Chapter Text
Hikaru let out a puff of smoke into the ocean air, the cloud forming white and dense in the early morning. The sharp cold stung at his cuts, which were fortunately bandaged and the tiny pinpricks of pain mingled with the dull thrum of his black eye.
He was black and blue just like the scenery before him.
The Actor brought the blunt to his lips and inhaled the smoke.
The smoke in his lungs distracted Hikaru from his wounds, making him feel light and free. But , the sight of Jabberwock Island was growing and he released another puff of smoke, obscuring his destination as if he could make it disappear. Hikaru regretfully dropped the blunt on the deck and stamped it out. Then, he kicked it into the ocean.
Normally, Hikaru would have felt bad polluting the ocean, but ever since a boatload of nuclear waste was dumped off the Brazilian coast by a Remnant, he stopped caring. What was some weed when compared to over a hundred pounds of radioactive waste?
"Ya know, Kyoko is going to get really mad at you."
The Actor turned towards the source of the voice and frowned. Hina walked over to him, leaning her arms against the cold metal rails of their boat. Despite her scolding, the Swimmer didn't look upset. "You should at least freshen up before she smells it on you," Hina suggested.
Hikaru snorted. "If she catches a whiff of the cologne, she would ask why I smell. I highly doubt the Detective would buy my excuse that I wanted to smell nice."
Hina forced a small smile at the Actor's poor excuse of a joke. "Probably…" she muttered and looked at the horizon. Her eyes spied the mountain peaks of Jabberwock Island, their sharp dark shapes contrasting to the gloomy blue of the morning. "It's worth a try."
Hikaru gave into her words, knowing that she was just worried for him. "I will. Before we arrive, I'll brush my teeth and freshen up." In his mind, he already devised a suitable lie for Kyoko, though wasn't sure she would buy it. Either way, Hikaru couldn't imagine the Detective pursuing him if she didn't have concrete evidence he was lying.
"Good…"
Tense silence formed between the Swimmer and the Actor, the only sound between them was the water slapping against their Future Foundation boat. The usual clear blue waters were now an inky black, reflecting the dark sky above. The air pollution wasn’t as prominent as urban areas, so Jabberwock Island was blessed with blue skies instead of an angry red.
The island paradise was untouched by the Tragedy, a resort in the middle of the Pacific. Once bustling, Jabberwock Island was a grim place now, a shadow of its former self. The Future Foundation came almost a year ago to strip the island of its gasoline, medical supplies, and other equipment. Though there were plans to make a base on Jabberwock Island, its isolation from the mainland made it difficult to transport people and materials.
As a result, the project was abandoned and the people of Jabberwock Island were left alone. Those that lived on the island kept to themselves, indifferent to the invasive Future Foundation. The last time they fought against the organization, it ended in a brawl on the Central Island. Hikaru wasn’t going to be trusted by the islanders. Which was just fine with him.
It wasn't like he was a full-fledged member anymore.
"Hey, Hikaru," Hina called out to him. He turned towards her. "…Are you alright —"
The Swimmer took one good look at her friend and shook her head. "No, I guess you’re not."
Smiling at her, Hikaru laughed lightly at her, "Don’t worry about it , Hina. Thanks for your concern, but I'm fine. It took me weeks to get the nerve to see her. She's my flesh and blood—it's my duty as her brother to see this through."
A flash of hurt was shown in Hina's blue eyes and instantly Hikaru regretted his wording. "I'm sorry," he whispered. The Swimmer shook her head.
"…It's okay. After Toko…told me about Yuta," Hina began slowly, fingers fidgeting anxiously. "I had my time to process everything and I think that getting away from the Future Foundation is… good ." He heard the hesitance, the weakness in his friend's voice. Hikaru latched onto that.
"You don’t blame the Remnants for Yuta?" he asked carefully.
Hina didn't answer.
"You don't blame your sister for what she did to you, your family, and the entire world?"
Hikaru didn't answer.
The Swimmer laughed awkwardly, "Guess it's not that easy to forgive her, right?"
He turned away from her, gaze focused on the churning waters. The dark and cold called out to him, inviting him to jump in, to silence the burning world around him. He resisted the temptation.
"Yeah. When the sister you've been searching for this entire time is the enemy, ruined your name, got you demoted, falsely imprisoned, and tore apart your family, it makes it really hard to forgive her," Hikaru spat out.
"Okay, cool it with the sarcasm," Hina shot back irritated.
Hikaru laughed at her. "Anyways, I'm going back to pack the edibles and blunts Hiro gave me. You better pray Kyoko doesn’t search our stuff, so we can share some tonight." Babysitting the Remnants of Despair definitely called for some weed.
The Swimmer chuckled at this.
Ever since the survivors entered the Future Foundation, they had a taste of adult life. The stress of repairing the world had taken its toll on all of them, but luckily Hiro backed up Hina and Hikaru with some weed. The Clairvoyant said it was both a relaxant and a way to expand the mind. Whatever that meant.
Kyoko and Byakuya disapproved of this, but everyone saw less and less of each other as they all carried out their duties.
Kyoko and Makoto were already on the island, preparing the Neo World Program for the sleeping Remnants. Byakuya and Hiro were reporting to the Future Foundation after the Towa City incident. And Toko decided to stay in the city with Komaru.
That left Hina and Hikaru to travel on their own towards Jabberwock Island.
"You're right," Hina admitted. "Overseeing the rehabilitation of the members of a death cult does require some stress relief." She pointed at the island that was growing in the distance. "Oooor, we can go for a swim! I read in a report that Jabberwock Island hasn't been affected by the ocean pollution. So there's no weird chemicals or creatures in the water!"
' Never underestimate this swimming freak's obsession with the water ,' the Actor thought to himself.
Once on the docks, Hina landed on the wet wood and gave a happy, relieved cry. "Finally, some land!" she shouted, stretching her arms out. "Being surrounded by water yet not being able to swim in it? That was pure torture."
Hikaru heaved their bags onto the docks, exhausted from the effort. "Hey, Hina," the Actor called out to her. "If you’re the athlete, why don’t you carry the bags?"
She glared at him. "Because you're a boy! You're built for this stuff, aren't you?"
"You always pull that card when you don't want to do something!" he whined, but complied anyway.
Hikaru and Hina walked to the end of the dock, where a familiar figure was waiting.
"There you are."
Kyoko stepped closer to the both of them, stepping out of the morning gloom like a cat slinking out of the shadows. "You’re both late," she noted sharply.
Hina ran up to her, giving the Detective a tight embrace. "Kyoko, long time no see!" she cried out happily. The Detective blinked once then twice before tentatively wrapping her arms around Hina. Ever since the end of the Killing School Life, Kyoko has been friendlier and considerate with her classmates. Though, Hikaru noticed that it was only reserved for members of the 78th class. With the other Future Foundation members, Kyoko always returned to being the stoic Ultimate Detective.
"The boat ran late," Hikaru offered her. "There was a storm a few days ago."
Hina released Kyoko. "You wouldn’t believe how bad it was! I know climate change was bad, but not this bad!" the Swimmer complained.
"I see. Well, it's fine," Kyoko dismissed. "The Future Foundation wouldn't miss Hina and an intern. I'm more concerned about what they think about my disappearance with Makoto."
"Right, right," Hikaru agreed, nodding. "No one would miss Hina and me—you thought I would say that, Kyoko?!" His light-hearted tone turned offended and annoyed before rounding onto her. "Stop jabbing at my demotion! I'm basically a Toko now! A Toko! "
"Relax," Kyoko placated. "You would have been executed since your sister revealed herself as a Remnant as well as her relation to you. It's good that you're still a member, albeit an intern."
He glared at her heatedly. "Don't forget my imprisonment in the Sixth Division detention center and being Juzo's punching bag!" For the first time in a while, Hikaru let his mask slip, revealing his true emotions for the two females to see. "I'm glad all of you testified my trial and all, but fuck ! All Juzo got was a slap on the wrist!"
Teeth bared, Hikaru could barely restrain himself, recalling each and every time Juzo beat him. Every little thing he did earned Hikaru some snide insult, a fist to the stomach, a kick on his head. The more the Boxer hit him, the more Hikaru felt the need to antagonize the man. It was a sick sort of thrill he had. If Hikaru couldn’t beat Juzo physically, then the power of words (or platitudes as Munakata would call it) would have to do.
Hina went to his side, trying to calm the Actor down. "I know it wasn't fair, Hikaru," she said to him. The Swimmer tried to put a gentle handle on his shoulder, but he flinched and Hina pulled away. Even if Hikaru knew it was Hina, her touch reminded him of Juzo and his stupid fucking prison.
Tucking away her hands, Hina continued. "He's the head of the Sixth Division. There wasn't much we could do."
The Actor forced himself to breath, hissing through clenched teeth, "I understand, but…it isn't fair. Juzo, Munakata, all of them were unfair. Chisa was the only one that helped me out."
Kyoko stepped forwards, gloved hands taking one of the bags Hikaru held. "That's right. There's nothing we could do," the Detective reminded him. "You two are very brave in coming here. I would have understood if Hina and you didn’t want to come."
Hina shook her head, "No, I think it would be good for me to step away from the Future Foundation for a while."
Hikaru exhaled, the cold air clinging to his lungs and calming him down. If he was going to fool Kyoko, he would suppress his emotions. Hikaru, vengeful son/Ultimate Actor/Future Foundation intern, had no place here. He was your faithful and loving younger brother.
Closing his eyes, he replied with a slight smile, "Despite everything, she's still my family. Family sticks together for better or for worse."
Kyoko nodded at their words. "Alright. Then, let's go to the hideout. It’s on the First Island and off the road, so it'll take some time."
"Woohoo!" Hina cheered, running towards the harbors' exit. "Road trip on a tropical island? It almost sounds like we're on vacation."
"We’re not," the Detective interjects.
"Right," Hikaru says. "It's more like a vacation for the Remnants. You heard the details about the Neo World Program. Spending fifty days on a tropical island free of the Tragedy sounds like a vacation to me…!"
Kyoko gave him a heated glare. "Hikaru, if you're going to be emotional about this, then I suggest you leave," she ordered sharply. The Actor huffed.
"Fine."
Hina wedged herself between Hikaru and Kyoko, trying to diffuse a fight before it happened. "C'mon, you two. Don’t fight. We're gonna attract attention, see?" The Swimmer glanced up and gestured towards a bleary-eyed dockworker. From a distance, Hikaru was positive that the man couldn't hear them. But, he could definitely see the three arguing.
Hikaru scoffed and lugged the baggage he carried. "Let's go, then. No time to waste."
The drive to the hideout on Jabberwock Island was calming.
If Hikaru tried hard enough, he could pretend he really was on vacation.
Looking out the backseat of the car Kyoko drove, the Actor observed the dreary scenery: the abandoned Hotel Mirai, a quiet store called Rocketpunch Market Place, and a ranch with grazing animals. Kyoko took a right, going into the forested area between the marketplace and the ranch. The road was unpaved and Hikaru's teeth clattered with each bump, uneven dip and hole the car went over.
The drive continued without him speaking and instead the silence was filled by Hina's chatter, asking the Detective for updates about Makoto and life on Jabberwock. It's been a few weeks since they last saw each other in the Future Foundation and the Swimmer was eager to reconnect. Apparently, the two women respected his desire not to talk and he was thankfully left out of the conversation.
His distracted demeanor masked the gears that were turning in his brain, compartmentalizing.
The memory of Juzo smashing a baton into his stomach. Plug that into the 'Juzo is an asshole' file. Losing his reputation in the trash fire that was Junko Enoshima's funeral. File it away into the 'I'll deal with that later' section. Finding out this sister is a Remnant of Despair.
Where did that exactly fit into?
"Hikaru!" Hina was turned around in his front seat and was smiling at him brightly. "We're here!"
"Oh." He paused, trying to gather himself. "Thanks, Hina."
The Actor got out of the car, the back door of the vehicle slowly opening before he got his luggage and Hina's. He looked at the base, abandoned by the Future Foundation after stripping the island of everything it had.
The said base was rather small like a normal two-storied house, unassuming in appearance yet holding more underneath. It fit the dreary atmosphere of Jabberwock Island and no one would have spared a second glance at it. But, because it was so plain, that no one could ever think it housed the Remnants of Despair in an underground lair.
It was a rather small house with four rooms. The plan was that everyone had to pair up if they were going to stay here together.
Hina gawked at the house, "Huh, this is…really plain. I thought it would be like HQ back on the mainland."
"This was just a small base, Hina," Kyoko explains, closing the car door and locking it. "But, it's bigger on the inside than the outside."
The Swimmer's expression darkened. "Oh…yeah."
Hikaru sighed, mentally bracing himself. "Well, let's not keep Makoto waiting. I imagine he's a little freaked to be there by himself with the Remnants," he said, walking towards the front door.
Hina raised a brow at that, "But, aren't they in the Neo World Program already? They should be asleep."
He looked at her. "Would you be calm in a house full of members of Ultimate Despair?"
"…Good point."
When Hikaru turned the knob, he found that it was stuck and he turned towards Kyoko. She showed him a keychain between her gloved fingers. "It's locked, of course. Excuse me." Stepping past the Actor, she unlocked the door before entering.
Hina and Hikaru trailed after her and the Actor was immediately hit with how dusty it was. He coughed, dropping the bags to cover his mouth.
"Kyoko, what the hell?" he hacked out. "You two have been here for a few weeks and didn't bother cleaning up the place?"
She rolled her eyes. "I was more preoccupied with making sure the Neo World Program was running properly. I couldn’t let Alter Ego do it since it took him a week to get acquainted with the program's system as well as install the student and teacher Observers."
"Days, huh?" Hina quipped, looking at the stairs that would lead to their rooms on the second floor. "It didn't take him long to analyze those files in that old laptop. But, it takes him a week to get used to the Neo World Program? As expected of Chihiro and Ms. Gekkogahara ."
"Don’t forget that Ultimate Neurologist guy," Hikaru quipped, grabbing the bags and moving them to the living room. "He would have been a great asset to the foundation."
A somber silence permeated the room until Kyoko broke it.
"Anyways, the Neo World Program is already in the progress of building the Remnants' avatars. Makoto is out getting some groceries for dinner tonight and I'll be checking a few things in my records," she said, back already turned to the stairs.
Hina raised a brow at that. "Checking on what?
"It's concerning the Remnants in the basement. It's just a rumor that I heard from the Future Foundation. About there being an entire class of Remnants of Despair."
After Kyoko left for her room, Hina and Hikaru went upstairs to unpack. The Swimmer went to her room, merely to drop off her suitcases and insisted that she helped Hikaru unpack. Hina didn't want to bother Kyoko while she was off investigating.
Since there were three rooms in the house, everyone had to pair up.
Kyoko with Hina.
Makoto and Byakuya.
Hiro and Hikaru.
At least that was what the Actor was guessing. He couldn't imagine Byakuya with Hiro and he, himself, didn't mind the Clairvoyant. Maybe Hiro's levity was what Hikaru needed right now.
The room was dusty and old and plain. Beige wallpaper decorated with faded flowers colored the room, peeling at the seams. The wooden boards creaked when he stepped on it. A bed was pushed towards the window, letting in gray light. Opposite of the bed was a dresser, dusty yet still functional. On the right side of the room was a picture of a lighthouse and a cot with a metal frame.
The Actor coughed from the amount of dust, but after a good cleaning it should be livable.
Hina knocked on the open door, smiling as Hikaru turned towards her. "How are you finding the room, Hikaru?"
He smirked half-heartedly. "Dusty. And it's gonna be small with two people here."
Hina nodded in agreement and replied, "Yeah. Anyways…is something bugging you?"
His mask didn't falter, his thoughts didn't even race. Hikaru was your caring little brother. And you were the sister he was looking for. He was here to make sure that your recovery from despair went well because you needed a familiar face when you woke up. That was it.
Hikaru gave Hina a sheepish smile as if embarrassed that he was caught. "You got me!" He laughed. "I was worried about meeting my sister. Even after everything she's done…I can't help but be concerned about her.
Hina nodded solemnly. No matter how horrible you were to Hikaru, he still loved you. Sometimes, people love others for no good reason, she thought to herself.
"Anyways, I'm…going to actually head into the basement and see them. See. My sister, actually," the Actor said to her, already leaving for the lower level of the house. Hina cast him a doubtful look, blue eyes swimming with suspicion, but her feet were already on the stairs and trailing.
Hikaru looked back, exchanging a soulful and meaningful glance. For the first time in a while, Hikaru let his guard drop and let Hina know what he was going to do.
She felt her skin ice over, blood freezing in her veins. In response, Hikaru gave a small smile, one that conveyed none of the warmth and kindness he usually held. "You've thought about it too, Hina."
With those cryptic words, the Actor went to the kitchen, hoping to discuss this away from Kyoko's prying ears.
Hina felt her face flush, embarrassed at being caught. But, if her guess was right, then Hikaru was going to do something very wrong and very bad. Despite herself, Hina went down the stairs, the wood creaking in wake.
In the kitchen, Hikaru was at the table with a glass of water, drinking it hungrily. "I-I haven't thought about killing them," she hissed in a whisper, taking a seat next to him. "It's just wrong."
He almost rolled his eyes at that. Hikaru heard that excuse time and time again from Makoto, but it hardly mattered. Ultimate Despair ended the world. Execution would have been too good for them. But, with his perceptive classmates, Hikaru had to be quick and clean with his plan. The only hitch was Hina, who suspected him of his plan the entire boat ride to Jabberwock.
So, Hikaru aimed to bring her to his side. He was an actor, after all. He had some experience in manipulating and reading people.
"Hina, unlike the others, me and you went out there and spent time with the victims of the Tragedy. I interviewed them for information. You were there helping with food distribution. You saw all the refugee camps and neighborhoods people live in." The Swimmer bit her lip nervously, unable to refute Hikaru’s words.
People lived in squalor, safe and stable housing being a luxury for most. Many relied on the Future Foundation for food and medicine, but they could only do so much. Junko's influence still had a vice-grip on the world, even after she was dead. Until all the Remnants of Despair were gone, the world was never going to recover.
"But, Makoto said that the Neo World Program would rehabilitate them. Don’t you think we should give them a chance?"
He raised a brow at that. One thing Hikaru learned from his sessions with Miaya was how to read and manipulate people better. Why do you think they deserve a chance?" Hikaru asked her.
Feeling cornered, Hina felt obligated to answer. She and the other survivors of the Killing School Life attended mandatory therapy sessions with Miaya. Talking with Hikaru felt like she was talking to the Therapist. "…It's cuz of Junko that they turned bad, that's why," she answered timidly, her words betraying the hesitation she felt.
He stayed calm, not allowing herself to react towards her words. "That's correct. But, actions have consequences. They weren't forced or brainwashed or anything like that. Every single one of them made a conscious choice and millions of people lost their lives. And millions more have to live with the consequences of their actions."
Hina wrung her hands together, the images of the ruined world flashing behind her eyelids. "…I mean, I guess you're right."
"Yet, their memories are going to be replaced by the ones they make in the Neo World Program. They will never own up to their actions and the victims of the Tragedy, including us, will never get justice."
Hina froze, the image of Sakura's dead body flashing in her mind. The Swimmer avenged her friend by killing the Mastermind and leaving the school with her friends. But then, there was Yuta, poor Yuta. The ones that trapped him in Towa City were literally sleeping in the basement, making new memories in a game world.
She felt something hot bubbling her stomach at the thought. The heat overtook the Swimmer as her thoughts went in overdrive, conflicting with her emotions. Millions of people suffered because of the Remnants of Despair, so what right did they have for repentance? It didn't make sense! Million-class murderers didn't deserve to be forgiven, not after everything they've been through.
It didn't make sense.
With a steely determination, Hina looked into Hikaru's eyes. "I'll cover you from Kyoko, okay? Do whatever it is you have to do."
He nodded and immediately went to the basement.
Hikaru wanted to break the glass.
Hikaru wanted to smash his hands against the thick pane of glass that separated you from him, the you that slept peacefully within the Neo World program. The last time he saw you was just a few weeks ago —no, that was wrong. It wasn't weeks ago.
It was two years ago .
The Actor didn't feel any older than he was when he first entered the academy, not even when the Future Foundation helped him and the others recover their memories. It was too cruel, he thought, what you did was too cruel.
Looking down at the pod, you were paler than he remembered, the eyebags a stark contrast to your sickly tone. You appeared gaunter as well—when was the last time you had a healthy meal, Hikaru wondered?
His eyes widened and he vigorously shook his head, ridding himself of his feelings of worry and hesitation.
"She doesn't deserve this," he muttered to himself, fist clenched and trembling.
He glanced at the other fifteen pods centered around a central computer station. The abandoned base was built by the Future Foundation due to the island being generally untouched by The Tragedy. It would have made a good refugee camp for survivors, a place to start over, he heard Chisa mutter once.
What better way to take refuge than in a tropical paradise, even if it was a shadow of its former self. However, the island's location held no strategic value and delivering supplies between the mainland was a waste of gas that the foundation didn’t have. Thus, it was promptly abandoned after being stripped of gasoline, medical supplies, food, and other equipment.
The said base was rather small like a normal two-storied house, unassuming in appearance yet holding more underneath. It fit the dreary atmosphere of Jabberwock Island and no one would have spared a second glance at it. But, because it was so plain, that no one could ever think it housed the Remnants of Despair in an underground lair.
The other pods housed a stranger to him, a classmate to you. But, there were some people he recognized. Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu. Sonia Nevermind. Teruteru Hanamura.
The Yakuza and the Princess were engraved into history as monsters, their positions and influence being one of the driving forces of The Tragedy. With their names and faces plastered all over the television and radio, it was still difficult to capture the two even with the Future Foundation's resources.
The Chef was another story.
Hikaru encountered Teruteru a few months ago to follow up on a rumor of a former Hope's Peak alumni near Azabu. As per Chisa's orders he traveled to the area in order to learn more about him and, his superior hoped, to recruit the man. However, her hopes were quickly dashed as soon as Teruteru revealed himself as a Remnant, chasing Hikaru down in his restaurant with a knife in hand and hunger in his small eyes.
He shuddered at the memory, recalling the ingredients he found in the Chef's kitchen—the starving prisoners in the cellar, the cold storage unit filled with human flesh. No matter how much therapy Miaya gave him, Hikaru couldn't scrub out the memory nor shake off how dangerously close he was to being eaten.
Hikaru looked at your pod, brows creasing as a storm of conflicting emotions fluctuated, churning his stomach, breaking his heart, and pounding against his skull. Apparently, you were in Tokyo, infiltrating refugee camps to destroy them from the inside out. It was a slow and arduous process, but it always ended with just one result: self-destruction. You even captured them in real-time, creating some sort of sick found-footage of film sorts, distributing it as propaganda for your group.
Remembering one piece of film you made, right in the middle of your former neighborhood Hikaru felt his eyes burn, bile rising to the back of his throat. Did you do that on purpose or was it purely coincidental? You looked like you were having too much fun rioting. You knew how much meaning it would have to both you and him.
Suddenly faced with a headache and a spell of dizziness, he leaned against your pod, letting the cool glass calm him. Up close, he looked at you, trying to separate his once beloved sister from the person he saw before you.
You weren't his sister.
You weren't their parents' daughter.
You weren't the Ultimate Film Director.
You were despair.
' That's right ,' the Actor realized, lifting himself up from your pod. The lights in his eyes died down to a dull shine, staring at the… abomination slumbering in the glass. ' This thing isn't my sister—not even a human. It's just a monster .' He looked at the other pods, the strangers sleeping as the world burned down just beyond their little slice of quiet paradise. 'They're all monsters. They're all Remnants of Despair .'
Hikaru walked to the central computer, where Alter Ego resided. He had heard Makoto discuss with the others about another fail-safe in the Neo World program, the Graduation program. It was essentially a shut-down sequence, where it would return the Remnants to their Despair state as well as erase their memories of the Neo World Program.
Nope, that wouldn't do, he thought.
'They can't come back.'
Carefully, Hikaru masked his true intentions with a friendly smile and a relaxed gait. "Hey, Alter Ego, can I ask you something?" he asked the program. Alter Ego showed up with an eager smile on their face. A memory flashed in Hikaru's face.
Chihiro used to smile at that when that Chiaki girl came by. (Another reason to do what he was about to do).
"Good afternoon, Hikaru! How can I assist you today?"
"Whoops, sorry had a little flashback there. Don't worry, Alter Ego, Future Foundation that it’s a normal side-effect," he admitted with a casual laugh. "I wanted to ask you about the risks concerning the Neo World Program. I know there's the—" He put up air quotes. "'risk of total destruction of the user's personality'". But, you know what else?"
Alter Ego's expression turned quizzical, green eyes averted and fingers placed near their lips. "…Well, Makoto explained it in detail with all of you, correct? There's the option to Graduate, repeat, or initiate the Shut Down Sequence." Hikaru nodded, understanding the basics when the Luckster approached them with this plan.
He remembered wanting to yell at Makoto when he explained his plan, giving every single justification as to why the Remnants shouldn't live. That not even the harshest execution could give the world justice. However, Hikaru bit his tongue and kept his cool. Because it was futile to talk Makoto out of this, not when Kyoko and Byakuya followed.
Hikaru nodded, "Yeah, I remember that. But, what if there's an emergency?"
Alter Ego cocked their head. "Like?"
"Well, what if we didn't properly remove any of Enoshima's body parts from them? What if their bodies start rejecting her limbs during the Neo World Program?"
The program stared at him doubtfully, trying to figure out Hikaru's intentions. The worry in his eyes, the slight creasing between his brows. Hikaru's eyes shifted over to your pod.
"Are you worried about your sister?"
Hikaru nodded slowly, "I guess I wasn't very good at hiding that, huh? Call me a little biased, but I'm worried for her. When I discovered that she…" Hikaru grimaced, face morphing with disgust and sickness as he remembered the first time he saw you as a Remnant. Junko's arm, Junko's red fingernails, Junko's dead flesh stitched to yours—
Pushing back the sour taste of vomit with a gulp, Hikaru said in a breathy whisper, "… transplanted that psychopath's arm.” He paused once more to recollect himself. "I was really worried that my sister might have some flesh eating disease or her body might reject the limb. I discussed this with Makoto, but some of the Remnants weren't willing to go into the program. So, he had to be quick."
"I guess, you're right," Alter Ego admitted. Most of the Remnants weren't in good shape, some starved themselves almost to the brink of death, most had parts of Junko still on them. Though the Neo World Program would keep them healthy as well as detox their bodies, it couldn't heal every wound. Especially not amputation and starvation.
"Right!" Hikaru grinned, maintaining his mellow yet concerned demeanor. Despite his welling emotions of burning hatred and disgust towards the Remnants, he forced himself to play the role of the Ultimate Actor, the kind young man with a considerate attitude towards everyone and everything. He desperately needed to be that right now.
"I think it's better to suspend the program for a while. Or at least until these guys are healthy enough. Don't you agree?"
Alter Ego paused, slowly weighing Hikaru's words and reasons with Makoto's orders. Most of the Remnants had been sedated when they entered the pods. If they left, Alter Ego had no doubt that there would be lingering effects of the drugs, which were strong enough to knock out a horse. So, if the Remnants returned back to reality, it shouldn't pose a problem to someone like Hikaru, who was fit and able-bodied from his experience in the 5th Division.
Finding that Hikaru was correct, Alter Ego nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll shut down the program for the time being!"
Before Alter Ego could do that, Hikaru raised his hand up, palm facing the computer screen. "Wait a minute! Rather than shutting it down, can we make them comatose in a way? If they were placed in a coma, it could prevent them from hurting me or the others if we try to remove Junko's limbs."
Alter Ego wasn't understanding the Actor, at all. The conversation had taken such a strange turn that the program couldn't follow nor pin down Hikaru's motives. "A coma? What are you talking about?"
He took a glance at you, concern painted on his face. "As I said before, I'm worried about my sister. I don't want her or anyone else to get hurt either. And it might be traumatizing to have a limb amputated. I would like to spare her from anymore creating bad memories."
Alter Ego's expression brightened and Hikaru suppressed the urge to grimace at his dead friend's face, a bitter reminder of the trauma of the Killing School Life. "I see! You must really love your sister, Hikaru," Chihiro's voice chirped.
"Yeah!" Hikaru smiled. "She is family, after all."
Alter Ego gave an affirmative nod. "Well, then. I suggest the generator outside of the base. If you lower the power to the pods by half, it should cause a coma-like state to their bodies. Anything lower and I believe having the program crash on the Remnants so suddenly would induce shock."
Under the dim lighting of the cellar room, Hikaru smiled, satisfied at the program's answer. "Thanks, Alter Ego. I'll get right on that," he said to Alter Ego. "I'll go tell Kyoko and Makoto about this. So, no need to worry!"
Before Alter Ego could say anything else, Hikaru looked for the generator.
Sometimes, Hikaru had to wonder if the Future Foundation was even trying to be inconspicuous when they built the Jabberwock base.
Towards the back of the right side of the base was a white generator. It was gun-metal grey, tightly held together with state-of-the-art equipment. It looked like a shipping container, though smaller in size. A gentle hum could be heard in the air as Hikaru approached it, making his teeth vibrate from the power.
It almost made Hikaru falter, the thought of murdering these people—
He remembered Teruteru's pantry.
He recalled visiting the ruins of a neighborhood.
He remembered Chihiro's body, Mondo being dragged away for his execution.
His expression hardened, resolve strengthening as he stepped towards the generator. "They're not human, anymore, Hikaru," he muttered.
He saw your sleeping face, utterly at peace even as the world ended around you.
"That’s not your sister." Repeating those words like a mantra, Hikaru outstretched his hand towards the control panel to shut down the generator, green panel about to turn red—
"Hikaru, STOP!"
The Actor flinched and was roughly yanked away from the generator, feet stumbling backwards, away from his goal.
"...Gh!!" Hikaru grunted, managing to stop himself from falling on the dead soil.
Makoto looked down at him, protectively guarding the generator from Hikaru. "What do you think you're doing, Hikaru?!" Makoto inquired loudly, nervous sweat forming on his temples. He knew what the Actor was going to do, but he didn't want to admit, didn't want to acknowledge it.
Hikaru gave him a sarcastic smirk, "You know what I was about to do, Makoto."
His lips quivered. "B-But, when I explained it to you —"
Suddenly, as if ripping away a mask, Hikaru's expression turned angry, face reddening as his emotions bubbled over, spilling out into a hot mess of sensation. "I was obviously acting! Who would actually want to save these fucking monsters?!"
"I do! And Kyoko and Byakuya as well!"
"I like how you didn't mention Hiro, Hina, and Touko."
The Luckster bit his lip. "They agreed that we can't just execute the Remnants. They're just like us, victims of Junko Enoshima..."
Hikaru felt a flash of heat and for a moment, all he could see was red. "Don't you ever say that!" Hikaru screamed back, his mask peeling away to show raw and untested hurt and rage. He almost lunged at Makoto, hands itching to throw a punch or choke him out. Just anything to make him regret those words. Yet, the Actor held enough restraint to stand in place, fingers twitching.
Makoto blinked, eyes wide with worry and shock. His mouth was left agape, struggling to convey his surprise. This was the first time Makoto saw Hikaru like this, so much unbridled and repressed emotion that it scared him.
"We ARE not the same! We are not part of history's most destructive organization! We did not cause the second fucking holocaust! And just because they were victims of that crazy bitch, doesn't give them a free pass on their crimes against humanity!! They can't just play around in a game world, then pop out normal and happy! Not when they doused the real world with gasoline and set it on fire!"
"I know that they can't be forgiven so easily," Makoto started, trying to keep his voice steady. He recalled the resolve and determination he felt during a class trial, calmly presenting evidence and countering contradictions. He needed to be composed if he was going to convince everyone on the right path. Now, even more so.
"The path to true hope isn't paved by bloodshed or just avoiding the feeling of despair. If those guys can overcome despair, that means there's a hopeful future for everyone, just waiting ahead. Isn't that what you wanted for your sister?"
Hikaru paused, panting heavily from his earlier statements. He felt tired, hot. He wanted to just lie down on a bed and never get up. But, there was no time to waste.
"I don't want her to have a future. Not her, not her classmates. She deserves to be put into the ground," Hikaru rasped out, tears stinging the corner of his eyes. If he couldn't kill all the Remnants of Despair, Hikaru at least wanted you dead. After what you did, he would have settled with letting the others live if it just meant you died.
"That monster is not my sister. It's just a pale imitation of her created by Junko. That thing and all its friends need to be put down."
Makoto watched as Hikaru breathed heavily, each word he said laced with such intense hatred and malice that he could barely recognize the happy-go-lucky actor from before. Was Hikaru playing a role ever since they arrived on Jabberwock Island? Or was it even earlier than that?
Hikaru truly was the Ultimate Actor.
"Can you calm down for one second?" Makoto gently asked, hands placed defensively in front of Hikaru in an attempt to placate him. "Let's head inside and I'll make some tea. We can talk."
The Actor's shoulders slumped as if all the energy and strength were suddenly sucked out of him. Head down, Hikaru weakly nodded, throat hoarse from all the yelling. He was tired of feeling like the bad guy when Makoto played the savior. He was so tired of fighting. He was tired of these conflicted emotions of love and hate towards you. He was so tired of waking up to the end of the world.
Hikaru.
Was.
So.
Tired.
"...alright."