Chapter Text
A Perspective of Emptiness
Emptiness.
My mind is empty.
My memories are empty.
Everything within me is still empty.
And yet, the things this boy tells me seem interesting.
Yuki Maeda, I barely know him.
Even though this boy is an ordinary person, he evokes a feeling in me that makes me want to be near him.
He told me about the dining halls, the rooms, and what he investigated with the others.
A little bit of everything, so to speak.
Something that perhaps at another time wouldn't matter to me. Everything, except for the detail about the ship's wheel, seemed easy to overlook.
But, even so...
He makes me interested in what he says, even when I don't really care at all.
What is this... what is it supposed to be?
Even when we're on our way to a big reveal in the park, my gaze remains fixed on him as he tells me about the things they did these past few days.
"Could this have something to do with my lost memories?" I wondered to myself as I exchanged glances with Yuki.
He was smiling at me as he continued explaining things I could barely hear.
"Sora... are you alright?... Did something I said confuse you? I can slow down if you'd like," he said with a kindness that matched his appearance.
I shook my head.
"It's not that, it's just that my head is still spinning from all this," I exclaimed, partly true.
Yuki understood, relieved.
"Definitely, but I think everyone being on the same side made everything less harmful," Makoto stated with his characteristic nonchalance. "The bonds we've formed in this short time are helping us."
I think I'm starting to understand why Kokoro called him a blank book. It feels like being optimistic is a requirement for him.
It didn't take me long to realize that what she was saying was true.
The others moved forward in small groups of two or three. The Otonokoji sisters, as usual, walked close together, bound by an invisible cord of dependence. Emma, Yoruko, Setsuka, and Iroha shared confidences a little further ahead, modulating their voices in an obvious attempt to ease the palpable tension in the air. On another flank, Nikei, Hajime, and Shinji gestured seriously, debating the details of our current situation. Then there were the exceptions: Kokoro walked in her own orbit, isolated from the rest, while Yuri moved about like a restless nuisance, suspiciously watching the trails of each group of women.
"If you put it that way, I think we've turned this kidnapping into a camping trip," I commented, narrowing my eyes with a mixture of fatigue and skepticism. I suppose it feels somewhat unexpected that everyone has suddenly become such good friends overnight.
"Even if you say that, I don't really think the situation calls for something like that, but I guess having you all here with me makes me feel less afraid," Yuki smiled at us and lowered his gaze slightly.
I didn't reply, but I think he understood that I liked what he said.
"If I had to guess, I think most people's situation is very similar," I observed the overall scene. "Most of them are probably much more apprehensive about this now."
They certainly weren't at ease, but they seemed to be waiting expectantly; they weren't truly afraid.
"Hey, you three! Why are you so far back? You're the last ones, remember we all have to stay together," Yoruko seemed a little annoyed. Yuki and Makoto looked somewhat embarrassed by that.
For my part, I just turned to look at her.
“Yoruko, we were just talking about human nature and hiking trips,” I replied, causing her to look at me strangely.
“Seriously, you’re doing this at a time like this? We shouldn’t be wasting time like this!” she exclaimed, crossing her arms.
Looking at her, I could clearly see she wasn’t with a group.
“Actually, wasting time to relieve tension is part of human nature,” I said, surprising her. “Wouldn’t you like to join us?”
Her reaction was explosive. Her face broke into a small, surprised grimace tinged with a crimson blush.
She thought for a few seconds before answering, her gaze elsewhere.
“I… um… well… Humph! If we just hurry a little, we should be there by now.” She took a few discreet steps toward us.
“She’s definitely a textbook tsundere…” I whispered, noticing a few laughs beside me.
I heard two muffled giggles beside me. Turning around, I saw Yuki and Makoto laughing at Yoruko's obvious discomfort. She was as red as a volcano about to erupt.
"Hey, don't make fun of me!" she protested, her face flushed.
I watched the scene in silence.
Perhaps these confusing feelings are related to this.
This atmosphere... it brings that feeling back.
"Hey, you four, come here. We're talking about something interesting," the blue-haired pool player said with a smile.
"An interesting topic?" Yoruko seemed curious.
Makoto and Yuki looked equally curious.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to..."
"Let's hear what this is about," I said, approaching the others.
We quickened our pace a bit. There were Iroha, the sisters, Nikei, Yuri, and Setsuka herself.
"So, what's the topic?" Makoto asked.
"Well, we were talking about that announcement Monocrow made earlier," Setsuka replied with a smile.
"Are you referring to the Ultimate Hope that crow mentioned? Do we even know if it's going to happen?" Yoruko added.
"I think it sounds very pretentious. Who calls themselves the Ultimate Hope?" Hibiki frowned somewhat skeptically. Her sister, beside her, listened to everything with a serene expression.
"It sounds like someone very impressive," Kanade replied with her typical shyness.
"As long as it's not a man, I'm fine with it," Yuri said simply.
"I think it's the Ultimate Hope that that's mentioned." On the other hand, Makoto seemed a little nervous listening to all of this.
Iroha, on the other hand, was filled with excitement for a moment.
"Hey! What if it's some kind of hero? He could get us out of here!"
"Sounds like something out of a movie," Emma chuckled beside the painter.
The journalist then spoke.
"If that's the case, I definitely want to meet him. Interviewing someone like that would be great... as long as he's as amazing as he sounds," Nikei finished, her tone subdued.
"Whoever he is, I just hope he's on our side," Yuki seemed a little nervous about the matter.
"Do we really have any guarantee of that? Monocrow and Mikado are together. As far as I'm concerned, nothing good will come of them," Yoruko crossed her arms.
We all fell silent upon hearing her.
Could something like Ultimate Hope really be just another trick in this crazy place?
That's when I heard Makoto speak.
"Honestly, I don't know for sure who Ultimate Hope is. We know they'll appear, but Mikado won't be able to change our perception of hope. Hope isn't something unique to one person; it's in all of us. I trust it won't be dangerous."
For a few seconds, no one responded.
Several glances were exchanged.
"Hm..." Yoruko looked away. "You keep saying things that are too optimistic."
"But he's not wrong," Setsuka replied, smiling. "I like that view. Your older sister approves."
The billiards player gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"I guess having another person would be good," Hibiki added. "If she's really as good as they say, right, Kanade?"
"Y-yes..."
Meanwhile, the reporter seemed a bit more relaxed.
"You definitely need an optimistic streak," Nikei chuckled.
"I like that way of looking at it," Emma added. "I think we need to stay as positive as possible in situations like this."
"I'm fine as long as it's not a man," Yuri added with a small pout.
"That's not relevant," Yoruko said, putting a hand to her forehead.
A few laughs escaped the group.
Then we saw Kokoro approach slightly.
"Remember, that's not the most important question we have. Focus," she said, almost scoldingly, before walking away again on her own.
No one said anything.
I guess we all understood that we were getting a little carried away.
Setsuka scratched her head with a somewhat embarrassed smile.
"I guess she's right."
"Yeah, I guess the idea of a superhero with us was pretty tempting." Iroha smiled, amused by the situation.
Yoruko, on the other hand, shook her head.
"Anyway, let's not get our hopes up too much. We still don't know anything about that person," she insisted, though this time she sounded much less tense.
"What a tsundere..." I commented, watching her face turn bright red.
"W-what did you just say?!" she snapped immediately.
I could swear I saw a tiny tear well up in her right eye.
I then heard Yuki chuckle softly.
"I guess I'm with Naegi-sempai. I hope everything turns out alright too."
It was certainly a peculiar situation.
Everyone was still trapped.
Everyone still didn't know how to escape.
And yet, for a few moments, the uncertainty seemed to have eased a little.
That's when the gates marking the park entrance appeared before us.
"Guys, focus, we're here." Setsuka's words snapped me out of my reverie.
I turned around just to confirm that what she said was true.
We were inside the park we'd been to before.
The rest of the group moved forward.
I was about to take a step, but Makoto grabbed my hand and Yuki's.
"Before you do, remember to be careful. We won't let something like what happened before happen again."
I wondered why she was saying it so readily.
"Of course, we can." Yuki seemed quite motivated by what she'd said.
I just nodded.
And the three of us joined the group.
We had arrived at the center of the park.
In the distance, Mikado watched us all with a smile beneath his mask.
Beside him, Monocrow rested on one of the beams.
Those two had forced us to stay here.
They were the masterminds.
"Well, well... what a relief. Our dear Sora-chan is finally awake. I was afraid something bad might have happened to you." Mikado turned his gaze toward me.
His childish, mocking tone made me feel annoyed just hearing it.
I was ready to ignore him when I heard footsteps approaching.
"This is the last straw! Are Syobai and Mikado both meeting?!" Yoruko huffed in annoyance.
Syobai reacted with a grimace of displeasure.
"Are you really that stupid? Didn't you hear? If you don't come here, you'll die."
What he said made sense, but it didn't stop Yoruko from crossing her arms.
That's when Monocrow flapped his wings and his eyes glowed red.
"I'm glad you're all here," he exclaimed, standing next to the current mastermind.
"That makes your stay here worthwhile," he continued, his tone less animated. "Besides, we don't want any more incidents like the Syobai incident..."
Yuki straightened his gaze and turned curiously toward the crow.
"Incident? Didn't you enjoy that situation?"
His confusion was shared by the rest, who waited expectantly for the crow's response.
"Of course not. This isn't simply a senseless killing spree." He spread his wings firmly. "This is a game, and like any game, it has rules... rules I couldn't explain the other times."
He sounded incredibly brazen.
They really intended to treat all of this as if it were some kind of sporting activity.
"Why don't we just start beating you up and find a way out of here?!" Shinji shouted, standing in front of everyone.
"Shut your mouth. I just want to hear this and get out of here." Syobai's complaint only enraged Shinji further.
The firefighter took a step forward, ready to confront him, but Hajime and Setsuka stopped him before he could.
"Leave him alone, that guy's not worth it," Hajime said, holding him by the arm.
"Wait," Setsuka chimed in. "I think he's right. We should hear this first."
Shinji gritted his teeth, but eventually agreed.
He returned to his seat with his arms crossed.
Only then did the crow resume the conversation.
"Well, as I was saying, there are important rules to this game." Rules that everyone must follow or they will receive severe punishment. - His naturalness once again cleverly concealed the true meaning of those words. - Among them, the most important for these days: "No student may use violence, except with the intent to kill."
Iroha couldn't help but let out a small squeal of fear upon hearing the last part.
The crow simply continued.
"I think I understand." Setsuka raised a hand. "That rule can also be translated as: 'You can only attack someone if you have murderous intent.'"
"That's most likely it," Kanade replied from a little further back.
Beside her, Hibiki listened to everything without intending to intervene more than necessary.
Monocrow simply nodded.
"That's just one of the first. Another one I wanted to mention... is that Syobai's temperamental attitude wasn't a good idea. On this trip, there are strict rules for anyone seeking to graduate... they must participate in a school trial."
"School trial?" Kanade seemed quite interested.
Mikado chuckled softly as he glanced to the side.
"The rules are simple. When a murder is committed and more than three people discover the body, an alarm will sound, triggering a trial. You'll have time to investigate the crime scene. Once that period is over, you'll argue in court. If you find the killer, he'll be executed. If you don't... everyone else will die, except him."
Mikado's words brought a heavy silence to the room.
"What a load of crap... If I'd known that, I wouldn't have tried to kill in such a basic way." Syobai seemed somewhat indignant.
Monocrow slowly turned his gaze back to him with an expression that anyone would have sworn was a smile.
"I'm kind of glad you failed," I said, making him look at me with a hint of annoyance.
"Anyway, we don't even know why we're doing this. You haven't told us the purpose of all this." “Who would invent such stupid rules?” Syobai spat out angrily.
“I hate to say it, but I’m with him on this. This whole thing feels like a way of appealing to someone’s weird fetishes,” Emma added with a grimace of disgust.
“It’s about time you told us everything. We at least need details for a scoop,” Nikei added.
“Just tell us already!” Hibiki demanded.
“Even I’m curious,” Mikado exclaimed happily.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be on his side?” Shinji asked angrily.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” he exclaimed, bewildered.
His mask showed confusion as he observed the others.
Then he approached Nikei, gently pushing him aside.
“As you can see, I’m on the side of a
Just another student, like you.
This was all completely absurd.
Monocrow placed his dark wing over what appeared to be his temple before returning to normal.
"Again... but isn't the intention obvious? Isn't research what hope seeks? I'm just aligning my personal desires with yours."
It was then that a voice broke the group's silence once more.
"You're wrong!" Makoto exclaimed, challenging the crow again. "Everything you're doing has nothing to do with hope."
The crow himself was surprised for a few seconds, but then he began to laugh.
"I should have known you couldn't stay quiet for so long." Monocrow lowered his white wing from his beak. "Typical of you, indeed. But we can discuss that later... I just wanted to confirm that there's no problem with you investigating and trying to learn about whatever method you find."
Makoto glared at him. The crow met her gaze.
"Anyway, let's get down to business," he exclaimed simply. "You see, there are many more important rules you should review, but they're all included in the gifts we've prepared for you..."
The ground trembled, and suddenly, a box appeared before the crow.
"What are those things?!" Hibiki cried, startled.
The crow observed the reaction without concern.
"These are ElectroIDs, students. They're personal tablets with information, a messaging chat, and many other things I've prepared. You'll also find all the rules updated in real time on them... Take yours. They only react to your fingerprint, so don't even think about losing them... or you'll be punished."
There was silence among them all. No one seemed to move.
"When you say punishment, what exactly is it?" Nikei asked carefully.
The crow just observed him.
"Isn't it obvious by now?" “One punishment is equivalent to execution and death,” he explained without hesitation. I felt a small chill run down my spine. “So don’t make me say it again. Take your ElectroIDs or you’ll be punished!”
Fear settled in again, with the pressure of figuring out who would make the first move.
That’s when I saw Makoto emerge from the crowd and walk straight to the metal box, grabbing one of the ElectroIDs before returning to the group.
“See? They won’t explode or anything, so take them now,” Monocrow growled.
Some hesitated, but they slowly began to approach.
Yuki swallowed hard and went for hers too. I followed. When I took mine, I noticed its unusual design.
It was, essentially, an ordinary tablet. On the left side, it had a fingerprint reader.
With no other option, we had all received Monocrow’s gift. Many were already briefly checking them.
I placed my thumb on the screen and watched it light up.
A light blue initial screen, with the school's logo, greeted me.
Then the main panel appeared, displaying my student information.
After a brief glance, I turned off the tablet and turned my gaze back to the crow.
"Well, we've got our new toy. Now what?" Syobai asked indifferently, scratching his ear with a finger.
Monocrow covered his face again with his left wing.
"Well, there you have it. My time is practically up, but at least now you can plan your murders knowing the rules... if you want to get out, that is..."
Kokoro unexpectedly stepped forward to speak to the crow.
"And what will happen if there are no murders? What will you do then?"
Monocrow seemed interested in the question.
"Well, you'll simply live here forever. I don't intend to force anyone, as I said before. But if you don't kill, you won't be able to leave."
The answer didn't seem to affect Kokoro, but it did affect several of the others.
"He's practically telling us that we'll only get out of here if we commit murder..." Yuki grumbled, disappointed.
The others' faces looked equally affected.
That's when Monocrow laughed again.
"Well, I have to go now." Good luck to everyone. I know you won't let me down. Just remember I'm watching your every move... Goodbye!
With that, he took flight before anyone could reply.
"Finally..." Syobai smiled and, without asking anything else, quickly began to retreat.
But that didn't seem to bother anyone.
"He just left like that... We still had a ton of questions to ask him," Iroha remarked.
"Wait. We couldn't ask Monocrow, but we still have this guy," Shinji pointed in Mikado's direction. The magician's mask seemed to freeze in surprise. "You'd better answer our questions, Mikado Sannoji!!"
We all turned to look at the magician.
"Huh? What about me?" His voice sounded completely innocent, but no one believed it.
"What do you mean, 'what about me'? You're the damn mastermind." You orchestrated everything with Monocrow…
“Yeah, I’m sure that guy is on the same level as Monocrow,” Shinji added.
“You just want to come here and gloat over our pain,” Emma exclaimed with obvious reproach.
It was then that Makoto approached him with a serious expression.
“Mikado Sannoji, why are you here if you’re the mastermind?”
They stared at each other.
Then Mikado raised his arms, alarming some who feared another wave of fire would erupt from nowhere.
However, instead, he simply extended a hand in a gesture of denial.
“No, no. You’re mistaken…” he exclaimed, conveying confidence beneath that smile. “While it’s true that I work with Monocrow, in this game of death I’m just another participant… Like all of you, I’ll have to investigate in the trials, and I’ll die if we’re wrong. I can be killed or kill… In other words… I have no privileges.”
What he said caused immediate surprise in everyone.
"I came back to hear this," exclaimed Syobai, who had just returned. "If you're really going to do this crap, why all the theatrics before? And why reveal yourself as the mastermind?"
Mikado smiled at his words.
"Good question, but I'm sorry to say I can't answer it, as it's directly related to the reason for this kidnapping. For now, just know I wanted to have some fun."
I felt I'd had enough.
"Do you really think we're going to swallow that nonsense?" I asked him directly.
"Well, whether you believe me or not is up to you. But my only goal now is for us all to get to know each other better."
The magician then revealed a much more ordinary side of the mask.
"Anyway, if that's all, I'll take my leave..."
"Wait! You still haven't answered a question!" Nikei pointed her pencil at Mikado. Why are you acting like the announcement didn't mention a requirement for this meeting? Where is it?
"Or her," Yuri added.
Mikado looked at the others, confused, almost as if wondering if they were all playing a joke on him.
"Are you seriously asking me that? Didn't she come with you?" he said simply.
"What are you talking about? We all came here together."
"And we didn't see anyone new with that title on the way," Setsuka added skeptically.
"Yeah, just tell us who it is," Hibiki said, clearly annoyed.
Mikado pointed casually in a direction.
"She's right there. What, can't you see her?" Everyone turned to look where he was pointing. "Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Hope."
The air crackled with surprise.
Even Makoto's eyes widened at the revelation.
A Perspective of Hope
.
.
It took me a few seconds to process what Mikado had said as he pointed at me in front of everyone.
"What did you just say? I'm the Ultimate Lucky Guy."
Mikado just smiled even wider at my confusion.
"What's wrong? Don't you believe me? Why don't you check your ElectroID?" The question almost felt like a challenge.
I gritted my teeth at Mikado's palpable confidence as I stared at the tablet in my hands.
With no other option, I placed one of my fingers on it, and the screen lit up.
The interface was very similar to last time, as nauseating as that felt.
I looked at my photo, name, and profile. That's when I focused my attention on a specific point.
"Makoto Naegi, SUltimate Hope of High School Level."
My talent had changed. I was sure Mikado had something to do with it, but...
"Makoto was always the Ultimate Hope?!" Iroha shouted almost unconsciously. Noticing she'd been louder than she'd planned, she covered her mouth with her hands.
"I didn't expect this at all." Yoruko crossed her arms.
"Out of everyone, I never thought someone so small..." Hajime exclaimed.
"But why didn't you tell us?" Hibiki now directed his doubts toward me. "Were you lying to us?"
"No, he wasn't lying. Apparently, it's something that surprises him too." It was Kokoro who spoke, remaining expectant and apart from the others.
Even so, what little she said was enough to keep the doubts alive.
"I feel the same way, Naegi-senpai. Weren't you supposed to have..." "Entered with the title of the Lucky One? Why do you appear in the registry as the Ultimate Hope?" Yuki asked with noticeable respect.
I didn't know what to say.
Her reaction was obviously one of surprise, but she wasn't the only one.
Practically no one on this island could have imagined that a title like that could be held by someone like me.
"The title of Hope was never officially recognized by the school. Only one person called me that before... that's why I didn't mention it. I wasn't aware of this either," I said, trying to explain myself as best I could.
"I see. So we could say that this also has something to do with Mikado." Sora seemed quite convinced by what she'd said. She seemed to be one of those who took the matter best.
"Those are very serious accusations, Sora-chan. I really had nothing to do with it. Makoto Naegi is the Ultimate Hope, that's why I brought him here," she explained without hesitating for a moment. "I brought him because things will be much more fun with..." He's here. After all, hope and bonds are essential in a game as desperate as this.
"Absolutely not! We will never form bonds with someone like you!" Hibiki retorted defiantly.
"We agree. We would never form bonds with the person who got us into this," Emma added, her voice clearly disapproving.
Mikado simply smiled at this.
"Anyway, whether you do it or not is up to you. Just remember, we're all in the same boat."
That was the last thing he said.
After that, we all watched him disappear without a trace.
The atmosphere became lighter after he left, but I still felt uneasy about everything that had happened.
I couldn't stay silent.
I had to say something.
"Guys... I..."
"So, when do we start the interview with the Ultimate Hope?" Nikei appeared in front of me, startling me. "A little— Do you feel hope from the first hour of the day? Does it flow through your blood with every breath? Come on, any question is a good one!"
I took a few steps back at his invasive attitude.
"I... I'm sorry, but I don't think I understand what you mean," I said nervously.
"Huh? But aren't you the Ultimate Hope? Someone with a title like that shouldn't have any doubts." His tone changed slightly, becoming more sarcastic.
I didn't know what to say.
"Hey, don't say things like that. He's surprised by all this too." Yoruko surprisingly came to my defense. "I mean... I was impressed too that a title like that belonged to him."
"It's certainly quite something. I expected it from anyone but the little guy." Hajime laughed at the situation.
"Frankly, it's a very impressive title." Yuki looked at me with a kind smile.
Sora simply gave me a thumbs-up, a surprisingly kind gesture on her part.
"I kind of agree with that. Makoto-san always seemed more like the one who kept everyone in a good mood." Emma smiled again with her characteristic sweetness.
"Well... it's a little embarrassing when they put it like that. Frankly, I have to admit it's not a title I'm used to," I said, surprised by their attitude.
I caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of my eye.
Kokoro watched me for a few seconds before scribbling something on her tablet and leaving without another word.
"Even so, it's a title worthy of a superhero. Being Hope is like being 'the Ultimate Good Guy.'" Iroha spoke with a twinkle in her eye. She seemed to be contemplating something straight out of a science fiction story.
"Hmph, I lost all interest when I found out it was a man." Yuri pouted again and turned her head away without saying much more.
"It's a very amusing title. Definitely better than Lucky." Hibiki smiled nonchalantly.
"It's a rather peculiar title... especially coming from someone like you." Kanade spoke with remarkable calm.
"Kanade, don't speak so rudely!" Hibiki immediately scolded her sister.
"S-sorry!" “I-I didn’t mean to insult Naegi-senpai!” Kanade cried, sobbing and covering her face with her arms.
Seeing the trouble brewing, Setsuka decided to intervene.
“Hey, hey, it doesn’t matter what his title is. Little Mako-chan is still who he is, whether he’s Hope or Luck.” She held her arms out, her usual one eye closed. “For now, let’s focus on what’s important.”
I mentally thanked Setsuka for that.
Partly, I felt more comfortable if we left that topic for another time.
That’s when Setsuka took advantage of the situation to call everyone together.
“Since we’re all here…”
“Sorry to interrupt… Kokoro left about two minutes ago,” I corrected with a nervous smile.
She paused for a second and confirmed it was true.
“You’re right.” "Well, since almost everyone's here..." she said, a small bead of sweat trickling down her forehead. "I was thinking about something. That crazy Mikado wants us to kill each other, doesn't he? But I think we're all pretty comfortable on the Monocruiser, so... why not just focus on staying safe? No one's going to kill anyone anyway."
Her words resonated strongly, though not everyone seemed entirely convinced.
"That's fine, but... shouldn't we keep an eye on Syobai and Kokoro? They'll be running around freely during all this." Nikei spoke with obvious concern.
It was understandable.
People like Syobai, after what he did, were the number one red flag, second only to Mikado.
And Kokoro was as pragmatic as she was enigmatic.
Having both of them around could be unsettling for some.
"Well, Setsuka's right. Let's just ignore them and let them do what they want." "And if Syobai tries anything, we'll stop him," Yoruko replied without hesitation.
"THAT'S IT!! IF HE TRIES ANYTHING, I'LL KNOCK HIS TEETH OUT MYSELF!!" Shinji puffed out his chest again and shouted with the passion only he could muster.
"I have a suggestion. I think we should thoroughly review the rules Monocrow mentioned. They should all be on the ElectroIDs, right?" I said in the most optimistic tone I could muster.
Mikado had forbidden me from telling anyone about the Death Games.
But I was still able to help them in any way I could to expedite everyone's progress.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." I smiled at Yoruko's words.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's open the ElectroIDs and review them all together." Shinji was the first to place his thumb on the tablet. He was completely stunned to see it glow.
The reactions were mostly amused.
It was quite comforting to see someone as robust as him marvel at something like this.
Anyway, everyone started turning on their own personal tablets.
"How strange..." Sora whispered, looking at his ElectroID.
"Is something wrong?" Yuki approached curiously.
"It's nothing. It's just that my profile shows me as 'Sora.' I guess that's a temporary name I have."
"I guess it's something similar to what happened to me. Besides, that confirms what the crow said about us being watched all the time," I stated.
Yuki felt a slight chill.
Sora simply nodded and continued checking his ElectroID.
I decided to follow his lead and look at the screen again.
OPENING ELECTROID...
Okay
Arrived...
Makoto Naegi (苗木 誠)
LV: 23
Talent: Super High School Level Hope
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Height: 160 cm
Weight: 52 kg
Birthday: February 5th
Blood Type: A
Likes: Cleaning, curry, hope
Dislikes: Despair, seeing others suffer
Brief Description: Makoto loves to stay optimistic. He's an ordinary guy, like some kind of anime protagonist. He loves to inspire hope in all his classmates and has unruly hair. :)
CONFIDENCE: ☆ ☆
FATIGUE: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
I frowned slightly as I read the first section. There was no longer any doubt that this...
But something else caught my attention.
Apparently, I'm registered as 19 years old.
That's convenient. It would be useful if Mikado's plan is to keep everything that happened with the tragedy hidden.
Anyway, there were still several more sections. Some looked a lot like the ones the ElectroID had at Hope's Peak Academy...
I decided to check the rest of the sections.
MOVING...
GIFTS IN THE ROOM:
NO RECORDS.
MOVING...
SKILLS:
-Providence
Concentration
Concentration 2
Concentration 3
Thought Process
Cool and Composed
Cool and Composed 2
Cool and Composed 3
Treasure Hunter
Moral Compass
Positive Thinking
EscalationLying
Fever Time
EverymanFrugal
Inner Strength
War Cry
Menacing Focus
InterruptMental
FortitudeSynchronization
Ambidextrous
Hands-OnPerfect
AimWeak PointSelf-ConfidenceEnvious
influence
Optimism
InfernoCrisis
ManagementRobot
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Mr. Know-It-All
'll have to review this later.
It's worrying that each ability has a specific moment when I interacted with it.
To what extent does Mikado understand the game of killing...? I never really thought about it.
Well, there are still several more sections.
MOVING...
BULLETS:
NO RECORDS.
MOVING...
VOICE CHAT:
INACTIVE.
Empty.
It seems there are only two sections left to review.
Rules and stats.
MOVING...
PYRAMID STATS:
TYPE LEVEL
INTELLECT: B
INVESTIGATIVE ABILITY: B+
PHYSICAL ABILITY: B
HUMANITY: A+
ATTITUDE: A
This is new.
We've never had anything like this before.
"Hey, you guys also see a stats section, right?" Sora received several nods in response, including mine. "Does anyone know exactly what it's for?"
"Well, the obvious thing would be to think it's some kind of way to measure our aptitudes," Emma replied, looking at her own ID.
Yoruko put her hands on her hips.
"But some of them are kind of confusing, like 'Humanity.'"
"Also, they're ranked by levels. Here it says I have a B in all of them," Yuki explained, a little embarrassed.
Hearing that, Sora approached him with a small smile.
"B is a grade that's neither good nor bad. It's so you, Yuki."
"Um... thanks, I guess..."
"Anyway, it seems the levels go from lowest to highest. From D to A," Yuri stated. "There's definitely a higher probability that women have better stats."
"Although..." Yuri's statement seemed unreliable, but it had a point.
I wasn't exactly above the average between B and A.
Ignoring B+, everyone seemed pretty close to those values.
"...?" I noticed someone behind me.
Turning around, I saw it was Nikei, curiously taking notes.
"What's up?"
The boy smiled and shrugged.
"Nothing. I was just checking what the Ultimate Hope's stats would be. I think having a B proves the title is much bigger than the person."
I remained silent.
Frankly, I didn't know how to take what he'd just said.
"Hey, let's calm things down over there. Also, Yuri, I think there's an S rank," Setsuka corrected, surprising several people.
Nikei simply returned to his normal posture and stepped back a little without saying anything else.
I watched him for a few seconds before noticing that it had sent Yuri into a frenzy.
"Magnificent! Worthy of someone as wonderful as Setsuka!"
"You are a very arrogant little runt," Hajime grumbled when he saw Yuri gesturing to him.
"...HEY!! I HAVE AN S TOO!!" Shinji announced.
That made Yuri curb his excitement and look at him with complete indifference.
"Great, high five!"
Hajime, with a radiant smile, bumped fists with Shinji, the veins in his arms standing out even more than usual.
It was a particularly natural scene between them.
On the other hand, Hibiki and Kanade seemed somewhat concerned.
"But... there must be something lower than a D, right?" Hibiki asked with a hint of unease.
Iroha, partially shielding herself with her notebook, moved a little closer.
"Relax... I think it does exist," she whispered with a resigned expression.
Hibiki didn't seem to know how to react to that.
Meanwhile, her sister approached her with a shy smile.
"Don't worry, sis. I also have a stat in E."
Hearing that, Hibiki smiled mischievously.
"God, you must really be terrible at that! Hehehe. You're lucky to have a sister like me who can help you!"
A few more conversations continued among them all, but then a call from Setsuka brought our attention back.
"Well, I must admit that this whole stat thing is quite fun and all, but we'll have time to understand it better later. For now, since it's almost noon, we should all go back and study the rules properly."
"Sounds like a good idea to me." Just like with the rule Mikado mentioned, there must be conditions that influence or don't influence some of them. If we know their weaknesses, it could help us with the investigation and get out of here. —Yoruko added with a determined smile.
Yuki nodded again with a small smile.
"That's true, it's impossible for someone not to make mistakes. We'll find the loopholes in this place and escape."
"Yes, let's stay positive!" Iroha beamed. I felt the same.
"Damn, I guess we have no other choice... Well, Kanade, I guess we have to join them. When you can't beat them... join them." Little Hibiki smiled playfully at her sister.
"Y-yes, sister, but please don't leave without me like before..."
"I'm not promising anything!!" hehehe.
I smiled involuntarily at the sight of them.
See them all Seeing them so animated felt good.
I felt like I couldn't stay quiet, not after everyone was so animated.
"Guys, I'll do everything I can to help you get out of here. Please, let's all work together toward that goal."
All I got in return were a few smiles.
"That's the spirit! Not all heroes come with capes," Iroha exclaimed with a grin.
"You can say that again. Maybe the title of 'hope' isn't as big a role for you as I'd suggested," Nikei tipped his hat with a smile.
"And he's quite small, too," Sora added matter-of-factly.
I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease, trying not to dwell too much on Sora's last comment.
"Well, what are we waiting for?! LET'S GO!!" Shinji exclaimed, throwing his arms wide with enthusiasm.
"Let's go!"
"Let's do it!! YAY!"
"You can say that again." —W-wait, sister...
And so, we began heading to the Monocruiser and split up to prepare for a full day of research.
...
...
...
Back on the Monocruiser
When we arrived, we all said our goodbyes and went to our rooms to prepare for the research walks.
I planned to study the rules first and find a way to know what we could and couldn't do.
After all, Kyoko-chan had played with the rules before.
So I opened my bedroom door and was surprised again.
"This has to be a joke."
"Why are you looking at me like that? I have good news."
"Exclaimed the crow who, just a few minutes ago, had given us a lecture about death and despair in that park."
"Monocrow? What are you doing here again?" I said, trying to put on a defensive face.
"Kukuku, don't worry, dear celebrity. This is just a simple school instruction."
"What do you mean by celebrity?" My question made him smile.
"Isn't it obvious? It's because of your title." We all know that in this world, the most important thing for everyone is hope, and you are the one who bears the title of Ultimate Hope.
I squinted, glancing sideways at the crow.
"I've never been that special... But anyway, what do you mean by 'school instructions'?"
I raised an eyebrow in doubt.
Monocrow then pointed one of his wings toward one of the tables in the room.
"As some of the others probably mentioned, yesterday I explained everything about your rooms to most of you. Since your room wasn't finished, I decided to leave it for today, just like I did with Sora." The crow lowered his wing and then pretended to smile. "Let's start with the basics: each room was made especially for each of you, but your case is special. So, just like Sora waking up today, I decided to explain the main changes so you can enjoy your new room."
Monocrow flapped his wings and soared up to the table he had pointed to earlier.
"As you can see, there have been some nice changes, mainly with more items in the room."
I paused for a moment to observe what he was referring to.
It was true.
Some posters that had previously alluded to good fortune had been replaced with motivational messages.
A new stack of books had also arrived, but that was the least noticeable change.
"It's to make it feel more in keeping with your talent. But, like the rest of the Monocruiser, the rooms have state-of-the-art technology for everyone." He slid his wing to point at my ElectroID. "The key to all of this is your ElectroID. With it, you can activate the many functions in your room. It's practically a remote control for everything."
"I see. It works similarly to how it did on Hope's Peak Academy." Monocrow nodded at what I said. "But I have a question."
"Go ahead, tell me." The crow looked at me with a smile.
"All the rooms were soundproofed, just like they did at Hope's Peak Academy, right? I highly doubt you couldn't do that, knowing you were able to transform an entire island."
The crow again tucked a wing into its beak as it laughed.
"Of course we have it. The rooms are soundproofed and armored. But this is only half the story, since, like other functions, with your ElectroID you can open and close your room's doors and windows. This will make yesterday's keys obsolete. And it will also be a way for the sound from your room to leak out."
I nodded.
I could assume that would be possible, but I had to check if the things they did were really that similar.
With the affirmative answer, I looked back at my room.
In one corner of it was a rather large cube. It seemed to have a hole in the middle and a spherical slot on top.
“I see you’ve set your eyes on your little gift associated with your room,” Monocrow exclaimed, flying a little closer. “This little device is very similar to the gift machine in the playground. It can give you all sorts of amazing things like blankets, clothes, food, toiletries, and even your very own Monocrow robot.”
I frowned at that, carefully examining the peculiar device.
The crow noticed this and tucked a wing into its beak.
“Hey, there are some conditions. You can’t take anything that will help you leave this island directly,” he exclaimed. “Also, the number of registered items that can appear exceeds forty. And don’t worry about items larger than the machine itself appearing. They’ll appear in small capsules that only expand when opened.”
Damn.
I had actually thought for a second that something like this might actually happen to me.
"Anyway, how could I use it if we don't have Monocoins here?" I exclaimed, staring intently into the eyes of this strange being.
He remained silent, and then immediately laughed loudly.
"How adorable... Monocoins are ancient history. Now we use Crowcoins! Now in a new Virtual format!"
The television screen squeaked and quickly began displaying the image of a credit card.
I felt a strong sensation when I recognized it as one of those cards I'd been finding lately.
"I see you recognize them. Now, money on this island can be obtained through these Monocrow credit cards. You can transfer all your Crowcoins directly to your ElectroID via a function on the back."
I looked at my ElectroID, noticing it had a slot where one of those cards could be inserted.
"I recommend you collect as many cards as you can, because there are multiple places and equipment that will demand you use every last Crowcoin."
I pondered what he said for a moment.
I stared at the ElectroID for a few seconds.
I looked up shortly after, glancing back at the crow.
"Is that all? Because if so, please leave."
He just stared at me, seemingly unresponsive.
"Well, well, I could also tell you about your ElectroID's sleep mode." His tone was a little nervous. "As you may have noticed, when ElectroIDs aren't used for a while, they go into sleep mode, automatically turning off."
"Well, I already figured that out. Is that all?" He started sweating profusely when he heard me.
He definitely acts somewhat like Monokuma.
The most noticeable thing is that deep voice that makes me even more uncomfortable.
"Um... well, you see..." He paused, seemingly embarrassed. "It's just that I don't want to go visit that white-haired girl!"
"...You mean Sora?"
I got a nod from the timid crow.
"It's just that! She's too rude." Every time he sees me, he acts like he's looking at something abominable and is about to throw something at me... at me, his beloved director! —He flapped his wings until he composed himself and turned to face me again—. On the other hand, you're very kind. Even when you don't like me, you treat me better... I could stay here a little longer.
I didn't really know how to take the situation.
"I... I'm asking you to please leave."
When I said this, Monocrow let out a disappointed gasp.
It took him a second to react. He stared at the floor and then walked slowly toward the door.
"Well... I suppose a director shouldn't leave these kinds of impressions."
Then he opened the door with one of his wings and left, closing it behind him.
"What was that scene...?" I said to myself, trying to decipher what had just happened.
The bittersweet feeling that it was a scene Monokuma could have staged made me feel sick.
But even so, I couldn't help but agree with the crow for a second.
I'm almost certain the Sora I know would have tried to hit him.
"I guess I'm finally alone..." I sighed as I closed my eyes.
It had been a pretty quick morning.
The death game was revealed by Mikado.
What I feared most came to pass, even when I tried to believe that maybe it wouldn't be like before.
And now this... standing idly by, with Mikado's threat...
But this isn't the time to lose heart.
All these kids didn't give up. I can't allow myself to succumb to the despair Mikado Sannoji plans to impose on us.
The title of Ultimate Hope...
Kyoko said it was my hope and optimism that allowed us to prevail against Junko Enoshima.
I never felt like I excelled at anything... but I can't just stand idly by.
I have to do something that can help these kids get out of here.
No one else should die.
"And to do that, I need a plan," I whispered, looking again at the pictures on the shelf near my bed.
They were photos of us on the beach on the first day.
They looked like they'd been taken from a high vantage point.
There were probably cameras all over the area, recording our every move... just like before.
"That's not all this picture shows..."
I looked at everyone's faces, having fun, playing, or simply gazing at the sea.
I'm convinced.
We can get out of here if we all work together, trusting each other.
And I hate to admit Mikado's right, but the bonds between us can help a lot.
If I can get everyone to connect more.
No one else should die...
Although there will always be the danger of a traitor that Mikado secretly planted.
—Even so, Sakura had noble motives... She wasn't someone blinded by despair. She made true friends within that game.
But...
I have no way of knowing if everyone here is truly trustworthy.
Even so...
—No, thinking like that will only make things worse.—I told myself, frowning.—All I can do is get to know everyone better. Only in that way will I be able to truly connect with each one.
Do that...
And, in turn, also investigate.
I'll make sure that no one has a real motive for murder.
—And for that, I'll need to be able to help with the investigations and prevent everyone from coming into conflict with the group.
MOVING...
Sector: Rules.
Rule 1: The Utsuroshima school trip has no time limit.
Rule 2: When a murder is committed, a school trial will begin shortly afterward. Participation is mandatory for all students.
Rule 3: If the murderer is apprehended, only they will be executed.
Rule 4: If the murderer is not apprehended, then everyone except the murderer will be executed.
Rule 5: If a murderer survives the school trial, they will have completed the school trip and will be free to go to the outside world.
Rule 6: In the event of multiple quick murders in succession, only the first one will count.
Rule 7: Nighttime begins at 10:00 p.m. and ends at 7:00 a.m. During this time, the Monocruise will close its doors, and no one will be allowed to leave.
Rule 8: During nighttime, terrifying monsters will roam the island. Any damage caused by these horrible creatures will be the responsibility of whoever leaves.
Rule 9: During nighttime, only you may sleep in your room. Sleeping in another room or outside of your designated area is against the rules.
Rule 10: Violence is prohibited on Utsuroshima. This includes violence against Monocrow and the island's property. However, violence with murderous intent is permitted.
Rule 11: Monocrow may not be involved in any murder.
Rule 12: The ElectroID is limited to one per person. It can only be activated with a fingerprint. If it is lost, the student will be punished.
Rule 13: After three students find a body, the body will be announced. Whether or not the killer's vision counts will vary depending on the case.
Rule 14: You are free to investigate Utsuroshima. There are no rules that specifically limit you.
Rule 15: Rules may be implemented or withdrawn.
"They're so similar to the ones I know... Hmm, I suppose Rule 10 was the one Mikado was talking about." I kept my gaze fixed as I analyzed each rule as best I could.
They didn't seem to explain much more than what I already knew.
But there were strange things, like the night period, whose workings I still needed to figure out.
"If I can learn how they work and how they'll help us beat this game... I could be even more useful."
A small tingle ran down my spine again.
The constant feeling of unease was still there.
I glanced at another frame.
This one contained one of the photographs we took during our school years.
And in it, I saw her again.
"But even without her, I have to succeed." The pressure in my fists increased. My chest felt heavy as I remembered everything that had happened. "I owe it to her, to these kids, and to everyone in our class."
I walked away from the bookshelf toward the door.
As soon as I opened it, I walked quickly down the hallway.
Then I saw someone else about to leave.
"I suppose I should start investigating too."
I approached with a smile.
I knew what lay ahead wouldn't be easy.
But I was determined to solve it together with the others.
We must prevail...Because there are still people to live with...And we will find a way out of here...
...
...
...
OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW
The day before everything that happened, Makoto and the others were resting in their quarters.
The silhouettes of a group of people moved through the corridors of the Monocruiser.
This small group didn't say a word. They simply moved along specific routes, seemingly knowing where they were going.
It was then that, in the middle of the path, a door opened. Noticing this, none of them said anything and they silently entered the room.
Inside was a person surrounded by a considerable number of mechanical devices and multiple screens.
They all appeared to be cameras recording every part of the Monocruiser.
And the person was none other than Mikado Sannoji, who, noticing the visitors approaching him, turned to greet them coldly.
"Interesting... I thought I ordered you to stay away from the monitor room." They understand that this place must remain extremely secret, right? I don't think so many people coming out of their rooms is good for that.
It was then that one of the figures, considerably smaller than the rest, stepped forward.
"U-um... sorry for them, but we all have something to tell you... we have a serious problem..." she said timidly.
"Hmm... well, tell me what it is you want to tell me," Mikado replied sarcastically.
In contrast to the first figure, a second one approached with a harsher expression and pointed directly at him.
"Don't play dumb! You know perfectly well what we're talking about!"
The third figure, more composed but just as worried, spoke up.
"You never told us you were bringing him into the game... Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Hope who defeated Junko Enoshima... you never even mentioned him before..."
Mikado's mask widened in shock.
"Is that really the only reason you came here?" he asked, turning to look at them almost nonchalantly.
His reaction only made everyone more nervous.
"You scoundrel, don't treat him like he's nothing. That guy defeated the mastermind who destroyed the world and is part of the Future Foundation. We aren't."
The fourth voice chimed in.
"He has a knack for motivating others. Everyone starts to trust him. That could make it difficult for everyone to give in to the pressure."
The first voice let out a fearful groan upon hearing his companion's words.
"That's right... we believe he's too dangerous for us to fulfill our roles in this killing game..."
The Ultimate Mage listened neutrally, settling into his mobile chair and extending his arms.
"I can't believe you're backing down so quickly over something like this." Mikado let out a mocking laugh. "You have nothing to worry about. That little hope won't cause you any trouble. I spoke with him just a moment ago to help him control his impulses. Not only that, I managed to convince him that we worked for Enoshima Junko. Ha, ha, ha!"
The mage laughed much more roughly than before.
"As for the Future Foundation... let's just say I'm already taking care of them. I assure you they won't be able to find us until it's too late and the plan is complete."
Upon hearing this, the figures froze. All except one.
"But even so... why did you decide to put him in the killing game? What was your purpose?"
Mikado looked at him again in disbelief.
"Huh? But weren't you the ones who wanted luck? I brought you a lucky one!"
The silhouette gritted its teeth at that.
"That's not the kind of luck we want! That boy's luck is strange and difficult to control. It's not the kind of luck we need!"
Mikado smiled at this.
"Well... did you want the lucky Nagito Komaeda? I mean, it's not like it's easy to find lucky people around the world. Almost all the records at Hope's Peak Academy showed that practically everyone died during the Tragedy..."
A chill ran down the smaller silhouette's spine.
Mikado didn't stop.
"But even so, I have to admit that that boy's luck is difficult to understand and follow." Mikado's mask shifted once more to a more serious expression. "And I must admit, I had to change my original plans when he entered the equation..."
"So why do you need him? I don't see how he can help us achieve our goal," the third figure questioned.
Mikado smiled again at this and stood up from his chair for the first time.
"Of course you wouldn't understand. You Voids can't see luck the way I do."
Mikado raised both hands and his smile widened.
"Makoto Naegi is nothing more than another way to achieve our goals! The resonance between him and our objective will increase the chances of awakening what we all here desire!"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock, like children who had just been offered the most delicious treat in the world.
"I see you understand. You needn't worry, my friends. Just follow the plan as intended. After all, you'll be protected by my Yugo."
Mikado turned back to his seat before continuing.
"And don't worry. I've decided to give you more time to prepare. I think it's best, knowing that the little hope has experience in a game of death... Kukuku..."
They remained silent.
Mikado simply observed them serenely.
"If you have no further questions, I recommend you leave before someone can discover you."
These were the gentle words that came from the magician.
"...Understood," said the third figure with a cold expression.
"How pleasant to know you're finally being more obedient," replied Mikado as he watched him silently leave.
The other figures seemed to want to say something more, but ended up resigning themselves to walking silently behind the third.
Mikado smiled and turned her seat back toward the cameras.
...
...
When all the silhouettes emerged, their expressions didn't look satisfied.
"Well... wasn't that so bad?" the first silhouette exclaimed.
"You think so? From my point of view, it didn't go well..." the fourth replied.
"W-wait, no! I meant it could have been worse. You know... at least she said she'd give us more time to plan everything."
The first silhouette panicked at the sight of the fourth's face. She seemed to know she was quite temperamental.
Meanwhile, the second silhouette stood with her arms crossed and a worried expression.
"I guess it's okay... but it's not like it fixes things. Boss, what do you think about all this?"
She addressed the third figure, who was leaning against the wall some distance from the other three.
“Why are you asking me? I’m not your boss anymore,” he replied sharply, stepping away from the wall and looking at the others. “You chose Mikado over me. I’ve already accepted it, so you learn to live with it too.”
The third figure walked away without allowing any of her three companions to respond.
No one said anything.
Perhaps because they knew that, even if they tried, they wouldn’t achieve anything.
“He just left… What are we supposed to do now?” the first figure asked.
Her two companions exchanged distressed glances.
“We have no choice but to act according to the plan,” the fourth one said.
“But…”
“No buts. You know we have to stick to this,” the second figure’s firm voice came through.
Hearing her, the first one nodded somewhat fearfully.
No one said anything else.
The three of them dispersed in different directions.
And so the four figures dispersed throughout the Monocrucero, ready to act like any other students the next day.
...
...
...
...
NUMBER OF STUDENTS ALIVE: 16