Chapter Text
Warning: This chapter contains violence.
"What are you doing, Enoshima?"
Large blonde pigtails tilt to the side. She sits on a rolling chair, her back facing me. The only lighting in the dark room comes from the various monitors attached to the wall she's opposite. I hear the sound of buttons being pressed multiple times and chewing loudly emitting from her mouth. How irritating she is.
I raise my voice, "Enoshima."
I glimpse her right hand—with those long, gaudy red nails—hovering over a bag of potato chips. She grumbles as she takes a chip and bites into it. She continues occupying the controls before her, apparently ignoring me for some time.
"What do you want?" she finally speaks with that odious voice of hers.
"What you did was not part of the plan," I tell her. Unexpressed anger stirs within me.
Ikusaba wasn't meant to be killed. Those spears should have never impaled her body. It could've been anyone else, but not her. She was supposed to be sent to the basement as 'punishment' for disobeying Monokuma, to teach a lesson to the participants who ought to comply with his rules, our rules. Killing one of them would have definitely brought her to despair, I understand that, but that someone wasn't intended to be the soldier.
"Hm? What I did?" She makes herself sound aggravatingly innocent. "I don't see what you're talking about."
"You murdered Ikusaba."
Looks like it clicks in her head now. "Oooh, you mean that!" Junko Enoshima spins in my direction. A neutral expression plastered on her mush. "That was like two trials ago. What about it?"
"I thought we were very clear on what we planned," I count the following steps on my fingers. "Ikusaba rebels. You activate the trap. She falls into the dungeon, seemingly never coming back again, and we move on with the game."
She nods inattentively. "Uh-huh."
Seething, I then clench my teeth. "So tell me WHY you pulled out those spears!"
"Aww, is little baby boy upset?" she coos sweetly, clasping her hands and rocking to and fro in a frivolous manner. "You really liked her, didn't you? Naegi, you lovebird!"
I recoil at that. Like her? I couldn't care less about Ikusaba. To me, she was nothing but a tool to realize this killing game. Just like Enoshima. In fact, I wanted her gone; since she was the one who offered Enoshima to have me join in on their scheme, it showed she had a soft spot for me — this would've made it easier to discard her. I remember her telling Junko that the best way to make all of this go smoothly is by having me on their side. How would that have possibly worked? I'm just some ordinary, basic guy attending a high school for the most talented people in the country. But the thought of the despair this could bring to all of us, the pain all of the pupils would go through... It was too good of an opportunity to pass. Finally, I could be worth something: someone who's enthralling, engaging, entertaining! Someone with... a sense of power. I therefore agreed, though hesitantly so as to not arise suspicion.
But they were in my way. The despair sisters clearly weren't fond of having me around for long, especially the youngest.
I had to fight back, which is why I was plotting to get rid of Mukuro on my own. Junko would come after. They wouldn't have suspected it as I had meekly sworn to not thwart their ploy in any way, shape or form, to be a 'good loyal sidekick'. Although Enoshima has already unwittingly done so for me. I could've thanked her for that if it didn't raise a problem: she was willing to go against the established rules.
Exactly why I came here in the first place.
"It's not about love," I counter. "How are things supposed to work out if you just act impetuously?"
"Impetuous?" She looks at me just a little surprised before snickering. "You don't get it, huh?" She unclasps her hands, lifting them to her chin and uses them to support her head. A smile forms on her face as she says, "Killing Ikusaba was indeed rash. But so is despair. It cannot be predicted, it doesn't care about anyone nor anything. It acts whenever it wishes to. Just like me! Besides, she couldn't even match my personality and I was getting bored."
Junko delicately lays her hand on her forehead, shifting sideways and miserably lamenting, "Though I miss her greatly. My dear, beloved sister...I ended her life with my own two hands. One click, poof—she's gone! Away from me forever. Oh-so despair-inducing it is for me and was for her!"
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Albeit it seems she truly loved her sister, since murdering her brought her despair, this girl is reckless. She's disdainful, uncaring and completely out of her mind. She only complies if something works in her favor, and doesn't care about the consequences of her actions as long as it creates hopelessness.
Despite her twisted line of thoughts, she has shown to be very cunning and analytical—making her all the more dangerous. Her successful attempt in dragging the world into despair proved so. Who knows what she could be thinking at this moment.
Junko Enoshima is unpredictable. Despair is unpredictable.
"I'm aware I killed her. Now, your point?"
I sigh, breaking eye contact with her. I had been quite bold when I approached her. If I keep up with that attitude, she'll grow suspicious of me. I've gotta backtrack for a moment.
"I'm just...I just thought what you did might've been risky since it wasn't according to what we consented to." I face her with feigned regretful eyes, noticing her expression has changed once again. "Sorry, I..."
"Quiet." She sternly orders. Her face is grim and her brow is deeply furrowed. Azure orbs, accompanied by the screens behind her, glow brightly in the dim room as she examines me blankly.
"I see right through you."
She stands up and marches closer to me until there are just a few inches left between us. Her tall, assertive figure looms over mine and an intimidating aura radiates through, sending faint shivers down my spine. Although on a physical scale we are both simple teenagers, her grave demeanor never fails to frighten me. Even if just a little.
"You've dared to speak up against me, like an absolute fool. Must I remind you who's in control?" Her eyes scrutinize me and I can feel myself shrinking in her gaze. Afraid, I step back but she leans in regardless. I glance at her clenched hand.
"No...No, I totally understand who's directing things here! After all, I wouldn't want to provoke you!" I dissimulate my belief, stammering in the process in hopes of convincing her with my timorous character. I hate doing this—especially because it is a semi-authentic act I have to constantly put on in this game—yet if it saves my skin from her wrath, so be it. Confronting her is high-risk at the moment.
I squiz her hand relax. Even so, she still appears irritated.
"Obviously you wouldn't," she scorns with a sneer. "You're weak, incompetent, overall pathetic and useless to me. I only allowed you to join, no, SPARED you because of Ikusaba's pleas! Therefore, you're expected to go with the flow!"
Enoshima lowers herself to my level and hisses, "So don't waste your breath trying to guide me. I do as I wish."
Rage begins to boil in my core. Never have I ever felt such hatred for a human being before. I feel the urge to yell back at her, to scream how I've had enough of people considering me as a puny kid, shove her to the floor and give her a taste of her own medicine. To watch her cower, tremble beneath me whilst she implores mercy...In that case, I wouldn't be so worthless anymore, would I?
Still and all, I don't move an inch. I just watch her flump back into her chair and continue munching the snack laying on the wide desk before her. As if nothing happened.
And her tone changes again. Nothing callous, just unpleasant. "Naegi, be a dear and leave. Your presence is bothering me."
I'd say the same about hers. Nevertheless, I simply watch her lean comfortably into her seat (her back faces me again) before exiting the control room.
She's insufferable. So insufferable. She's a haughty, obnoxious miss who, for whatever dumb reason, got the chance to be the genius of this scheme.
As loathsome as she is, be it as it may, I envy her. Because her nasty personality is still interesting. She's still someone who catches your attention, even if in a bad way. Unlike me: a dull, boring, basic guy who was just selected by a prestigious school and called lucky. Being a student of Hope's Peak, one could say I at least had some kind of status. But it's pointless now.
And Junko probably thinks so too. She must think I don't serve a purpose, or simply feels bothered by my occupancy like she mentioned earlier. Speculating what she would do in this instance, a realization hits me now.
She could end me anytime.
I panic. I stop thinking straight as those words repeat in my head over and over. My body trembles, and in a moment of dread I seek to unplug a nearby computer. A loose cord now in my hands, I turn to the door with Monokuma's head printed on it.
The door opens. Enoshima groans.
"You're back? Ugh, you're seriously starting to get on my nerves..."
My body moves on its own. I hear the sound of choking and coughing, her gasping for air. Chokes turn into gags, and the gagging turns into stifled laughter. I don't dare to look at her, but I can tell she's feeling despair; the despair of someone lesser than her bumping her off. She continues laughing like the madwoman she is. Within the few remaining seconds left, Junko utters:
"Well done...Naegi..."
Her body eventually goes limp, never moving again. I retract the cord from her neck and watch her fall off the chair.
I can't believe it...
I've just murdered Enoshima Junko. I've murdered the ultimate despair.
The cord drops to my feet. This wasn't right. This was horrendous. Cruel in every sense of the word. I should feel appalled, disgusted, revolted by what I have just done.
I don't. For the reason that now, I have the authority over this entire school. Over the students of class 78. At last, I have power in my life.
I feel relieved. The corners of my mouth turn up as I imagine how wonderful things will be from now on. I quiver, hindering a guffaw to no avail. A fit of laughter evades me.
I control this killing game.
I am the mastermind.