Chapter Text
“...And that’s why the mastermind can only be you, Tsumugi Shirogane!” Shuuichi shouted.
“W-what?! No, I swear, I’m not the mastermind, I-it’s just a coincidence! I would never-”
“Be quiet, we all know Shuuichi is right. Monokuma, start voting time.” Maki said.
“Puhuhuhuhu! If that's what you want!”
“P-please, I’m really not the mastermind!” Tsumugi pleaded.
Everyone voted for Tsumugi, and…
“Bzzt! Wrong!” Monokuma’s voice said from behind them.
Everyone whipped their heads around and saw…
“Ouma!?” Himiko shouted.
“Yup!” the short boy said. “I was the mastermind all along! Really fooled ya with the reverse psychology didn’t I?”
Maki whipped out a knife. “Do you want to die?!” You killed Kaito!”
“Uh oh, we don’t want that! The fans would be so very upset if the mastermind went down that easily! I might need my sidekick to restrain you!”
“Sidekick?” Kiibo inquired
“Yup! Ooh, I can do a dramatic reveal, ready?” He snapped his fingers and the lights went out. A spotlight shined on Shuuichi’s podium, but he wasn’t there. He stepped into the light, wearing a Monokuma themed suit and carrying Kokichi on his shoulders.
“Shuuichi?!” Maki yelled, tears building up in the corners of her eyes.
Shuuichi grinned maliciously, his once golden eyes glinted red. “Oh how despairful this reveal must be! I wish I could feel the despair you must be drowning in, oh how wonderful that would be!” He said, drool running down his chin.
“I-” Tsumugi started.
“Oh Shumai,” Kokichi cut her off, “Have I ever told you how adorable you are when you’re like this?” he said, putting his face in front of Shuuichi’s to look into his beloved's crimson eyes. He kissed his forehead and Maki looked repulsed.
“Ouma,” she growled, ”what did you do to Shuuichi?”
“Oh nothing darling,” Maki scowled at the nickname, “He was actually the original mastermind, I just tagged along! He’s been this perfect sense the day you met him.”
“Aw sweetie, you think I’m perfect?” Shuuichi was drooling even more now, and his face was covered in a heavy blush.
“Yup!” Kokichi said, booping his nose.
Maki sprinted at the pair, knife in hand. Shuuichi grabbed Monokuma and used him as a shield.
“Ah ah ah, miss Harukawa, violence against the headmaster is strictly forbidden! Looks like it’s PUNISHMENT TIME!!!”
Maki’s eyes widened as a claw clamped her neck and dragged her back. She could feel her windpipe being crushed and she was dragged to her punishment.
Maki Harukawa’s punishment!
Maki had been assigned another assassination job. She moved quickly and quietly through the shadows, approaching her target. She let out a gasp when she saw his spiky purple hair and maroon jacket.
“K-Kaito…” she blurted. He turned around, glaring straight at her and shot her with a gun. She bled out on the pavement.
Maki Harukawa’s punishment: Executed!
Tears pricked the backs of Shuuichi’s eyes. He laughed maniacally.
“Ahahah! That was my second best friend! She just- Ahaha- got killed in front of me! Oh what despair! I love it!”
The others stared in terror as the raven haired boy kept laughing.
“Isn’t my beloved so cute? I would do anything for him to feel that despair again!”
He pressed a button on his remote and Himiko and Tsumugi were pulled to their own executions. Only Kiibo remained.
Shuuichi put Kokichi down and walked up to Kiibo. “Ah Kiibo, my favorite character. How despairful it will be to watch you go.” He said, cupping the robot’s cheek with his hand.
“S-Shuuichi, why? Why would you do this to us? I-I thought we were friends.” If Kiibo could cry he would be by now.
Shuuichi stroked his bottom lip with his thumb. “Aw, how sweet and innocent you are. Friends? We were practically dating.” Those words set Kiibo’s face ablaze.
“D-dating?!”
“Oh honey, you don’t remember all those times I would ask you to ‘hang out’ and just stare infatuatedly into your eyes”
“I-” Shuuichi cut him off with a rough kiss on the cheek. A Clamp came out of nowhere and dragged Kiibo off, Leaving only the taste of plastic on his lips and fading warmth under his hand.
Kokichi cleared his throat. Shuuichi turned to him as he pressed one last button.
“Love you babe,” he said, and the clamp dragged him off as well.
Shuichi had never felt such soul-crushing despair before. The despair of losing a loved one filled him with glee.
He took a step to the exit. A step towards excruciating hope.