programmer had his level of skill. Chihiro himself was sitting face-to-face and conversing with the Headmaster, but Chihiro, the present Chihiro watching this video, had no memory of said meeting ever happening. It wasn't just the interview; Chihiro had no memory of ever even meeting the Headmaster before this point.
And yet...
[Well, I'll get straight to the point...] Jin said almost the same thing he'd said to Makoto in the previous interview [there is a chance that you will be required to spend the rest of your life here inside of this academy. Do you consent to these terms?]
"NO!"
[Yes...]
Chihiro's heart stopped for a split second. He could not believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.
[I'm sorry to have to do this to you...I know you really wish to see your family again...] Jin said.
[It's ok sir...] Chihiro responded [I understand we have little choice...]
[As long as you're staying here, I'll do what I can to ensure you and your classmates are kept safe,] Jin told him [I give you my word...]
The video cut out and ended. Chihiro's body was now stiff and frozen in place, his eyes dilating and sweat running down his head. He could not bring himself to believe what he was seeing, and from the clunking noises behind him of Alter Ego shivering, neither could his AI counterpart. Chihiro one by one forced himself to watch each of the videos in a random order. And it wasn't just him and the deceased students, like Makoto or Leon either. Mondo, Taka and even Kyoko all showed up in their own videos, and everyone who talked with the Headmaster all responded to his question the exact same way...
When asked if they would be willing to spend their whole lives in the school...Every last one of them said yes...
Chihiro now only had two CD's remaining. "Interview 2" and "Interview 6." At this point, he'd been able to calm down and process the videos, yet was still unable to make any sense of them. Chihiro picked up Interview 2 and loaded it into the dock. When the screen finally loaded, just like it had all the others, Chihiro jumped when we saw who it was. The girl had a tall hourglass figure, light blue eyes, and long, thick, bleached strawberry-blonde hair tied in two twin pigtails. It took Chihiro a second to process it, but she quickly realized that the person in the video that was being shown now was Mukuro back when she was still disguised as Junko.
However, right as the Headmaster began to talk to her...The video suddenly cut out, and the Monitor and sound snapped off...!
"Wh-What the-!?" Chihiro fiddled with the buttons "why did-!?" Chihiro almost instantly got his answer, as Monokuma (the real one, not Alter Ego) suddenly popped up like a whack-a-mole from behind the machine.
"My apologies ladies and gents, we appear to be experiencing technical difficulties!" he smirked.
"Why now of all times!?" Alter Ego exclaimed.
"Do you even understand how technical difficulties work? So much for being an AI..." Monokuma grumbled "they don't occur at certain points, they're completely random!"
"Yeah, when it's not SABOTAGE!" Chihiro got to his feet, absolutely fuming "you cut the feed, didn't you!"
"Chihiro, Chihiro, I'm afraid you don't understand...this is a TECHNICAL! DIFFICULTY!" Monokuma got dangerously close to Chihiro's face when he said this, and then all of a sudden, vanished.
"GOD DAMN IT!" Chihiro kicked the seat in rage "though...I guess it wouldn't matter...it might have just been more of the same...Though since it was Mukuro...maybe she would have said something incriminating, which is why Monokuma cut the feed..."
"You don't remember ever taking that interview, do you Master?" Alter Ego asked "I've been wondering...what Kyoko said that night in the changing room where you hid me all this time...do you think it means something?"
Chihiro needed a moment to remember what Alter Ego was talking about, and as soon as he did, it hit him like a gong...
"You're not listening...I didn't say that I won't. I said that I can't," she said "I can't tell you. And I can't tell Chihiro either. I can't tell you my identity, or my talent, or my background...Because...
"Because what?" Chihiro asked. However, the words that followed went against every expectation that both the programmer and the luckster had set.
"Because I don't know what it is either...Even I don't know what my true identity is..."
Kyoko had told him at this point that the Mastermind had wiped her memory, and the parts that were missing were conveniently the ones that could potentially defeat the Puppetmaster, like her talent as the Ultimate Detective...Chihiro instinctively put her head back towards the monitor and a single thought went through his head...
Did I...forget too...?
🔫78th Class Emergency DVD's updated in the Truth Bullets🔫
Before he could sit and ponder upon it any longer, all of a sudden, the school bell sounded out, and the monitor on the wall of the room flickered on in an all too familiar fashion.
"For every beginning, their must come an end," Monokuma monologued "and with every end comes a new beginning. The night is so long that it never finds the day...but the morning is pitch black! Rainy days never stay...but I hope you like droughts! Yes, with every end comes a new beginning, and for that reason, we shall meet again. After all, for what is an end, but another beginning? So...LET'S BEGIN!"
Monokuma disappeared from the screen, ready to begin the class trial, and presumably waiting for the group at the usual spot. Ready...for the final class trial...
"I'm unfamiliar with the proceedings..." Alter Ego said "but I assume we're supposed to go to the big red door now?"
"That's right," Chihiro nodded "it's starting now...the be-all-end-all class trial...Our lives really, truly are on the line right now. It's do or die..."
"All we can do is our best..." Alter Ego reached out a paw, and Chihiro took it, walking with his AI hand in hand towards the trial grounds.
Chihiro and Alter Ego were the first two to arrive at the trial grounds elevator and walk through the red door, but it didn't stay that way for long. After a few minutes, the doors opened, and two feminine figures walked in: Kyoko and Mukuro.
"You got here quick Chihiro," Mukuro observed "and I see you brought Alter Ego with you..."
"You look like you're ready to go..." Kyoko pointed out.
"I'm ready to at least do what I can..." Chihiro told her, still a bit embarrassed from earlier, "where's Mondo and Taka?"
"They'll be here shortly, I'm sure," she said "but I have a strange feeling that something isn't right..."
Mondo and Taka, true to Kyoko's words, eventually arrived. However, even truer, something was amiss. While the two would usually walk around together like the best of friends or the truest of brothers, something about the way they were walking made them look...distant...It wasn't just towards each other either. They were in total silence and remained distant and doubtful looking towards everyone else in the room.
The silence was not the kind that Chihiro liked...it was the type that was birthed from distrust...The atmosphere in the room was no different than the day that everyone had first arrived at the academy.
"Guys?" Chihiro tried to speak to them "what's going on?"
No response...not from either of them...Chihiro was beginning to get worried, when all of a sudden, Monokuma appeared once again.
"Puhuhu! The cast has assembled! Every last pitiful and downtrodden one of you!" he jeered "so let's get crackin'! The final class trial marinated in the pitch black sauce of unparalleled Despair!"
"Yes, let's," Kyoko glared "only this time we're doing things fairly."
"I keep forgetting that the point of this trial is to find out who killed Byakuya..." Mondo finally spoke up with some unfortunately sour words "I was so focused on figuring out who's behind all this shit...I still think I got my answer though..."
"What a coincidence..." Taka had poison in his speech, unlike any he'd shown so far "I feel the same way..."
"Wait, hold on, what do you mean "this time!?" If there was an award ceremony for the most fair of fair people, I'd take the gold prize!" Monokuma snapped "I always hit above the belt! I'll win this trial fair and square, and I'll finally prove to you and the viewers...
that Despair is stronger than Hope."
"If such an award existed, you'd take silver at best..." Mukuro snarled "enough of your drivel though, for now and forever. Open the elevator..."
"You got it homie!" Monokuma smiled "let's get this show on the road! PUHUHU!"
And he vanished, disappearing and presumably awaiting them at the trial grounds.
"Alright..." Mukuro sighed "let's go..."
Nobody made eye contact and remained in total silence as they disappeared into the elevator. Just as it was all the times before, it began to descend. It started to move...deeper and deeper down...
As they dropped, Chihiro glanced around at his friends. Taka and Mondo were still looking suspiciously at each other, and Mukuro's face bore a similar expression. Kyoko also noticed this and tugged Chihiro's sleeve. Chihiro nodded, and turned to look at Mondo.
"...Is something wrong?" he spoke up? Mondo clearly wasn't expecting anyone to greet him and turned his body and crossed his arms, looking out into the darkness. Taka, on the other side, looked up from awkwardly looking at his feet towards the conversation. Mondo didn't reply, so Chihiro kept talking. "Is something wrong? Mondo, please, answer me. What's got you so panicky? You've been acting like this since you left the gym..."
Mondo still said nothing...but Chihiro wasn't done...Assuming that Mondo got the same photo as him, then he could make an assumption that he suspected that Chihiro might be involved, due to how he was the only one not in the photo. Why was it then that he was shunning Taka, Kyoko and Mukuro too? Chihiro took a step towards the large biker, as soon as he did, Mondo's body twitched, almost as if he was about to reel around and punch him. Chihiro was scared, but trusted Mondo.
"I'm not going to make the same mistake I did last time...I'm not going to unintentionally say something that's going to make you angry," Chihiro told him "you're my friend Mondo...so please...tell me what's wrong?"
"Are we friends...?" he finally spoke up, a low growl in his voice. Chihiro couldn't respond to this question, so Mondo asked on of his own. "Chihiro...do you remember what happened that night? The night before Toko died in the locker room?"
"How could I forget?" Chihiro replied "that experience changed me...it changed us both..."
"Yeah...it made me think about how I'm a fucking animal deep down..." Mondo said "and that I'm dangerous...but even though I almost killed you, you came back for me, regardless of all of that. Why?"
Chihiro was in silence for a moment. Kyoko, Mukuro and Taka were now all watching this conversation with great interest. Chihiro, realizing he had an audience, inhaled a deep breath and replied.
"I really couldn't tell you..." Chihiro said "it was just...nice I guess...Nice to know that there was someone here who had life experiences like mine...Even with the circumstances...I couldn't let you suffer for it...At least, not by yourself..."
"So you came back for me, all because you thought you'd have the hope of making a friend?" Mondo asked "is that it?"
"Of course that's not it..." Chihiro said "I wanted answers for one, but for another...That whole situation was my own fault, not yours. I needed to atone for making assumptions..."
Mondo's head dipped, and Chihiro suddenly quietly gasped as little spots of water fell onto the floor from his face.
"You're really a selfless little bastard, aren't you?" Mondo's voice was breaking "but...listen...I need you to promise me something...Promise me that all that shit you've just said is true..."
"Look me in the eyes..." Chihiro patted Mondo's back, and the biker, tears in his eyes, turned his head, to look directly into Chihiro's determined glare, who simply responded with..."
"It's a promise...between men...!"
"*sniff* God fucking dammit!" Mondo exploded, and immediately yanked Chihiro into a tight hug. While slightly suffocating, Chihiro began to cry too, albiet, happy tears that he'd been able to get through to him "I'm such a fucking idiot! Why did I ever doubt you!? I knew you wouldn't betray me! I owe you my fucking life!"
The hug circle was then expanded as a teary eyed Kiyotaka joined in.
"I-I can't forgive myself!" he cried "how could I ever doubt either of you! You're my friends! My bros! I am a fool!"
"T-Taka-! Hey!" Chihiro giggled. While this was going on, the girls were both observing from a short distance, each with an evident smile, something that was rarely seen on either of their faces. Alter Ego was also hesitant to join in the hug pile, so they stayed back and waited.
"If it's any consolation, I forgive you for doubting me," Chihiro said, once the two of them finally let go "but if you don't mind me asking, why exactly were you doubtful of me? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to?"
"Hm...Oh, well, here's the thing..." Mondo suddenly turned awkward "after I got Monokuma's hint, I was beginning to get the feeling that all of you were conspirin' against me..."
"Huh?" Mukuro's eyes widened "we were conspiring against you? What do you mean?"
The Ultimate Soldier never got her answer to this question however, as the elevator finally screeched to a halt.
"I guess if I'm gonna tell ya, it'd have to be in the trial," Mondo said "come on...let's end this fucking game and get to the bottom of this...
And so it began, the final, penultimate class trial...16 students had entered this academy...now only 6 remained...
And the 6th student was not only the one who killed Byakuya, but also the Mastermind behind everything.
It was time to expose them...It was time to avenge all of the fallen students thus far...It was now Do...or Die...
And so, the final class trial; the final battle between Hope and Despair...
At long last...began...