Chapter Text
I activated the app, and…
The world spun around its axis.
When I opened my eyes again…
( the classroom has a red tint to it, instead of a chalkboard there’s a hole in the wall. jill's fainted, she’s back to Toko.)
There was a reeking smell of blood.
Makoto: What the-?!
Hiro: Did we get teleported to another dimension or something?!
Hina: Look at the wall! That hole's huge!
Sakura: There’s no doubt Akira could be in there.
Hina: Then what are we waiting for?! Come on, let’s go!
Byakuya: There’s still something else before you can start your little scavenger hunt.
Hina: Like what?!
Kyoko: Look. Monokuma’s not talking.
Hina (question mark portrait): Uh, really?
I turned to where Kyoko was looking.
(Portrait: Monokuma is laying against the ground. inactive)
Sakura: That's strange.
Hiro: ...Should we leave him be?
Kyoko: I don’t think that’s wise.
Hina: What if someone stayed behind?
Hiro: Yeah! We can tell him what’s up when he wakes up.
Byakuya (annoyed): I’ll stay behind.
Makoto: Are you sure?
Byakuya: Of course. If Akira and Goro’s plan was as simple as getting us all killed, I don’t plan on falling for it.
Hiro (happy): Suit yourself, man.
Minus Byakuya, we all entered the giant hole.
I couldn’t help the feeling of… uneasiness. It was like anything could come at me at any second.
We walked for a while anyway, and the place didn’t seem to end.
(metal footstep sfx)
Hiro (fast): What was that?
Hina: Pretty sure that was your own foot-
Kyoko(whisper): No, it’s from somewhere else.
Kyoko(whisper): Let’s hide.
We all rushed behind piles of rock and debris.
The sound got closer, and I dared to peek.
(Portrait: A coated figure with their back to the camera has a something akin to a demon knocked down, pointing a gun to it)
???: What do you know of the Tragedy?
???: Do you really not know?
(warning shot)
???: Talk.
???: It’s the biggest, most awful, tragic event in human history!
???: Why? Who died? What happened?
???: If you really do not know, it must stay a secret for my Liege, darling.
???: (grunt)
???: (under breath) Arsene, Eigaon.
(a tall demon with a top hat appears behind the coated figure. there's red and black smoke covering the demon)
???: (high pitched scream)
(the demon and Arsene dissipate)
Hiro: Is he gone?
Kyoko: I think so.
Hina: What was that…?
Hiro: He's a demon tamer! I'm sure of it!
Sakura: How so?
Hiro: Didja see what was following him?! It was totally following his orders!
Toko: But Arsene isn't supposed to be a demon, he's a gentleman thief from Maurice Leblanc's stories...
Kyoko: Regardless of who it is, we don't have time to think on it.
Kyoko: Let’s steer clear, for now. We don’t know if he’s an enemy.
Sakura: Right.
We looked for what could have been seconds, minutes or hours.
We lost track of where we were, and I made the mistake of going a few steps ahead.
I locked eyes with the golden eyes of a moving shadow.
???: Who's there?
I was suddenly unable to speak, my heart caught in my throat.
But before I knew it, the figure lunged.
(Image: Joker has a gun pointed to Makoto's head)
Makoto: Akira!?
Joker: You...made it
Joker: Does that mean Goro's…?
Kyoko: His execution passed a few minutes ago.
Kyoko: He left a note to come find you.
Joker: …
Joker: …
Joker: … Right.
Joker: Tell me everything.
(fade to black. kyoko/makoto explain)
(fade back to portraits)
Joker: He was right, then.
Joker: The mastermind has access to our memories.
Sakura: What?
Joker: What happened in his execution is how he should have died a long time ago, and only a very limited number of people know of it.
Joker: Those people, including myself, had sworn to never tell anyone no matter what.
Kyoko: So if the mastermind knew of the events, the only explanation according to you would be access to memories, is that right?
Joker: Yeah.
Toko: And w-what if the m-mastermind was one of those p-people?
Toko: Th-they could have j-just b-betrayed you, y-you know!
Joker: No.
Joker: I know them all personally, causing something like this is outside of their principle.
Joker: You should all go back and finish the trial properly, I'm willing to bet Monokuma will want answers.
Hina: What about you? Aren't you going to go back?
Joker: I have the app too, and there's some things I still want to check. I'll catch up later.
- The MetaNav: both Akira and Goro own a mysterious app called the Metaverse Navigator.
Hiro: Um, that's all fine and dandy but… where are we?
Joker: The Metaverse, an alternate version of our reality.
Joker: It'd take too long to get into, so here's the two things you'll need to know.
Joker: If something looks real to you here, it will be.
Joker: And, to narrow things down, if you are not exactly like the mastermind thinks you are, an alternate version of you will appear here to fill that role.
- The Metaverse: an alternate reality accessed via the MetaNav. Alternate versions of people can appear there, and so can things you believe to be real.
Joker: You should be able to work with that and whatever else you find.
Joker: If you need a motive, just say it was an effort to get clues behind our situation.
- Akira's account: Claims the trial was caused to get information on our circumstances.
Joker: Good luck.