Chapter Text
The further the boat sails away from the secret Future Foundation headquarters and the longer the party went on the more Ryouta has time to reflect on the new life he was embarking on. After so long he finally got to meet the people he could have gone to class with some years ago. The Imposter ever at his side had always given him whatever information he needed to know about what daily school life was like back then but for the first time the two of them could see everyone together. It really was something to celebrate. Still, Ryouta could hardly stomach more than one serving of the meal provided to them by the former Ultimate Cook. Even with the encouragement of his old friend to pack on the calorie intake just knowing what it cost to get them to this moment in time twists his insides.
But that was the point, wasn’t it? Everyone on this boat has their share of regrets, the things that they could never take back from their pasts, and yet here they are. Smiling faces and laughter ringing throughout the ship with the resolve to welcome each new day of their futures. The current peace could almost pass as carefree and Ryouta thinks even the nausea he feels deep in his gut could be passed off as sea sickness with a little bit of effort. It’s nice. It is nice to be here surrounded by people who care about him, it is nice that they understand him and welcome him on their new mission.
Ryouta breathes in.
And breathes out.
The sea air is nice, too. The pollution that the densely populated areas of the world suffer from can barely be detected in this open air.
The big and strong hand of the Imposter now resting on his back is also nice, Ryouta thinks. Focusing back on the here and now, Ryouta listens as the Imposter speaks, “…sure you are alright? I know you skinny people can be knocked over by a particularly strong breeze on any given day, but I must insist that you speak up if you need some rest.“
The way he talks sounds so identical to the haughty mannerisms of the original Byakuya Togami, yet the words themselves come off with more caring than Ryouta has ever heard from the man. It puts a smile on his face. Even if it means the Imposter’s work in mimicking that identity is imperfect, Ryouta is glad to be stuck with a Byakuya who can give a compliment without it sounding like an insult on a good day. He should tell his friend how grateful he is that the Imposter is who he is deep inside sometime soon, but for now Ryouta has to answer that question, "I’m-- I mean. I was just thinking. I might feel a little better once we get back on solid ground. Do you know how long we’re going to be out at sea?"
Answering a question with another question is cheating, but it’s true that Ryouta actually has no idea what they plan on doing next. Atonement, that is what they had said their current goal was, but what exactly did that mean? Ryouta clenches his hands over the railing. Having a party celebrating togetherness when the corpses of nearly all of the head members of the Future Foundation lay fresh seems almost dissonant.
"Hmph, is that all?” Byakuya Togami says with his arms crossed and looking down his nose at Ryouta. Of course he knows that isn’t all and the act drops its intensity as he continues speaking, “Answer me this, do you presume that we are operating as a group or a collection of individuals?"
Ryouta’s mind blanks, is there a significant distinction there? Or rather, why would that make any difference for how long they are going to stay on the ship? It’s not like anyone can just leave when all that surrounds them right now is the ocean meeting the distant horizon. Taking a step back from the railing to really look his friend in the face he can tell that this is really a serious question. It’s just hard to understand where he’s going with it. So Ryouta says, "You all welcomed me as part of the class and asked me to come with you, so that makes us a group. Right?”
“Correct,” replies Byakuya, his face emanating both smugness but also a sense of pride directed at Ryouta. “Then you should already be aware that what any organized group --no matter the size-- needs is a strong, capable leader. One whom can be relied on to manage such pedantry details of our plans.”
“So you mean I should ask Izuru Kamukura,” he says, because regardless of how little Ryouta actually knows about the guy he understands enough that there is no one on the planet more qualified for any position than that person. Even so, the memory haunts him of Izuru following Junko around like her shadow, seemingly ever present in those final days and just watching knowing full well what she was really like. Letting it all happen, bored. That is the Izuru that Ryouta knows, not the person the others call by the name Hajime. Even if he was the first one to extend his hand for Ryouta to join them, but wait, "Does that mean you don’t know?”
“I am Byakuya Togami,” is the only reply Ryouta gets as if that should obviously be the answer.
"Oh."
Still, he doesn’t move from his spot to seek out Izuru. He definitely isn’t avoiding talking to him, he just, he needs to build himself up to it. That’s all. Then he’ll walk right up to him and ask. Maybe the destination is so obvious it doesn’t need to be said, maybe they don’t even have a destination set. What direction is the boat even heading towards again? The setting sun casts everyone in twilight, but scanning the rest of the ship Ryouta can see that someone thought to bring out portable lamps so that the party doesn’t have to move indoors just yet. It is nice to see everyone getting along so well, the atmosphere is totally different from what a meeting in the Future Foundation could get like.
Byakuya must notice his hesitation because the man places his hands on Ryouta’s shoulders before speaking, “Social anxiety, is it? Fear not for I, the esteemed Byakuya Togami, have made a promise. I may have relinquished the leadership role to another, but having the good sense to delegate tasks to those entirely deserving of their titles in no way breaks the fact that I swore on my family’s name that I would protect us all. And it would not suit that promise if I did nothing to ensure that you integrate with the group as smoothly as possible.“
WIth his speech made the Imposter turns away, taking long strides towards the front of the ship, giving only a quick glance back to be sure that Ryouta follows.
He has to jog to catch up with his surprisingly quick footed friend, but once he has they walk side by side.
When they see Izuru he is in a group with Ibuki, Mahiru, Hiyoko, and Nekomaru who are all watching Akane stuff as much of dinner’s leftovers in her mouth as she possibly could. It already looks like her cheeks are stuffed with an impressive amount of meat to Ryouta’s estimate, but still he hears Ibuki cheering Akane on, "Yahoo! Ibuki knows you can do it, girl. Take it to the max!"
Hiyoko, acknowledging their arrival, mutters to Byakuya and Ryouta, "Hey, you two, wanna bet that Akane is tooootally going to pop any second now? There’s no way she’s going to be able to finish all this just by shoving it in her face hole like some dirty chipmunk.”
“Amateurs,” Byakuya replies. He almost seems offended by this display, but he goes on, “To think you would start an eating contest without my presence. I have a technique to surpass all just for such an occasion as this you know."
Akane tries to say something but her mouth is just too full for any words to form.
"Please be careful that you don’t choke,” Mahiru says. The worry on her face melts to annoyance as she acknowledged Byakuya, “Geeze, could you not make this into a competition. There was just a little bit too much meat left after everyone else was done eating and Akane offered to clear it out so none of it went to waste.”
“Hehehe, yeah by shoving it all in at once to make a spectacle out of herself,” Hiyoko says with a sneer.
Nekomaru laughs along with her, but more genuinely, “A truly impressive feat! I would not have guessed it possible for a mouth to contain that much meat if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes!”
“Oh yeah, and I’m sooo sure that all this binge eating is going to do wonders for helping her recover from those eating disorders she had before our big reunion. I’m real impressed that someone could actually gain weight from being held in stasis inside a pod for a few weeks,” in a way the words out of Hiyoko’s mouth could be interpreted as concern but only if she could lose the biting attitude. Though Akane had been recovering some time before the simulation, if only so that her despaired self could experience the hope of gaining back a healthy weight only to lose it all over again.
“Hiyoko–” Izuru was finally going to speak up, but whatever he was going to say quickly gets drowned out by the loud chewing and swallowing noises Akane began to make just then. It was kind of disgusting to listen to.
With her mouth clear, Akane tries to say again what she wanted to say earlier, “Hey! If that’s a challenge, Byakuya, then you’re on! You better know that there’s no way I’d back down if you think you can beat me."
She punches her fists against each other and she almost seems to glow with a sudden burst of energy. It’s obvious to everyone that she’s taking a potential eating contest with the same level of seriousness she would take a call to battle. Opposed to her, Byakuya doesn’t even flinch at this display of strength. And of course he wouldn’t, Byakuya Togami exists as a pinnacle of confidence and excellence. He simply would not have made the challenge if he were not absolutely certain of his superiority. For now they settle things with a stare down.
"Aww, you totally swallowed it! Ibuki is sure that wasn’t even a world record or anything. Hey hey, Hajime, what is the world record for face stuffing anyway? Was she close?”
“I wasn’t taught that kind of useless trivia.”
"No fair! You like, totally know everything now don't you," Ibuki says while pumping her fists in the air. There is a pause where nothing happens and she sighs when she realizes that he's not going to answer that. Show's over, what a bummer.
However with that distraction out of the way there is nothing in the way of Ryouta asking what he came over here to know.
Byakuya opens the conversation, "Speaking of this supposed 'knowing everything' talent, Hajime, there is something I believe requires your attention."
"Oh? What's up?" the man's tone is more casually friendly than Ryouta would associate with such a bland face, but while the others are between loitering about or scattering across the ship again he knows they have his undivided attention now.
"Tell him, Ryouta," Byakyua suddenly says with his arms crossed once more. His smile betraying the amusement he feels more than the smugness he must have been going for, like sharing some sort of private joke.
"Huh?!" it startles Ryouta, mostly because he was expecting a little bit more support than that. He recovers quickly though, after all there's only so much beating around the bush and it is his question after all. He takes in a breath, making sure his back is straight just for the sake of holding his confidence, "I was just wondering if we had a plan to return to shore any time soon? We left headquarters pretty quickly, but I don't really know where our destination is now."
"That is a great question," is Izuru's reply. He places a hand on his chin as if he even needs time to think this through. "This is actually something I had wanted to discuss with everyone once things have settled down. We could start now if you want."
"Oh. W-well th-that is--" Ryouta stammers trying to say something that doesn't sound stupid to his own ears.
He doesn't get very far before Ibuki comes bouncing back into the conversation, "Whoa! So soon you are going to call for the swan song to our voyage into the vast depths of the void unknown?! Heh, it sounds cool to name it that, right? Well, if that's what Serious Business Hajime wants then leave it to Ibuki to gather everyone up!"
"Thanks. We'll gather by the bow," Hajime says pointing towards the front end of the ship so there's no mistaking where he means, "since it'll start getting dark soon and we can set up a burn barrel over there."
Byakuya speaks up once more, "So rather than the convenience of arranging our meeting indoors where lighting wont be an issue you would have us group together under the stars? Very well, have it your way. However, Ryouta! It is of utmost importance that we make a detour before we attend. It would be a waste of our resources were we to not consider the possibility that those Future Foundation commoners stored some marshmallows we could roast."
Honestly eating more is the last thing Ryouta has on his mind and it is more than doubtful that a Foundation attack ship would have something like marshmallows regardless of their availability in the world. But, Byakuya seems to want it so earnestly that he can't help but feel attracted to that energy like a moth to a flame. So without anything else to say to their leader they part ways with Izuru--Hajime for the time being and descend into the ship.
In the end there were no marshmallows to be found, but they both had fun searching the pantries. They knew they couldn't keep the others waiting so they didn't really have time to go through everything, but the unresolved mystery feels more like a promise that next time there really might be a treat waiting for them.
Just a tiny fragment of hope for the future.
When they return to the deck most of their classmates have gathered around the fire that was indeed set up while they were busy. Izuru stands perfectly centered with the front of the ship, observing as Teruteru stokes the fire by poking a metal bar through gaps punctured in the barrel. Looking clockwise around, Kazuichi and Gundham stand at Sonia's sides listening to her tell a story about a custom from her homeland inspired by the circle they are forming around the fire. Also listening in to the story is Mahiru and by her side is Hiyoko, though the other girl seems more intent on looking out for the latecomers. She pouts a little when her eyes land on Ryouta and Byakuya as they take their place around the fire near her, but otherwise makes no comment as her eyes continue searching. After them there is a gap stretching out for the rest of the class, except for Akane, Peko, and Fuyuhiko completing the circle back around to Izuru.
Nagito is also here for the meeting, however instead of being with the others he stands close to the railings outside of any direct light source. When Ryouta's eyes meet his he only smiles and waves as if to say, "Don't worry about me." Well that makes one sort of missing classmate found, another three yet to arrive.
Before he can wonder where the others are for very long Fuyuhiko speaks up, "Yo, Akane, did Nekomaru get lost or something? Weren't you just with him?"
A huge grin forms across her face as she replies, "Aw, you know Coach, he's probably just--"
"It's shiiiiiiiiiiit!" booms the man in question's voice as he slams open the door from the interior of the ship. It's unlikely that he heard the conversation, but the declaration is well timed. Fuyuhiko mutters that he should have expected as much as Nekomaru finds his place next to Akane. "I apologize for being late, but as a man I am bound by my duty to take care of this body of mine. Have I missed anything?"
"I am not starting until everyone is here," Izuru says simply. Then, after a brief pause he continues, "Mikan and Ibuki are on their way, so it wont be long now."
Hiyoko having heard what she wanted to know suddenly focuses her attention back towards the group, "Ugh, it's about time. Some of us would like to go to bed early tonight so how about next time we need to have a meeting we should make everyone promise not to drag their asses making this longer than it needs to be."
She sends a glare towards her left, ensuring that Ryouta knows that Byakuya and himself as well as Nekomaru are included in her critical judgement.
To avoid her glare he instead asks Izuru, "How do you know they are coming?"
Izuru doesn't answer. Not that it would have mattered if he did, because the sound of two pairs of rushing footsteps follow up the question just as well.
Distantly he hears Mikan calling out, "I'm soooooorry."
Ibuki is just behind her, pushing Mikan forward even faster. Her laughter rings throughout the air, "Excuseness! That's short for, 'excuse us for our lateness!' Mikan slipped and made a totally huge mess downstairs, you should have seen it!"
"Uwaa, don't tell them that! I got all wet because you surprised me, it's soo embarassing," she whines back. Her knees almost buckle but Ibuki's hands on her back keep Mikan upright somehow.
Something about the girls'.... phrasing dries out Ryouta's mouth. He wants to trust them that there is nothing suggestive at all about what they are saying, but he remembers Mikan. Crawling towards him. Back then. He swallows but the dryness nearly chokes him. It's just an innocent conversation though, right? Mikan fell, on accident, and.... some water was probably involved? No one else is reacting like there is anything strange about what she said. Mikan is the clumsy one, that is what the Imposter had told him once while filling him in on the daily school life Ryouta had refused to be a part of.
The two girls take their place filling in the circle next to Ryouta. He pales. Izuru stares.
"But you make such cute faces when you wiggle on the ground like that, Mikan. All like 'eek' and 'ooooh, don't look there' with your face all red," Ibuki basically shouts in her enthusiasm, drawing the attention of everyone even if they had otherwise been in their own conversations.
"You didn't help at all!" Mikan cries out, tears forming in her eyes.
If Ryouta could melt himself into the protective folds of Byakuya's fat he would be there by now, but all he can manage is leaning against his friend. He feels torn between calling out the harassment such a scenario must have involved and not wanting to make a scene if his friends.... classmates are just. Like this. No, Mikan wouldn't be crying if she wasn't wronged here. He should speak up. Soon.
"Slander and lies! Ibuki cleaned up the supply closet with Mikan. Even got all that nasty old water back into the mop bucket while you changed," she almost seems offended while missing the point.
His voice cracks, the accusation on the tip of his tongue. His throat feels like its closing in on itself and he begins to wonder if he's even breathing. Mikan. Not even Mikan deserves to be objectified. It's not her fault. No one deserves to go through that no matter what they've done.
Ryouta nearly jumps out of his skin and gasps when Nagito appears in front of his vision, blocking out the sight of the girls and their bickering. His voice is low almost like a whisper and sweet, "Is there something wrong, Ryouta?"
Being pressed against Byakuya as he is, Ryouta can feel the rumble of his voice in his chest as he joins in too, "I agree, you've started acting a little strangely. Should you need to lie down there should be no issue for me to fill in for you, or postponing the meeting until tomorrow if that's what it takes."
He understands that they are trying to comfort him, but Ryouta becomes all to aware that the attention that had been focused on the girls has now shifted onto himself. He can't just call it off when he's the reason why everyone gathered in the first place, but Izuru had said that he wont start without everyone. Can he be excused without wasting everyone's time? No, no, he can't just run away from this.
He extends his arm to point past Nagito's shoulder at the girls, voice squeaking embarrassingly as he forces himself to declare, "S-s-sexual harassment!"
There is a pause then. The longer the silence stretches out the more Ryouta thinks he could just die on the spot. He can't be the only one who sees it that way, right? Right? Nagito shifts his gaze behind him to the girls, then back to Ryouta. Nagito says "I see," but in a too neutral tone that speaks more of him just going along with Ryouta rather than seeing the problem.
"Eh? Uh, sexual harassment?" Ibuki begins, clearly confused by the accusation, "Not that I doubt your judgement on this, but shouldn't Mikan be the one who--"
Suddenly Mikan screams out, silencing any discussion on the matter.
"T-this is all my fault isn't it?!" she rushes from her placement in the circle in a panic to stare Ryouta directly in the face. He stiffens where he stands. "You look so pale, Ryouta, a-and your trembling. You look so faint. I'm the one who made you this way, aren't I? You hate me don't you?!"
Her voice cascades the more worked up she gets as she speaks, her breasts heave with the effort she's putting into her body language. Ryouta has to close his eyes, he cannot bear to look at her right now as much as it pains him to admit that. Wasn't he just trying to protect her? Why did she have to be the one going on the offensive?
To Ryouta's gratitude, Byakuya moves inbetween the two of them. Byakuya then questions Mikan, "What is the meaning of this? For what reason would he have to hate you; did something happen between you two that we should know about? Explain!"
"It has to be my fault, right, Ryouta! Un-unless, was there someone else? You know w-we're all here for each other now, don't you? S-so if anyone did what I did to you, or worse," she nearly growls at the thought, "you have to let us know so we can d-do our very best to help you! It's not fair, for you to get hurt like this. I'll do anything you want me to so that you can feel better!"
"Whoa wait, does that mean what I think it means?" Kazuichi from the peanut gallery interjects.
"Ryouta, did you perhaps have.... an altercation with Mikan in the past?" Sonia adds on from Kazuichi's interruption, trying to put it as politely as she can manage.
"It might be better if you could settle down a little, Mikan," Nagito says as he places his hands on her shoulders and nudges her back a step. Another physical barrier between her and Ryouta to back up Byakuya's towering form.
Somehow asking where they plan to move forward to has sunk Ryouta back into the depths of the past. Sinking sinking, deeper deeper.
"Ryouta, if this is something too much for you to go into details about we will understand. But it seems there is something we will have to explain to you," Byakuya is as gentle as he can be, a beacon in the darkness pulling Ryouta away from that abyss of despair. "First of all, I apologize that none of us thought you might need to hear of the promise we've made to each other. Are you following?"
Any topic change might as well be a lifesaver, so Ryouta nods, "A promise?"
"Before we get into that, how much do you know about what happened to us in the Neo World Program?" Izuru finally speaks up, which quiets Mikan's caterwauling and the others speculations.
"The Neo World Program? Even though I was a Future Foundation branch head invited to Makoto Naegi's trial the only details I was really aware of was that he used that program to shelter you all. For you all to come out of the program no longer acting in the name of despair, I assume that it worked?" Of course Ryouta's own branch had almost nothing to do about dealing with Remnant of Despair activity so he was one of the last ones to even know about Makoto's treasonous actions. If he had the chance to see for himself he must have buried himself in his work too much to even notice. And yet, the feelings of jealousy flare up again just thinking about how truly lucky Makoto is that his efforts were so rewarding and he came out of the final killing game practically unscathed compared to the loss the Foundation took in just this one day. Their goals were the same, yet where Ryouta's hands created the very tool used to initiate the end of the world, Makoto may have very well saved it if the former Remnants can undo the evils they once plagued the world with.
"Not exactly," Izuru gives a pause to allow Ryouta a 'huh' reaction before going on. "Perhaps Makoto and his closest friends are the only ones who would know what truly happened to us in there, but the reality is that before we were able to leave Jaberwock Island we experienced our very own mutual killing game within the program that was meant to rehabilitate us."
"A killing game? B-but you're all-- I mean, how can you--" Ryouta can hardly finish his questions. He never would have guessed that the others would have experienced something as brutal as mutual killing, for one the program was never designed to facilitate something so violent as far as he knew and even more importantly for everyone to be alive.... and just at dinner they were all smiling at each other like nothing could tear them apart. How is it possible for them to hold such a strong bond if they were literally killing each other not too long ago?
"Of course the killings took place within the simulation. Once I awoke in the real world I was able to revive the ones who had fallen comatose resulting from the trauma of experiencing death within the game world," he shifts from his bland but informative tone to a smirk here. "We were even able to keep all of our memories created within the game world and outside of it, something that was not possible in the original model of the program which was designed to overwrite our memories."
Ryouta looks up to stare into Byakuya's eyes, a silent plea for confirmation that all that really happened. He is met with complete seriousness, so it really happened then. It happened, but, "How is that possible? For a mutual killing to occur, and despite that you all are so welcoming of each other? I don't understand."
"This is where the promise I mentioned comes in. You see what we have done to each other would be considered unforgivable by normal standards, however, we are not normal people. Even amongst those who were merely innocent victims in the program, the scope of inexcusably evil acts preformed by each of us in reality is innumerable. So in the interest of forging a new path for ourselves we promised each other one thing: a second chance, for all of us."
"We do not ask that you simply forgive what has been done to you. Second chances do not necessitate letting go of the past as it is not your responsibility to prove that the wrong that has been done to you will not happen again. All you must do is keep an open mind and exercise good judgement. And if there is any problem at all with this arrangement, that you still feel unsafe by any means, you should know that we've also promised to look out for each other and that includes holding each other responsible for what we do from now on."
What Byakuya and Izuru explained made sense, and Ryouta realizes that he too must have benefitted from this arrangement by how easily they had accepted him into their group, the one who gave Junko Enoshima the power to turn them into monsters. Izuru already said that what they seek now is atonement, not forgiveness. This is the future they have chosen, and the future Ryouta had abandoned his career to follow along with.
He looks at Mikan, how she now sobs into Nagito's shoulder as he holds her close to him with his mechanical hand. Ryouta can't see Nagito's face and her words are too muffled to be understood, but the sight reaches him deep inside. Everyone has shown that they are willing to open their hearts to him when they could have easily condemned him as a traitor to the class, the one at fault that none of them can live prosperous lives in an unbroken world. If only he could have done something different back then to stand up to Junko, but he had thought he was protecting them when that was a false hope she had manipulated. The past cannot be changed, no matter how much one regrets the things that have been done. However...
The future can change everything. If given the chance.
"So then, you all--!" there really isn't anything Ryouta feels can end that sentence that can convey all of the uplifting emotions he wants to express towards his classmates.
Suddenly Fuyuhiko speaks up, as if unloading a burden, "With this second chance we have a unique opportunity to fix some of our worst mistakes. After-- after what I did in the program I had a lot of time to think. I felt so ashamed of myself that I let Monokuma play me like that. How easy it was. I never wanted to go through that kind of experience ever again, so I resolved myself to becoming a better man. Now I can finally say the things I should have said to begin with instead of being so far up my own ass that I lose sight of what's really important."
"Young master!" Peko gasps. It takes her a visible amount of effort to continue, "I..... still feel that the blame for that lays on me, for overstepping my place as your tool. I understand now that you do not see me that way, however that is something that I.... will need some time to become accustomed to. I do not know if I can let go of my purpose, but I will do my best to become the kind of person that you-- that I, um, can be? Excuse me, this is awkward."
"I swear I'll help you understand your own worth, Peko, no matter how long it takes," the permament blush on Fuyuhiko's face seems to deepen its pink hue just a little as he makes his declaration. No one comments on how much more cute it makes him appear. The look of determination in his eye is all that needs to be seen to understand his resolve.
"Geeze, I'm just relieved that my death was quicker than I could realize what was happening," Mahiru starts. "I don't know how I would feel if I had to suffer and then wake up to find out that what I was killed for had been something we'd already worked out between us while we were in school. Just, Fuyuhiko, I'm going to have my eyes on you to make sure you live up to that 'better man' talk! No excuses!"
"I appreciate that. Really."
Nekomaru's voice booms out, "Oooh, are we sharing stories now!? I just want to say that I hold no ill will towards Gundham. I was living off borrowed time anyway, and in that moment we'd made a pact! I obviously wasn't around to know if you all really understood what it meant to us, but dying a warriors death for everyone's sake sure as hell beat waiting for all of us to just die."
"Indeed, I had already explained myself sufficiently while judgement was cast upon me. However," with a smirk Gundham steps towards the fire barrel. His actions then mimicked by Nekomaru who was positioned directly across from him. The fire may be a barrier between them but as they stare at each other their bond unmistakably transcends such a simple obstacle. "it is with no small offering of gratitude that I feel seeing you stand before me once more."
"It was an honor to duel you!" and what Nekomaru says is then followed by the windup of his right arm. Gundham senses his intentions and moves his feet into a stronger stance while balling his hands into fists. As Nekomaru swings his own fist forward Gundham meets him halfway, securing the brofist with all the intensity it deserves. Fire licks towards their outreached hands and embers jostle free from the force of impact, but neither man seem to care.
For these two it seems the hardships they faced together only served to strengthen their camaraderie.
Nodding, they withdraw their hands and return to their previous placements.
"Ibuki will go next! Whoo!" Despite waving her arms in the air in excitement Ibuki quickly switches to crossing her arms in a more contemplative manner to actually explain her feelings, "Hmm mmmm, you know, since Ibuki was sick at the time Ibuki was like totally reliant on Mikan's care. To depend on someone like that and have that trust betrayed would super duper suck, but when Ibuki woke up Hajime explained how Mikan got sick too. So Mikan was just as helpless to stop herself as Ibuki was in not taking suggestions waaaaaay too seriously. In that case, what really sucked was the motive Monokuma forced on us!"
Up until this point Ryouta had been following along as best he could with the explanations the classmates were providing, but at the mention of a sickness and people acting strangely from it he looked towards Byakuya for verification. It didn't make a lot of sense out of context, but Byakuya only whispered back that he would "explain later" before refocusing his attention right back on the current conversation.
Contrasted to Ibuki's pump and vigor, Hiyoko is bitter when she says, "This is so pathetic, you know? What I want to say is that I want to break that pig slut's bones, twisting them into a goregous decorative arrangement while I peel her skin off little by little. That murderers shouldn't be just forgiven on the spot like nothing happened and the least she could do for slicing my neck open is to bow down before me and beg for her worthless life. But....."
Her words are so cruel and so at odds with the established atmosphere of everyone getting along that it's honestly shocking to Ryouta. Scanning around the circle what he sees though is that he's the only one flinching, just like when Mikan was describing how she fell earlier it seems as though everyone is used to this kind of behavior. He feels guilt welling up inside for feeling afraid by her words. Despite not wanting to hear any more he forces himself to continue listening.
"B-but, then I woke up. And I'm just as much worthless murderous scum as she is. I'm still pissed as hell! But we're all in this together, so.... I'm trying. Because if I can forgive Mikan, I can prove to myself that I can forgive myself too," Hiyoko looks as if she's about to cry as she finishes speaking.
If Ibuki's words sent tremors through Mikan's body while she continued to cling onto Nagito, it's Hiyoko's words that spur Mikan to break away from his hold with a rough shove so she can scoop the two girls into a tight hug with a fresh wave of tears. One victim leaning into the embrace, the other not exactly pushing Mikan away but certainly making disgusted faces and weakly spoken rude comments. All Mikan can force out is a repeating loop of, "Uwaaah, I'm so s-sorry. This is so unfair. Please forgive me. It's not fair. Forgive me, I'm sorry."
"Ugh, you know I'd be choking on your smelly pits if I were still short? I can't believe I have to get used to being tall again...." Hiyoko complains before burying her face in Mikan's shoulder, accepting the hug for what it is.
A silence follows from the group as the girls hold onto each other just a little bit longer. Not like the current topic is over, but rather everyone seems to be waiting for the next person to speak up.
Perhaps because this pause follows so closely after Hiyoko's harsh words that Ryouta begins to really understand that everyone's cooperation isn't due to any special bond that magically makes all the bad that happened between them disappear. The smiles and fellowship they had shown him both in the broadcast tower and at dinner are something they do purposely.
Like everything is going to be okay, but not because it's easy. Rather, everything is okay because that is what they will make of it with the decisions they make every single day from now on. Unlike anime where relationships can just click together to suit the narrative, real relationships take dedication and effort to maintain.
No more anime, no more video game worlds, no more excuses.
Byakuya breaks the silence, "Look, I do forgive you, you know."
"Eh, even you died?!" the revelation pulls Ryouta back from his thoughts. He didn't even want to think that anything had happened to his friend during the killing game.
"I was the first."
"It was an accident! Th-the worst mistake of my life!" Teruteru cries out. "I wasn't my intention to murder Byakuya, but if I had gotten away with it then everyone would have...... truly mama would have been disappointed in me even if I could have gone back home to her."
"Byakuya proved himself to be a truly remarkable leader at that time," Nagito compliments. "Certainly I had underestimated his ability, it's just unfortunate how he paid the price for that competence."
The praise seems to anger Teruteru as he continues shouting, "You! Don't you think you should sound more ashamed of yourself, none of that night would have even happened if it weren't for you!"
"Huh? But you're the one who made the decision to kill someone, Teruteru. It's not like I forced you to do anything, I merely presented you with an opportunity," Nagito replies. With his wide eye stare it seems that feeling guilt hadn't even crossed his mind.
"How crazy do you have to be to not see that's just as bad, you devil!"
"Enough," Byakuya rebukes. He briefly clasps a hand over Nagito's shoulder, perhaps because he just happened to be standing the closest, or as a gesture of things left unsaid here. He then turns to speak to Ryouta on his other side, "Clearly not everything can be worked out with just a few short words, Ryouta, but that's why it's important that we look towards the future now. And for that reason we must all learn to work together."
For the time being the two other men seem silenced. Though Teruteru is no less flustered than he had been since he spoke up. As for Nagito he seems just as calm as ever, however now that Ryouta knows he was involved in the murder of his best friend that disarming smile now seems to carry an edge to it. He never would have guessed. Byakuya retracts his hands.
It is best to look towards the future though, right? So the conversation should probably move forward if there's nothing that can be said that would change anything here. That is what Ryouta thinks as he says, "Um, so, was that everyone? Already so many of you have spoken up, the amount of survivors at the end must have been comparable to Makoto's group."
"We were down one less," Izuru states.
Everyone goes quiet again. Enough time for Ryouta to do the math and understand that means... that means... In a killing game alike to the School Life Killing for there to be a victim and then the murderer killed as well once found out and... and...
The math doesn't add up. Or does it?
"I have made the magnanimous decision to give Kazuichi a second chance!" Sonia swings her arm forward as if making a proclamation.
"Aaaaugh! Miss Sonia!" Kazuichi clearly not expecting to hear that screams out. "Wh-why would--? No. No, I know why. You must have hated me for the way I acted in the simulation. I totally admit that my behavior was unacceptable there and I'm so sorry. B-but this is about murderers and victims, you know? I was a massive creep, but it's not like I murdered you! Please don't put me on the same level as that!"
"Ah, you are right. I perhaps may have wanted you dead, but that does not quite fit into the current topic of conversation. I ask all of you to excuse me for speaking out of turn as such," Sonia finishes speaking by covering her mouth with a single hand as emphasis for her keeping her mouth shut on the matter.
Kazuichi tugs his hat down while biting back tears as Sonia bows her way out of the conversation. The problem remains then that there is someone who still needs to speak up. However as Ryouta catches quick glances here and there the only conclusion he can come to is that they are waiting for...... Nagito. Again? Yet, what surprises Ryouta the most is how by all appearances all this is going over Nagito's head, as though having to explain himself any further than the short comment he made towards Byakuya is something that just hasn't occurred to him.
Fuyuhiko is a bit grumpy as he nudges the conversation forward, "So are we just going to stand around here all fucking night or is a certain someone going to give us some reassurance that everything's cool?"
Ryouta finds himself openly staring at Nagito now, but the next voice he hears actually comes from across the ring. Izuru says, "I am the one who inserted the Junko AI chips into the Neo World Program. All deaths from the killing game are my responsibility for creating that possibility."
"Hey Hajime, you know there's no need to go apologizing for that! You've done so much for us and it's not like we went into that program totally blind to that old plan," Akane says with a wide grin.
"Indeed, if it were not for Hajime more than half of our number would still be comatose. Or worse," Sonia says firmly, but her eyes soften as she glances towards Gundham at her side.
"Even then, 'or worse' was the original plan" Kazuichi grumbles. "Man, I can't believe as Remnants of Despair we were that idiotic. Who the hell would agree to sacrifice their bodies to revive some bitch?"
"And even in the program, Hajime saved our asses a bunch of times during the trials. Really, man, we owe you our lives. So don't go around saying crap like 'I shouldn't have done that' when it's the best thing that's happened for us in... hell, it's been years," Fuyuhiko insists.
"Thank you, you guys. I appreciate your faith in me," Izuru says with sincerity clear in his voice. A sharp contrast to what he used to be at the start of The Tragedy. "But even so, what I did risked everyone's lives and that is worth acknowledging. Can you really trust that your lives are safe with me? That I'll never get bored of your existence?"
"However, the Hajime who did that to us and the Hajime before us now are not precisely the same," Sonia cautiously broaches the topic. "The time we spent together on that island gave us many meaningful memories which serve to both shape who we are now and how we are able to see each other. I believe in the Hajime that I have spent that precious time with!"
"But you know I'm not just that Hajime you met on the island. I can't be."
"That is right, I suppose you are not," Sonia says turning her gaze away.
Izuru sighs, "Which isn't to say that person has been completely erased. I am still Hajime Hinata, and I will continue to identify myself that way. The distinction to make here is that I'm also still every bit the person who has toyed with your lives in the past. I am Izuru Kamukura. That is what makes it important for me to work towards showing you all that I wont just discard everyone again."
No one has an argument to follow up that logic.
Except Nagito, "Is that really important? Had it not been for the risks taken we would not be able to stand here and speak of a hopeful future. Hajime, whether you truly do care or if you are just using us as mere entertainment, right now would you deny that our hearts are united against despair?"
"So is that what you believe," Izuru doesn't question but rather states outright, "that it should not matter what we've done in the past as long as we can say that the outcome was what one would call hopeful."
There is an undercurrent of mania to the way Nagito laughs before he says,"Of course! It's only natural that the bigger the despair the greater the hope that follows becomes. I've said as much before, have I not? We've all done completely unforgivable things that makes us undeserving of life. However, that is our stepping stone towards hope! Once we've moved beyond--"
Before Nagito could explain his mindset further, Kazuichi cuts in, "Like hell it doesn't matter! There would be no point in us forgiving each other or atoning for anything if we just 'stepped over' our past or whatever you are babbling about!"
Nagito raises his hands disarmingly, "Really now, I'm just looking towards our future. That's what we are all doing here. The probability that something horrible will happen so soon after all that we've been through and all that we've gained.... well. Don't you think that would just be too much?"
"How can we look towards the future if we can't get over what you've done! You don't even have the excuse of being under her influence for the kind of crap you pulled in the program," Kazuichi points accusingly at Nagito. "I haven't really thought about it since we were so busy getting everyone up and that thing with the Future Foundation, but hearing you talk like that is starting to piss me off!"
A quiet murmur of what is more or less agreement follows Kazuichi's statement from some others in the group.
"Ah. Please, I do not mean to cause any unrest like this. What...." Nagito pauses, "What can I do to make you feel better?"
"Man, you even have to ask?" Kazuichi mutters to himself.
"Nagito," Izuru picks up the conversation, "you say that for what we have done we do not deserve life. What reassurance can you give that you aren't going to throw away this chance we have to live, taking in consideration what you attempted to do in the game world?"
Awaiting a response, for Ryouta the world seemed to freeze for a moment. He doesn't really understand what they are referring to since he hadn't witnessed it, but the weight of the question holds him in place. However, while Ryouta was willing to let the scenario play out, Hiyoko becomes the voice of this confusion when she says, "Hold up! Not everyone here knows what you are talking about. Like, he did try to get us all killed right away, but last I remember no one cared about that enough to keep him locked up anymore. As long as he stayed the hell out of the way, of course. Sooo, don't tell me you guys really let this creep get away with pulling another murder scheme!"
"Hiyoko, please..." Sonia's voice wavers ever so slightly. Her hands clasp together as she presses them against her chest. "Now is not the time to explain what precisely happened. I.... I do not wish to recall that scene nor the outcome of the trial."
"Wow so someone did die because of all of your negligence!"
The way Hiyoko sounded as if she were speaking down to Sonia sets Kazuichi off, "Hey hey! Miss Sonia said to let it drop, so let it go! What do you need details for anyway? Nagito is fucked up and tried getting us all killed, again. That's all you need to know!"
"But," Mahiru joins in soft but soon plants her hands on her hips, "if we don't have the full picture of what happened then what Nagito has to say isn't going to mean as much to the rest of us, you know? If you are going to go around demanding answers, have the consideration to think about those of us who have no idea what you are talking about!"
There's a building energy in the air, the kind Ryouta is familiar with from attending meetings with the other leaders in the Future Foundation. He sighs. This is where arguments just keep piling on top of each other and everyone loses the ability to cooperate long enough to come to a final decision that could help the world. It's disappointing to see the stability the class tried to project for him falling apart before his eyes, but should he have expected any better?
Do they even remember the real reason why this meeting is happening?
"Okay everyone needs to just shut up and listen. First of all, Sonia is right that now isn't the time to relive that shit. We're trying to move the fuck on here, but" Fuyuhiko sweeps his arm from pointing towards Sonia over to Mahiru, "I get where you are coming from too. And you are right, we should have everyone on the same page here so I'll just go ahead and say the part that actually matters."
For just having one eye Fuyuhiko surely has a powerful stare as he lets Kazuichi know exactly how unimpressed he is with what the other had to say about the event in question. Sonia opens her mouth as if to protest but thinks against it, hesitant. One of Gundam's hamsters pokes out from his scarf to make a leap from his shoulder to hers, and the man stands proud as his fluffy companion soothes her worries away with adorable little headbutts and squeaks. The combination of Fuyuhiko's glare and Sonia calming down results in Kazuichi backing down from arguing more though he still grits his teeth.
Hiyoko looks like she's eaten a sour grape, but with Mahiru's nod towards Fuyuhiko to continue Hiyoko merely crosses her arms and pouts.
Oh. To Ryouta's shock it seems there is still hope for this group yet.
It's such a relief compared to being in the Future Foundation.
"Okay, so there's a lot that I'm going to gloss over here but in summary: Nagito found out about us being Despair ahead of everyone else. So he killed himself. Except he did it in such a convoluted way that he was going to take down the rest of us Despairs with him if we hadn't figured out the trap. What he did was just some suicidal vigilante bullshit, any questions?" Fuyuhiko doesn't wait for a response before closing the topic with a forceful, "No? Good."
Mikan squeaks evidently having been silenced from whatever she was about to say. Gundam too seems to have something to say, but his eyes lock on to Nekomaru who shakes his head and that's the end of that.
Akane furrows her brows, "Hmm, you know actually being reminded of that, doesn't this mean we're not just dealing with Nagito recklessly putting our lives at risk? Monokuma didn't count it as a suicide but he still got himself killed by his own plan, ain't that the same thing?"
Beside her, Nekomaru scratches his chin, "Seems that way. So it was a suicide, huh..."
Chatter starts up again as the formerly dead members of the class process this information. Izuru allows it to continue for a few minutes, however his words cut through the white noise in an instant, "Well, Nagito, your friends are concerned not only for themselves but your own well-being now too. My question remains the same."
"Oh, so it's my turn to speak now? You know I wouldn't go as far as to say everyone here is my friend, after all it is my fault that everyone nearly died twice! I feel unqualified to be considered anyone's friend with that sort of history between us."
"Just answer the question."
Once more there is a pause as Nagito collects his thoughts. He stares at his robotic hand, flexing the fingers just enough for a quiet whirring noise to sound out from its mechanisms. Izuru is still as a stone, yet this manages to communicate to everyone that this time no one is to interrupt in a way similar to how Sonia's commanding presence naturally exudes obedience in those caught in her aura. It's almost terrifying how strong his aura is. Finally, Nagito takes a deep breath to speak.
"For those of you who battled against the image of Ultimate Despair Junko Enoshima herself, this is the hopeful future you have chosen. How could I not be moved to know you five had come up against the abyss of despair with your final decision, and then together you were able to create a future for everyone. Even amongst those who had died your perseverance and shining hope saved us. You-- Ahaha! You even went as far as to awaken someone as troublesome and worthless as me. And greeted me with a smile! It is as Kazuichi said, after all I've done how could you possibly forgive me? Had I gotten my way the only future awaiting us and the world would have been more despair. I couldn't do a single thing right, and yet you all allow me to stand amongst you still."
Flesh hand grips metallic hand close to his chest as Nagito finishes, "You have given me a gift by my being here like this. It would be unforgivably rude of me to just throw all that hard work away."
It's touching, Ryouta thinks. Despite the things Nagito had done that make it hard for Ryouta to peg exactly how he wants to feel about the man, he can at least feel some comradery from those words.
But just as the thought crosses his mind Byakuya speaks, "Hmph, so your will to live extends as far as your gratitude towards the survivors then? How dependable do you expect us to trust those feelings to remain the same?"
"Oh? For my motivations to be doubted like this....." Nagito turn his head away from Byakuya's scrutiny. He loosens the grip on his hand only to cross his arms. "I wouldn't say you are wrong to think that way. I'm sorry I don't really have a better answer than that at this time, but I really do feel grateful."
Izuru sighs, "There, is everyone satisfied now? If no one else has any comments to add I'm going to get to the point of why I've asked everyone to gather tonight."
Suddenly Akane jumps to attention. "Whoa, hey before we get on with it. Um, coach, I've got something I gotta say to you."
While Akane and Nekomaru begin to discuss..... something to do with Akane feeling at fault for Nekomaru's death. A fight with Monokuma? No matter what it is Ryouta cannot focus on that conversation because Byakuya has leaned down to speak quietly in his ear, "Have you understood the promise this class has made to each other?"
Nekomaru's voice is booming while declaring his duty as a coach.
"Oh yes, I got it a while ago. Thank you for helping me understand. I..." Ryouta chokes up. He looks at Mikan who still clings to her girl friends. He'll have to talk to her. He swallows. But he doesn't have to talk to her right now. "I envy everyone here. You all have the strength to speak up about your grievances with each other, but I don't think I can do that yet. Is that okay?"
Akane is shouting back. Insisting on taking responsibility for her own actions. She jumps in the air to deliver a kick, but Nekomaru blocks it easily. Their dicussion continues with their fists flying, but Ryouta still doesn't pay much attention to this rowdy bunch.
Byakuya smiles, "Do try to not forget that we are operating as a group now. While a strong leadership will keep us going, the matter of personal wellbeing on an idividual level is still vitally imprtant to our overall success. More than simply 'okay' I might even suggest that taking time for yourself is what's expected of you as you adjust to your new circumstances."
"Thank you--" is all Ryouta can say before two loud thuds manages to break through his focus on his own conversation. He turns back to look at Nekomaru and Akane who are both on the ground now. Where the two of them had just been standing there is now Izuru.
It must have been an impressive sight when Izuru knocked the other two to the ground judging by the look of shock of Kazuichi's face and Sonia clapping with Nagito.
"Heyyyyy," Akane recovers first by sitting up and rubbing her head. She then jumps to her feet. "Hajime if you want a fight, you're on!"
Nekomaru's laughter bellows even as he stays on the ground a little longer before picking himself up as well. He says, "Good one, Hajime!" as he does so.
"I will look forward to it," Izuru replies to Akane as he walks away from her back to the position he had been standing in. "But right now what we all need to be thinking about is where we want to go next. There are several destinations I have in mind, however, I'm ultimately leaving it up to the rest of you to narrow that decision down."
"Aye aye, Captain!" Ibuki shouts and makes a salute.
"First thing: do we want to go back to Jabberwock? Our impact on the world will be limited, but the isolation and our familiarity with the land makes it ideal for relaxation."
Gundham laughs while flourishing has scarf dramatically, "Fuhahaha! A land claimed under the dominion of our mortal enemy known as 'Future Foundation' is simply no match for our evil prowess should we deign to take sovereignty ourselves."
Sonia frowns at that, gripping a hand across to her arm. "While I have full confidence that we could secure Jabberwock for our own purposes what I am not certain of is if this is the right time to make that move. We did just send a message to the entire organization claiming responsibility for destabilizing their leadership. Should they discover we have moved back there we may never see the end to their retaliation; that does not sound like a proper hella sweet relaxing vacation!"
"Yeah! I'm with Sonia," Kazuichi replies, pumping his fists all fired up. "Why the hell would we head back to that island anyway when we finally got off of it? Let's go save the world or some shit already!"
"Aren't we just gonna get attacked no matter where they find us?" Akane starts thinking out loud. "Aw, but you know if we're on that island Hajime will probably spot any threat a mile away before I even get a chance to clobber 'em, so I'm all for us just moving on too!"
"So does anyone feel like we should prioritize Jabberwock?" Izuru glances around the circle. Though Gundham had been excited for the possibility he tucks his face in his scarf, conceding to Sonia's point that now may not be the best time to pursue that aspiration.
Fuyuhiko huffs, "Jabberwock is fine and all but if we aren't going there we're going to need some kind of base of operations. Hell, come to think of it Jabberwock might not even cut it since we don't exactly have a way to send outgoing signals there do we? What we need now is a way to keep in touch with the world as well as each other in case there is ever a reason for us to scatter apart. We need to be better prepared."
"So we currently lack necessary technology and discounting this stolen boat we are without a base we can return to safely," Izuru states dryly like he's reading off from a checklist.
"Well, yeah--" Fuyuhiko tries to agree but Hiyoko interrupts to say, "So then why don't we stay in the capitol? Didn't the Kuzuryuu clan take over the government of Japan, we should have looooads of security there."
"We cannot go back there," Peko says sharply. Her red eyes glare at Hiyoko until she seems to realize her response was too intense so she quietly adds, "....yet. You wouldn't know, however those people we left back there were set to react with hostility towards everyone without the control helmets except the youn-- except for Fuy-- Master Fuyuhiko and myself. Even as fellow members of Ultimate Despair the rest of you were not welcome."
Sweat forms on Peko's brow as she makes an attempt to break away from her usual address for Fuyuhiko. She squeezes her eyes shut and takes a slow, deep breath calming herself down.
Mikan flinches and holds her hands over her head as though expecting to be hit for speaking as she says, "Why... why even us? Do you haaaaate us."
Ibuki shouts energetically, "So just shut 'em down! What gives?"
"Look it's not that simple," Fuyuhiko tries to be gentle but defensiveness can still be heard in his voice. "We did a lot of stupid shit as Despairs and making the situation more complicated and self sabotaging than it needs to be was part of that."
"For similar reasons I ask for you all to not consider Novoselic to be a safe haven for us. Once I set foot on my home country's soil I shall resume my position as Queen and without a plan of action beforehand it will be most difficult for us to maneuver however we wish."
Following off of Fuyuhiko and Sonia's remarks Izuru adds, "If we were to just deactive the helmets without a strategy for what happens to those people afterwards we are just going to create more chaos. Accustomed to violence and suddenly without purpose, the confused mobs are likely to begin a mass riot."
Chatter starts up again. Teruteru thinks it would be better to just let those people go on account of how they'll continue to spread despair for as long as the message is broadcasted to their brains. Once they are no longer fueled by Despair it is the Future Foundations problem then, right? Mahiru scolds him on how typical it is to just assume it would be okay to leave a mess of the world and expect someone else to clean it up. Nagito points out that they are likely to leave the Monomen and women in the hands of Future Foundation regardless due to their choice to uphold their reputation as Remnants of Despair. This is very much not what Mahiru wanted to hear, but before she can give him an earful Hiyoko jokes that they can just get Ibuki to play her songs to calm the masses. Ibuki is pleased but insists her music is more suited for encouraging riots than dispersing them.
More solutions are brought up and countered all the same. How could they resolve this issue?
"There is a way we can handle the mono helmets on a small scale to begin with and then build a plan based off of the results," again Izuru sounds like he's merely reading off of something as mundane as a shopping list rather than deciding the fate of the world.
Nagito smirks, "Why Hajime, had it not been for you stating you were allowing us to narrow down the possible locations I would suspect you were leading us to pick one location in particular. That last point sounds oddly specific don't you think?"
Ryouta blinks, "Is there some place we can go where we can set up a base, keep in touch, and have a testing ground to disable the mono helmets without causing another despair outbreak in the process?"
Izuru holds his hands out in a 'you got me' gesture and smiles as he drops his hands back down. Ryouta can't be sure that he never did have alternative ideas in mind, but the way the man looks this is certainly the route he expected the conversation to head down. A shiver runs down Ryouta's spine seeing him like this.
Finally Izuru explains his idea, "Up until just recently there was a city that Despair had allowed to remain untainted, and fortunately for us it was a bastion of technological advancement. What we need in communications or surveillance can be found in relatively good shape despite the conflict thriving there now. The Future Foundation has already taken notice of the city's self contained incident, but it does not know the most important secret the city holds. We can use that to both establish ourselves undetected and leave the fallout of our aid in their hands without giving the Foundation a heavier burden than they were already prepared to deal with."
"So we're going to...."
"Towa City."