Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When the Reserve Course received leakage from an unknown Ultimate, discussing details regarding the true nature of the Hope Cultivation Plan as well as the deaths of their supposed 'dropout' classmates, the final nail to the coffin would be the video featuring the Killing game of the Main course student council.

[?Killing Game¿]

Everyone watched it.  Horrified and Mesmerized? Mystified or Petrified? Relied on but denied?  No one understood what was going on. A whirlwind of emotions tore their thoughts, leaving behind fragments that needed to be pieced together.

People began to buzz. Some stayed silent while others replayed the video.  On and on and on and on.  People began to move. Some finally stood up, but others remain to keep watching.  Despair. Vengeance. Hatred.  People spoke louder. Some began to cry. Others stayed silent.

What should we do?

What do we do?

What now?

Why?

People are yowling for blood, screaming for an explanation, and thrashing for comfort.  They don't want to die, but they don't want to live.  The people cry for vengeance. They are planning a revolution, desiring the end of Talent.  Fear and rage consume the building.

[A revolution]

Chapter Text

...

*CRASH!*

When a rock thrown (from the outside window) tumbled the projector, forcing the video to get distorted, one of the mesmerized reserve students sitting in the room arose from his daze.

...

"?" Hinata Hajime blinked, his movements sluggish and stiff. After rubbing his weary eyes, the brunette quickly checked the time.  [12:03]

'That's not right.' Hajime found that odd, recalling his class started watching  a video  presented to them during lunchtime.  That would be around 1 PM .  Hajime went over to check the laptop, which the VCR is connected to, noting the video is on loop.

[The video is 10 minutes long.]

'We watched this more than 100 times.' Hajime grimaced, turning around to see several of his classmates still in their seats. 'What's wrong?'

'Why won't they move?' Hajime pondered, curious and worried to see his classmates crying but never making a sound. 'What the hell is wrong with them?'

'I better leave.' Hajime went away from the teacher's table, heading back to his seat. Hajime couldn't help but notice the scratch marks, torn papers, and tumbled chairs around the classroom on the way back. It seems while he was watching the video on loop, a dozen others rampaged out.

"Tsk." Hajime tried using his phone to call his parents. [No response.] As expected. Hajime then contacted his uncle, who worked for the government. [Busy.]  That does not bode well.  

Reading his text messages, Hajime felt a sense of relief when he saw some news to update him on whatever is happening at the moment. The first title being: [ Parade in Hope's Peak]  This article discussed the current activities of his department, starting riots and attacks at the Hope's Peak main compound. The second one is from  his uncle , telling him to head back home pronto  and avoid danger.  The third one is from  Nanami Chiaki , asking him if he's okay and whatnot.

'Nanami.' Hajime contemplated on that name, annoyed how a name so familiar felt so distant to him. It seems the video affects not only his mental state but his mental capacity.

'The Ultimate Gamer...?' Hajime theorized after checking his messages with the friend? Nanami Chiaki has to be a friend. Their interactions prove to him that they became friends through gaming. 'We must have met somewhere by accident... Why else would an ultimate befriend me?'

[Chiaki: I know you aren't part of the Parade. I hope you're okay.]

-----------------------Yesterday-----------------------

[Chiaki: If you see one of my friends, please protect them.]

[Chiaki: And tell me asap]

The latest message was sent around  12:00  with an attachment of a nurse with uneven bangs and a bandaged right arm.  Static.

'Why can't I remember?' Hajime sighed, turning his attention towards the window to see  dark crimson skies .

'Huh?' He furrowed his eyebrows, confused why  that  happened. However, something about it makes him worry for his friend. According to the news, the  Parade  targets Ultimates to maim and eventually kill.  Chiaki could be in danger.  Hajime could go home, but his parents aren't exactly great company. He could go to his uncle's apartment, but then he'd be worrying over his friend. If he searched for Chiaki, he could cause his classmates to attack him.

'I just have to be careful.' Hajime decided, grabbing what was necessary for his bag before heading out. He grabbed a bundle of rope, his phone, and a first aid kit. Hajime got the rope from his friend, an excess material, during one of the theatre performances last year. The first aid kit is something Hajime needed to have, considering he tends to anger the security guards.

"?!" Hajime almost tripped by the doorway, the flash of clarity distorting his surroundings for a brief moment. He quickly latched onto the door, breathing hard to stabilize his condition.  Probably hunger.  Hajime stood there, waiting for his vision to adjust before scanning his surroundings once more. [The hallway is a mess.] He could see graffiti, destroyed glass, and furniture, as well as unconscious people lying everywhere.  They might be dead.  Hajime finally got back on his feet, cautiously walking through the hallway and avoiding the bodies.

'Most of them are the staff and faculty.' Hajime thought, knowing one of the bodies dangling in one of the classrooms. [A high school math teacher hung by the neck.] He didn't like the teacher either, so not all is lost. Hajime kept going forward, reaching stairs. 'It's too quiet.'

...

Descending down the stairs, Hajime knew the Reserve Course building was huge. Since he was in his classroom, he'll have to walk down another 11 floors to reach the ground floor. Assuming the majority of the reserve course are outside rioting, Hajime might not encounter anyone before leaving the building-

"?!" Hajime almost slipped, grabbing onto the rails and staring at the blood puddles. Hajime chose to get out of his thoughts, not wanting to die a tragic death.

'Despair.' Hajime read, staring at the bloody handprints and words etched on the walls. He doesn't exactly understand why anyone would write that, but that might be the motive on the video. Now that he thought about it, why did the video affect him so badly? Hajime doesn't know anyone in that video. He doesn't even understand why he'd been mesmerized by the voice speaking within the video.

'The voice wanted its listeners/viewers to spread despair.' Hajime frowned. The reserve student found an issue with the message. Something so many people dub easy to comprehend, but in the microlevel quite strange to request. Seeing the amount of blood, bodies, and destroyed property, Hajime wanted to ask the one who created the video: 'What exactly is  despair  to you?'

"Hn?" Hajime reached the ground floor, surprised to see many of the students wearing a monochrome bear head to cover their faces. The sight was unsettling for a while, but that feeling switched to indifference. It makes sense for them to hide their appearances now that they started a revolution of sorts. Hajime should probably wear one too to avoid recognition.  Hope's Peak has declared it will enact drastic measures to quell the revolts.  Hajime walked forward, not sure how to start a conversation. He wasn't much of a speaker, usually observing and listening. Hajime knows the students won't harm him since they're in the same boat.  A successful revolution will require faithful solidarity.

"What are you doing?" One of the students hissed at him, tugging him backward. "Where's your Monokuma head?"

"Monokuma?" Hajime asked, turning around to see a student wearing the same strange monochrome bear head. It's a girl, judging from the skirt and chest.

"**** I think he just woke up." Another student whispered to the angered female, also wearing a Monokuma(?) head. This one's a male because he wears pants?

'Perks to wearing a disguise?' Hajime can't tell the gender with body structure alone. He does have a strange chest size despite being a male.

"Here. Wear this!" Another student offered a Monokuma head to him. "It'll protect you, so you can cause despair!"

"Despair." Hajime echoed, and the other students nodded eagerly.  A collective effort to spread despair.  Hajime asked, cradling the Monokuma head. "What do we do afterward?"

"Afterwards?" One of them repeated, suddenly cackling. "What a joke! You honestly think we can wipe out all those bastards from the planet?"

"But what if we do accomplish that?" Another student asked, looking in Hajime's direction. "What if we kill all the Ultimates?"

"Correction. If we kill the Ultimates in this shitty school." The student who said this might have rolled his/her eyes. "There's more where that came from. It's called a revolution for a reason, xxxxx."

"Right. That makes complete sense." The tallest one nodded, and Hajime can see the bloody ax in that guy's hand.

'So they destroy property and people.' Hajime concluded. His worry increasing at the thought of Chiaki getting hurt. 'I have to find her.'

"Almost forgot." Someone shoved a gun into his hand, cheerful. "For protection. We talentless got to stick together, ya know?"

"Thanks." Hajime accepted the revolver, balancing the Monokuma head and handgun.

"If you wait a little longer, the supplier will be here soon. We could arm you with a knife and other neat stuff." The students chatted to him as if it's a typical day.  How odd.

'I don't even know them.' Hajime tried to smile, and someone pats his back.

"You must be hungry. Head over to the cafeteria to grab a snack." The girl pointed at the cafeteria governed by a student who also wore a Monokuma head but with a chef's hat. "Way better than the old food."

"I will." Hajime marched forward, pocketing the gun before heading over to the food station. He also took note of some monochrome bear robots here and there— thirteen total.  Hajime reached the station, receiving an entire plate of cooked packaged goods.

"Down with Hope's Peak." The student pronounced. Hajime didn't respond, merely nodding as he walked out of line. He examined the packaged goods: a bottle of water, cooked curry rice and cup noodles, biscuits, and a cup of yogurt.

'Maybe I should save some for Chiaki?' Hajime contemplated, looking up from the food to sense eyes on him. He expected it to be the students realizing he isn't as crazy as them, but it was the robots. The glaring crimson eyes unnerved him.

"..." Hajime shook his head, surely imagining things, and snapped his chopsticks. He'll eat first before helping Chiaki search for her classmate.

Chapter Text

[Rainy day with crimson skies.]

If Hajime were filled with despair, he'd think all entrances are blocked, and he should just give up.  You have to find Nanami.  Thankfully, Hajime was persistent, following a bunch of students carrying explosives.

"I really think you should wear your Monokuma." A student suggested, but Hajime ignored the remark. He knew it was necessary to reveal his identity.  Humanity can only empathize with what they're familiar with.

"Nah, man. Hajime's got guts." The other student joked, nudging the other's shoulder. "Or despairingly yet, he got nowhere else to go."

"..." Hajime followed the leader, looking behind to make sure none of the other students get lost. At the surface, one would think the Parade has no battle plan. Emerging from the core itself, Hajime knew the Reserve Course spent enough time to create clusters to override the Main Campus.  Hope's Peak is underestimating them . 

"I think we're close." The leader turned in Hajime's direction, and he nodded accordingly. Hajime found the least number of students and followed them, finding it easy to coordinate with the group.  A compliant group of people.  Some of them speak of despair and death, but most want to save their siblings/friends in the Main Course.  A similar goal to his.

"Thanks for coming with us, Hajime." A student, random as she was, raised her hand at him. "We were terrified they'd catch us. I mean. They're already using guns and tear gas. We're not doing any wrong, right?"

"No going back now." A student interrupted their conversation, dropping the bombs on the school wall. "We're all in this together."

"Y-yeah.." Another student nodded, but Hajime noted the student's arms shaking as they carried the shotgun. "They killed some of my friends. We... We have to return the favor!"

'Strange.' Hajime thought, watching the girl who wanted to shake his hand went over to the students preparing the incoming explosion. It seems the students in the Reserve Course Building and the ones outside react differently from the video and... that email.

'I could have been part of that body count in that  Hope Cultivation Plan. ' Hajime read the email but found the delivery like that of a newspaper headline. 'But no one would mourn for me.'

'If I were Nanami, where would I go?' Hajime wondered. The Main Campus is a vast place, definitely going to be filled with reinforcement soon. 'She's searching for someone.'

"Take cover!" A student yelled, and Hajime yelped when someone snatched him up. It was the one who kept making puns. Hajime instinctively shut his eyes when the bombs exploded.

*BAAAMMM*

"?" Opening his eyes, Hajime stared at a destroyed wall and torn down trees.

"Ready your guns." The leader commanded, and everyone but Hajime cocked their guns. "We're heading in!"

"I can't wait to meet XXXXX!" One of the other students squealed.  Hajime will take note of that.

'I guess I should investigate the forest.' Hajime decided to walk a different path from the students, aimlessly searching for his friend.  Familiar.

...

'I remember now.' Hajime pulled out his phone, using the map Chiaki created to navigate his way into areas close to the Main Campus.

'Surely, Nanami's classmate wouldn't wander that far.' Hajime hoped so. He's been alone for half an hour with still no results-

"AAAAHHHHHHHHH"

"?" Hajime turned to the sound of the yelling voice, forcing his legs to follow the student. They're coming near the river.

"Tsk." Hajime frowned, disliking the idea of a student drowning. What good would that do? Hajime clutched his head, wincing at the pain. 'Now is not the time.'

*SPLASH!*

'No!' Hajime almost twisted his leg to rush towards the riverside, eyes searching for any unknown movement. Do you even know how to swim?

'All or nothing!' Hajime jumped down, diving into the river.

'My body's so heavy..' Hajime slumped on the side, saving this unknown main course student from drowning. Their uniforms are muddy, and Hajime might have left his Monokuma head in the forest.

"..." Hajime's breathing through his mouth, flushed at the intensely cold water and sudden exercise. His arms are also shaking, but that must be from the cold. Why doesn't that bother him?

"..." The Main Course student was coughing a couple of feet beside him. Hajime watched him, taking attention to the eyebags and pale skin.

'This guy hasn't been taking care of himself.' Hajime is suddenly reminded of his friend Chiaki. Nanami Chiaki is the Ultimate Gamer, the girl he befriended in the first year of school. The memory recall ends there. 'It'll come back eventually.'

"Y-you.." The guy's crying, glaring at him as he finally succumbs to fatigue. Hajime stared at him passively, feeling pity for the guy. The Ultimate(?) yelled in a hoarse voice, "Why did you save me? W-why? WHY?!"

"..." Hajime let the student whine, slowly sitting up after regaining enough energy. Hajime crawled towards the student, sitting beside the despairing student. "Can you move?"

"I-I can..." The student is still crying, but Hajime can see he can't. Hajime didn't help him, though, aware of the difficulties this student wants to defeat.

'However..' Hajime offered his hand, frowning as he watched defeated eyes. They stared at each other, and Hajime admitted. "Is Nanami your classmate?"

"Na...Nanami...?" The student keeps crying, wiping his eyes but failing to stop the tears. Hajime finally reached to grab his arm, helping the male sit up. "You! You know Nanami-san?"

'He might be too tired for the journey.' Hajime pulled out a chocolate bar one of the students gave him, offering it to the animator. "Yes. I.. Can't remember everything about her after watching a video (the student flinched at the word  video .), but we're friends."

"..." The student didn't respond, quickly snatching and eating the bar of chocolate. Hajime tore his gaze at the ally/enemy(?), seeing they're on a muddy landscape. 'We'll have to be careful.'

"Nanami-san... She's in trouble... Because of me." The student finished the comfort food, no longer crying. "It's over. It's all over... All because of me.."

"If you can lead me to where Nanami is, I'll help you escape without getting hurt by the Reserve Course." Hajime placed the offer on the counter. They're wasting time. Hajime looked back at the student, one of Chiaki's classmates. "Do we have a deal?"

"H-how? How can you be so calm?!" The student is yelling again. Hajime doesn't know how to tell it without hurting his feelings. Weighing his options, however, forced Hajime to state the truth.

"I don't know, but it's definitely because of the video." Hajime watched the man shrink. "My ability to give a fuck has gone down to near zero. My memories are blurring behind the seams. I don't even understand what Nanami is to me."

"All I know is that I have to find her." Hajime holds a strong attachment to this person for reasons beyond him. He didn't find his parents necessary, but he has found his uncle mildly relevant. 'Chiaki is different.'

"What if she's already dead?" The student threw out. Hajime turned silent, thinking about it.

"She isn't." Hajime smiled, confident on that one note. He might be going crazy. Hajime explained, "Did you see Nanami before running away?"

"Y-yes.." The student softly replied.

"Then we have time." Hajime stood up, offering his hand once more. The student is more willing to accept the assistance. Too tired to resist. Hajime added, "Knowing Nanami, I'm sure she's with her-er-your classmates."

"!!" Suddenly, his eyes caught a shine to it. Hajime presumes the student has a friend he needed to protect.

"Shall we go?" Hajime doesn't understand the details, but if he can help him...

"Yeah." The male nodded, looking at the muddy wall they'll have to climb. "We have to save them!"

'How do we save them?' Hajime opened his mouth but chose to keep silent. If this Main Course student responds this way, then wouldn't that mean the true mastermind is also an Ultimate. 'How can the two of us fight that?'
 

...

'I guess it won't be that hard.' Hajime can feel eyes staring at him again. It's the same experience as when that admin pressured him to be a part of that Plan. Hajime can sense when bloodlust is on him, eager to tear him apart.

'I'll use that to my advantage.' Hajime stayed close to the main course student, rambling about nonsense.

Chapter Text

The Main course student Hajime managed to save is named Ryota Mitarai. Hajime also learned the mastermind's name: Enoshima Junko. She understands us. What a farce! Hajime doesn't know anything about her. What audacity! A self-entitled Ultimate playing everyone like a puppeteer.

"Why are you telling me this?" Hajime finally spoke out after so long, curious why this male keeps speaking on and on. It makes no sense. Hajime doesn't know anything about him. In fact, Hajime has never interacted with any of Chiaki's classmates. Chiaki doesn't want to. Hajime watched his temporary comrade(?) freeze.

"I... don't know." Ryota admitted, also finding his actions odd. The animator stared at the passive student, asking. "I... Is that your talent?"

"Are you blind?" Hajime raised an eyebrow. Why would he be in the Reserve Course building and manage to befriend all the students if he was an Ultimate? Hajime scoffed, "I may have temporary amnesia, but I'm confident that I'm talentless."

"... Sorry." Ryota looked away, leading him once more.

'Did I hurt his feelings?' Hajime sighed, aware he hurt this guy's already beaten ego.  At least he stopped  talking. Hajime glanced at the Reserve Course students, watching them avoid them. 'This...'

"Would this even be considered a talent?" Hajime asked, watching the students with swirling eyes(?)

"I don't know," Ryota muttered.  As expected.  Ryota flinched when a bullet flew by them, but the student who shot at them had the gall to apologize.

"Whatever. Let's hurry." Hajime lightly tugged Ryota to get out of the forest, taking the more accessible and more visible spots.

"But. But the students are avoiding you." Ryota complained, and Hajime rolled his eyes. "This isn't normal! They're filled with despair! Why would they just... There's no way."

"Whoever made the video is within this school." Hajime began, ignoring this guy's concerns. "An Ultimate who has too many ideas and not enough patience."

"What are you talking about?" Ryota stopped walking. What a bother. This student really wants to waste time.

"I'm stating the obvious." Hajime scanned the area, about to reach one of the fountain areas. He can see one of the Main Campus buildings being overrun by the Reserve Course. Wrong building. Hajime sighed once more, "it could have been better. It could have been perfected. There wasn't enough time."

"Y-you.." Ryota took a step back. "H-how many times have you watched the video?"

"Less than 200." Hajime knew the Ultimate Animator had something to do with it, but he'll think about it later.

"O-oh.." Ryota looked at him as if he grew another head. The animator continued walking, muttering to himself.

'What's his problem?' Hajime wondered, trailing behind the student.

...

'Are we close?' Hajime reached a fountain area(?) Hajime blinked, following Ryota towards a secret entrance? Ryota turned to look at him, pleading he goes first. Hajime shook his head, and the student paled up.

"Just go. I'll protect you." Hajime promised, standing behind the student as he flickered his gaze at a nearby bush.

"..." Ryota exhaled, calming himself before heading down back to his past.

'I don't have much time.' Hajime steadied his resolve before heading down with this student.

...

...

"I think we'll need a plan." Ryota rambled again, picking up speed. It seems the place isn't well-lit, Hajime having to offer Ryota his flashlight while he used his phone. "I'm sure  she's  going to get back up. Oh, what am I saying?  Her  sister's the Ultimate Soldier."

"We can't do anything about them," Hajime answered, shrugging. They finally landed on a specific floor, now walking down corridors. Hajime can't remember the routes. His emotions are finally catching up to him.  It was only a matter of time . "Let's meet with your group first before fighting back. I'm sure they can fend that woman off."

"But what if they're part of  her -" Ryota's hypothetical circumstances will have to wait. Hajime quickly dragged him to the side, escaping the view of another set of unknown entities.

"..." They stayed quiet. Hajime pressed him and Ryota close to a wall, covering the quivering animator's mouth with his hand. He can hear the footsteps past them.

"I can't wait to help, Junko-sama~" A strange female cooed, and Hajime glanced at the side to see a retreating blue-haired figure. This eager female is accompanied by a short-haired armed raven.

'They're heading out.' Hajime waited for the sounds of those two female's footsteps to fade away, letting go of Ryota's mouth. He watched the animator take a couple of steps away from him, clutching his chest.

"Do you still want to continue?" Hajime asked. His mind blank.  A sane person would choose to head back and save themselves.  Sadly, that choice would be boring and guilt-ridden. Hajime prefers death to the current options he has.

"D-do you-uh-we have any weapon?" Ryota offered, biting his lips in fear. He's shaking but determined. "Just to be safe?"

"I have two guns. You can take the one with the full rounds." Hajime moved his coat, checking his pocket to grab the revolver. He gave it to the student, aware this person has almost zero experience. Hajime also offered a knife, "Here. I know you'll do better with a knife."

"D-did you shoot someone?" Ryota asked, clutching the weapons. Hajime looked at the other revolver, pondering about it.

"The owner of the gun shot someone," Hajime admitted, showing the gun. "Don't worry. We won't have to use the guns. I may have a plan."

"A-all right..." Ryota smiled.  The man is finally regaining his sense of self.  Hajime nodded, and they continued their journey.

Chapter Text

[LOADING...]

"..." Hajime clutched his head, vision blurring at the severity of his headache. He almost fell over if it weren't for Ryota.  Something is going to happen.  Hajime coughed, scratching his head. 'It hurts. It hurts. It hurts!'

"Oy! Are you all right?" Ryota cried, but Hajime needed something. He needed. [Medicine.] Hajime pushed himself away from the student, coughing.

'Nanami?' Hajime clenched his chest, staring at crimson.  That's his blood . Hajime hates this feeling.

"Y-you're coughing blood?!" Ryota panicked, but Hajime focused on one person. Chiaki.  Chiaki has his medicine .

"I... We need to find her." Hajime coughed, wiping the blood from his mouth. It makes sense.  Does it?  If he's sick and Chiaki has his medicine, then he has to find her. Hajime stood up, staggering. "Nanami... She..."

"We're almost there," Ryota reassured, staring at the incoming crimson door. "We're almost there. Come on."

'Ironic.' Hajime coughed, tainting the clean floor with his blood. In the beginning, he acted as Ryota's pillar. This traumatized student would be lost in the world until someone found him. 'I guess this is how karma works.'

"This is the door. I'm sure of it!" Ryota struggled to walk for both of their sake.

'It isn't.' Hajime rests his head on his shoulder, staring at the red door. 'It would be too simple, wouldn't it?'

"Everyone!" Ryota reached forward, pushing the door to see a strange courtroom area.  Checker tiles like chess. Crimson carpet and witness stand like the court: crimson veils and golden engravements like a palace.  Hajime glanced around, seeing cameras.

INCOMING GAME OVER

"A-a trap?" Ryota whimpered, but Hajime had no time to listen to him.

"The knife." Hajime requested, removing his arm off Ryota. He has a bad feeling about this.  If Junko plans to cause despair... If Junko intends to mock talent... If Junko plans to brainwash more people...  Hajime focused on the opposite wall, staring at the crimson door. "Ryota. The knife."

"O-ok." Ryota didn't question, offering him the knife. Standing at the doorway, Hajime looked at the Ultimate Animator.

"Don't move until it's over." Hajime's hands are shaking.  I'm scared.  Hajime can feel tears falling down his eyes,  but who else would do it?  Hajime prepares to run, afraid and confused. His memories aren't all there, but  he knows .  Something has to be done . Save Chiaki. He has to save Chiaki because...

If I don't do something, she will die.

Ryota didn't know anything about Hinata Hajime, but something about the reserve course student made him feel calm. Something about the guy felt different.  Hajime has talent.  Ryota simply doesn't know what it was.  Hajime can be trusted.  Watching Hajime rush forward, right into a room that might be trapped, Ryota finally felt it. The sudden loss of tranquility and the burst of HOPE.

"Wha..." Ryota didn't think Hajime could use the knife to miraculously deflect a thrown metal spear. It was as if he was watching a play, unable to tear away as Hajime threw the javelin off its course but also throwing the knife with. It was like an adaptation of an anime with the main character rushing to save the heroine.

'That's not possible.' Ryota can't believe it.  He can't believe the odds.  Hajime kept going.  Stop.

"Hajime!" Ryota finally began to move, apprehension enveloping him. Afraid because the ending became clear by simply watching the hero run towards the opened door. Whatever Hajime's talent was, it made everything so clear. 'Hajime isn't the main character.'

Hinata Hajime is going to die.

"NO!" Ryota screamed, watching this mysterious reserve student push his class representative. Hajime has ruined the ending. Watching the metal spikes emerge from the ground, Ryota's chest tightened. He could see Chiaki's eyes widen, not resisting the opposite force.

!!!!

"..." Everything was quiet. Too quiet. Ryota fell on his knees. All the energy in his body is gone.

'Why do I feel this way?' Ryota wanted to ask. He barely knew the student called Hajime...

"E-eh?" Chiaki finally broke the silence, eyes finally looking at the place where she should have been had it not been for the intervention. The Ultimate Gamer blinked, realization dawning on her. "H...Hinata...kun?"

As soon as the body fell, Chiaki let out a piercing scream.

Chapter Text

Mitarai Ryota had only known Hajime for a couple of hours, but he knew the Reserve course student profoundly cares for his class representative: Nanami Chiaki. Hajime didn't give a damn about the parade, or the brainwashing, or the dangers, or anything... Hajime was simply focused on Chiaki.

The simplicity of his character, the predictable pace Hajime put up, subconscious or not... The blunt honesty he held, despite saying not a word...

Those were the primary reasons Ryota placed his trust in Hinata Hajime. The student was likable, a pleasant company in this harsh world...
 

...

(It came to no surprise when the ultimate gamer reacted so vividly at sight.)

Chiaki's lament shattered the solemn silence into a million fragments, covering her eyes partially as if to deny reality. It was at that particular moment that the cameras all broke down. Sadly, Ryota saw everything.

The tremor of her body, the way her voice reached a specific note, the tears falling from her face.

Denial, pain, guilt, anger, sorrow...

[DESPAIR]

"..." Ryota couldn't move, terrified and worried for the grief-stricken Ultimate. The last time he saw someone converted to despair, they grew aggressive and incoherent. He couldn't reason with them, much less understand them. 'But this..'

[¿Tragedy or Comedy?]

'Why?' Ryota doesn't get it. Why would Hajime throw his life away? No. You do get it. It's written all over Hajime's character development.

[Save Nanami Chiaki.]

The very defiance is one of Hope/Despair.

The very sacrifice is that of Despair/Hope.

[Which one is it?]

" What exactly is despair?"  Hajime asked him while a crowd of students left them with rations.

" Isn't that  *chew*  obvious already? " Ryota spoke in between chewing the biscuits offered to them, carrying a revolver for emergencies.

" Is it? " Hajime muttered under his breath, eerily calm during a violent student riot. Ryota stared at him weirdly, and the student rolled his eyes. " I don't recall any hopeful instances before the riots, but I also don't consider what's happening now to be despairing."

" Hope and despair... It's all tied to perspective and the circumstance. "

'I don't get it. I don't want to get it.' Ryota slowly lifted his hands, staring at them and realizing he's crying. Hajime knew something dreadful would happen once they're inside. Ryota knew it as well, but he wanted to believe everything will be all right. Instead of ascending to the Main character status upon Chiaki's death, Hajime actively rebelled and changed fate. 'That's why he's dead.'

"..." Chiaki cradled Hajime in her arms, pressing her lips against Hajime's forehead. The female continued to quiver in grief, but the female ceased to emit any sound.

It was quiet. Everything was too quiet.

"..." This time, Ryota chose to stay in place. He had energy but no motivation.  Hajime is dead and beyond salvation. Considering the events that unfolded, there is one thing Ryota is confident and unable to fix:

[Nanami Chiaki falling into despair.]

'Why can't I do anything? Why am I so helpless?' Ryota wiped his eyes, unable to relate or find the words to comfort her.

"The hope of your class, huh? " Hajime hummed, walking side by side as they avoided a team of security guards. " Isn't it Enoshima? "

" Pfft! " Ryota spat the water he was drinking at the tree, making Hajime snicker. " Are you crazy?! She's the one who caused all this! She... She  used  me! She used everybody!"

" I know."  Hajime shrugged, expression too apathetic for someone who learned of the mastermind's identity. " But my text messages with Nanami speak differently. A few months ago, your classmates were following Enoshima."

"W-what?"  Ryota couldn't believe it, snatching the evidence.

"It makes sense for the mastermind to choose your class with how easily the majority is persuaded."  Hajime let him, apathy now changing to curiosity. " A person becomes predictable once you uncover their motive."

"No... No! Nonononono!" Ryota scrolled up, reading in horror at the increasing sad messages from Nanami Chiaki. "This can't be real. This isn't real!"

"It could. It could not." Hajime placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping Ryota steady. "But Nanami's unwavering confidence in all of you is the reason why I know she will ignore the trap laid in front of her.... That must be why your class cares for her." 

'I have to do something.' Ryota stood up, faltering at the ominous atmosphere. Reading the text history between Hajime and Chiaki, Ryota has a bad feeling that Hajime kept Chiaki afloat.  If he makes a drastic movement, Chiaki will see him as an enemy.

"N...Nanami...san?" Ryota called out, freezing when Chiaki stopped moving.  Be careful. He took several tentative steps, building up the courage to help her. He won't run away. Hajime didn't die in vain.

'You'll be safe.' A voice comforted him, and Ryota found it easier to march forward. He reached her, sitting down a couple of feet away from her. 'She won't hurt you.'

"Nanami-san." Ryota took a deep breath before speaking, resting his hands on his lap to avoid showing her how terrified he is. Upon closer inspection, Ryota noticed Hajime's hand left a stain on her coat. 'What did he say?'

"Neh... Hinata-kun?"

"Do I continue the main story for the true ending?" Nanami asked no one in particular, her voice as calm and emotionless as Hajime. Slacking her hold with the corpse, the Ultimate Gamer seemed completely fine. That's the scary part.

"But, I'll have to die, wouldn't I?" Nanami made no sense. "Then should I take an alternate route? Should I try the secret ending?"

"What are you talking about?" Ryota has watched enough anime to know she's losing herself. Chiaki is detaching from reality. Chiaki continues to ignore him, thinking. Ryota bit his lower lip. 'I don't think I should touch her.'

"!!!!" Voices echoed from the opened door, causing Ryota to look at the door.

"O-over here!" Ryota called out, standing up. Chiaki needs serious psychological help.

"Hinata-kun?" Chiaki asked no one in particular. "Should I let my classmates fall into despair?"

"Or should I take away the world's solution to ending despair?" The Ultimate Gamer observed the team of guards coming in, led by the Director of Hope's Peak: Tengan Kazuo. While Ryota ran forward and informed the team, Chiaki remained seated.

"What should I do, Hinata-kun?" Chiaki asked, staring at the corpse.

The Ultimate Gamer didn't fight back when the security team escorted them to safety. Chiaki didn't bat an eyelash when the guards burnt Hajime's body right on the spot, merely staring at the burnt area with an odd look on her face. Ryota was screaming, showing more emotion than his class representative.

Ryota should have known better. He should have known Chiaki isn't the type to follow treatment. Ț͝ĥ̗ȉ̯s̝͆ ī̦s̝̬̽̚ ä̤̑͜l̳͕̆̊ļ̒ a ǧ̫̘͞am͉͓͑͡e͔͒̄ͅ,̞͒ ì̦s̞̰̒n'̦̎t̫̉ ȉ̢̤͌t̼͂̿͜?̡̪̅͆ Tricking the Ultimate Guidance Counselor, Chiaki returned to her worried classmates with a cheerful disposition. The Reserve Course even stopped attacking the Main Campus for a while...

Everything was back to normal...

In this timeline, Nanami Chiaki accepted the extended hand of Enoshima Junko.

...Then it wasn't.