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“It was an accident! I didn’t mean it, I swear! I just- I just. You have to believe me! I didn’t want to hurt him! I didn’t want to be a murderer!”
Shuichi hated how everything turned out.
“Maki, please calm down.”
“Yeah! Just take a deep breath and tell us how you ended up a bloodstained blackened!”
“Kokichi! You’re not helping!”
“Who said I wanted to help?”
Shuichi really hated how everything turned out.
“I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean it! I DIDN’T MEAN IT!!”
Why did he think it would end any differently?
“Maki, please. You’re my friend. Please tell me you didn’t do it. I already lost Rantaro. I already lost… Tenko. Please, I can’t lose you too.”
“Oh, we’re well past that, TsuTsu. It’s already clear that Maki did it. The question is just why.”
“No! Please, Maki. Don’t you remember what Rantaro said? He wanted us to live! He wanted YOU to live!”
“I… I-”
“Come on killer. Why don’t you just spit it out!”
“Don’t make it harder for her. You haven’t lost anyone here, so just shut up.”
“Oh, that’s a bold statement, Miu. Why don’t you tell me how you really feel? Hey, what am I supposed to do? Just sit back and sympathize with the girl who stopped us from getting out of this messed-up game?! This shitshow is gonna continue and it’s all her fault!”
“I know that! You don’t think I’m furious?! But this isn’t about me! I know what it’s like to lose somebody here! Am I mad? Yeah! But I’m not gonna yell at Tsumugi’s friend right before she gets executed!”
“Executed?! No! Please, Maki! Please, just tell me you didn’t do it!”
“Everyone please just calm down! We can’t talk over each other like this!”
“It was four days! All we had to do was last four days and she fucked it up!”
“And yelling is going to change that?!”
“Well going easy on her because ‘Tsumugi will feel bad’ certainly isn’t!”
“When Himiko died I was ready to throw my life away! I don’t want ANYONE feeling as bad as I did then!”
“Yeah? Well, Maki just threw away all of our lives! And, unlike you, not all of us have the power of Deus Ex Talent to keep us alive!”
“YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT?!”
“Guys!”
“I… I-I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Of course she didn’t. Not a single bit of it was her fault and yet it all still happened. No, when it came down to it, Shuichi knew there wasn’t a single person to blame but himself. From the moment he chose the audition tapes to be the motive, to the moment he put the time limit in effect, everything that happened after was inevitable.
“I already told you, Kiibo,” Shuichi started, sitting in one of the red velvet chairs, “I can’t just disobey them at a whim.”
“Perhaps not, but that does not mean you can not disobey at all! I know producers can be controlling, but you are your own person!”
Shuichi sighed, “That’s not-. I can’t just…”
“You don’t want this do you?”
“No! Of course I don’t want this! I never wanted this Killing Game!”
“Then you can stop it! You are the Mastermind,” Kiibo stated, “You have the power to end this, right here and now.”
Shuichi cringed, “Just ‘cause I’m the Mastermind doesn’t mean I have power. In comparison to the higher-ups… I’m just an actor.”
“Maybe so. But… well you saved me. Didn’t you? You weren’t supposed to do that and yet you did it anyway. I know you can go against them! I know you can save everyone here! You just have to try!”
Shuichi turned away from the screen, unable to bear Kiibo’s warm expression.
The two had been going at it for days. Ever since Shuichi had saved his memory core from his destroyed body and uploaded it into the Mastermind computer, he’d been dead set on convincing Shuichi to betray Team Danganronpa.
Shuichi’d assumed that learning the Mastermind’s identity would have infuriated him. That Kiibo would come at him with barbs and jabs, perhaps trying to take down the Mastermind computer from the inside. But he didn’t. Instead, he listened quietly as Shuichi explained everything. As he explained his role as the Mastermind, Kiibo’s role as the audience's 24-hour livestream (and why his Inner Voice was no longer operational), Team Danganronpa’s influence, and how everything was fictional. He listened until Shuichi was shaky and out of breath. And, when Shuichi was finally out of words and silent, waiting for Kiibo’s judgment, he had smiled.
“You aren’t the monster you think you are. You’re just another victim of this Killing Game. But that’s ok! With your help, we can end this game for good!”
From that moment on he’d been relentless. Insistent on getting Shuichi to turncoat. He seemed certain that, if Shuichi turned against Team Danganronpa, everyone would be saved and the Killing Game would end. And while Shuichi could certainly understand his logic, the mere fact that it would require Shuichi to go against Team Danganronpa (and by extension, his parents) made it more of a fantasy than anything occurring in Danganronpa’s fictional world.
“My father is one of the head writers,” Shuichi reminded, “I can’t just go against him. He’d kill me for it.”
It was barely even an exaggeration. Danganronpa was the highest-paying writing gig his Dad had. It racked him in tons of cash every season. He’d risen his way to the top of the company, being the lead writer on the last three seasons. When the last Mastermind had aged out of the role, they hadn’t even held auditions. Shuichi was immediately cast in the new role, courtesy of his father’s love.
It didn’t matter that Shuichi didn’t want the role, it didn’t even matter that Shuichi didn’t like acting. He was going to make his family more money, whether he liked it or not. Standing under the spotlight as it burned bright. Putting on a show like never before. Besides, it wasn’t like his mother could do the role. A fantastic actress in her own right, she just didn’t fit the criteria. After all, the Danganronpa Mastermind had to be (or at least look like) a teenager. And, no matter how youthful his Mom looked, there was no passing her off as a teen.
Shuichi, on the other hand, was a promising child actor. Forced into the industry by his mother and father, he excelled at any role he got handed. He had already racked up a decent amount of popularity, even before Danganronpa, only increasing due to his family name. It was inevitable that he would be cast in the role of Mastermind. Ever since his father became the writing head. Ever since he started doing solo interviews and magazines started giving him spreads. Ever since his mother cupped him by his cheeks and told his poor younger self that he was going to be a star… everything else was inevitable.
“We won’t let him!” Kiibo insisted, “I’m certain that if you help us all escape, everyone will help you escape them as well!”
Shuichi wasn’t so sure about that. He was already responsible for the deaths of nine people. Ten, if the destruction of Kiibo’s body counted. He couldn’t imagine any of them being willing to help him.
He recalled how Kaito seemed to be making it his mission to befriend him. Tenko’s words no doubt ringing in his head, talking of how everyone who’d joined Angie’s cult was hurting. Hurting, and unable to deal with that hurt. Unequipped and without any support. Confused and alone and scared. He’d no doubt taken that into consideration and then realized that Shuichi was always alone, both before and after the cult. And, like the insufferably optimistic character he was designed to be, made it his goal to become his friend.
Kaito would likely help. Kiibo had already insisted he would, and that would be likely all it took for Kaede to help too. All things considered, that actually wasn’t so bad. What would that be, four against three? Huh. Enough for a scrum debate, certainly.
He was getting off-topic. There was no way he was going against Team DR. Saving Kiibo was risky enough. He was lucky he hadn’t been ripped apart for that alone. No, Shuichi knew better than to disobey his parents. He knew better than to pick a losing fight.
“I’m not doing it,” he insisted, “The Killing Game will continue, whether I like it or not. That’s just how it is.”
“That’s not just how it is! I promise you! If a music producer is corrupt, it might seem impossible to leave them. But even if you have to give a lot of stuff up, you’ll be able to reinvent yourself as you see fit, and truly come into yourself! And then everything’s so much better!”
Shuichi shook his head, “I told you your backstory and talent are all fake, didn’t I? Why do you continue with the music comparisons?”
“Just because it’s fake doesn’t mean it’s not real to me,” Kiibo explained, “Besides, I still love singing, don’t I? Even now, there are tons of song ideas flitting through my head. That’s certainly real. Perhaps things like implanted memories or talents are upsetting to humans, but my entire essence is manufactured. And despite that, I am still clearly alive and have a soul. So that doesn’t bother me too much.”
Shuichi sighed, “You know, you gave a similar speech when I asked you about all that before the backstory upload.”
“Really?!”
Shuichi allowed himself a small smile, “I didn’t get to see you then all that often, but I spent a few hours in Research and Development. I asked you how you felt knowing that all your memories of the lab and the personality you’d created would be replaced for the Killing Game. Your answer was startlingly similar.”
“Well, that just proves my point!”
“Perhaps. But I’m still not going along with your plan.”
“Come on, please!”
“No.”
“Please! Take your fate into your own hands! Don’t just let it be chosen for you.”
“I can’t!” Shuichi cried, “I can’t- I can’t disobey them.”
Kiibo was silent for a moment.
“You’re afraid.”
Shuichi stayed silent.
“You’re afraid,” Kiibo reiterated, “That you’ll get hurt if you disobey them.”
“They’re my parents,” Shuichi whispered, “I know them better than anyone. I know… I know what they’d do to me if I ruined this show.”
“We won’t let them hurt you.”
“You can’t guarantee that. You don’t know the power they have. The power Team Danganronpa has. This whole production has been going on for ages. You can’t even withstand a motive from them. You don’t stand a chance.”
“What if we could?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s make a deal.”
It was a stupid deal. A deal Shuichi never should’ve agreed to. A deal that he took up anyway.
A four-day time limit. If everyone could survive the four-day time limit, then Shuichi would rebel. If they didn’t, Kiibo would stop asking. Shuichi got to choose the motive.
It seemed simple enough. If they survived, it proved they were capable. It proved they could handle what Team Danganronpa would throw at them. It proved they stood a chance. Kiibo looked so happy when he took the deal, clearly certain he would win and everyone would be saved. Funny, how everything went wrong.
Shuichi chose the audition tapes. Was that too harsh of him? He didn’t think so at the time. To him, it was the most responsible test he could give. Force them to confront who they were. The fakeness of their identities. The cracks and fissures in their characters. He didn’t give everyone their own. No, he gave everyone someone else’s. It would make them suspicious of each other. Wary of each other. But that was the point. Team Danganronpa would strive to break them apart. As a team, they stood a chance. Alone, they were nothing.
He’d even given them an advantage! One Kiibo didn’t force him to give. He let everyone know about the bet. Told Monokuma to tell everyone that an anonymous individual was betting for their survival. That there was someone out there on their side and said person was going to get them out. All they needed to do was survive four days after being given a motive, and the Killing Game would end.
Monokuma had laughed in his face when he told him to tell everyone that. Monokuma thought the entire situation with Kiibo was hilarious, but Monokuma was an asshole so of course he did.
Everyone was on edge. Had been since Rantaro’s failed plan to kill the Mastermind had resulted in Kiibo’s death (well, death was an extreme term considering he was still alive, but the others didn’t know that). Still, the thought of survival, of getting out of the killing game, had pushed them all to work together. They’d rallied and proudly declared that they’d survive the time limit and escape.
That was until they got the motives.
No one was allowed to leave their rooms until they watched them. The doors only unlocked once it had played in its entirety. The fall from the high was rough. It was like a flip had been switched and suddenly everyone was as, if not more, on edge as before. People would leave rooms the minute another entered. They’d stare at each other, as if trying to determine what evil ulterior motive they had. And suddenly four days seemed so much longer.
Still! They’d stuck it out! For a moment, Shuichi genuinely thought they’d make it. He was sure Kiibo must’ve been grinning as he watched the feeds. Absolutely certain that he had their deal in the bag. Being in the Mastermind’s computer in the hidden room, he had access to all the camera feeds Motherkuma did, freely capable of observing everyone everywhere whenever he wanted.
Shuichi, of course, only had access when he entered the hidden room. And, while the library entrance was certainly there and available, Shuichi didn’t particularly like using it. At least, not unless it was the dead of the night. Which meant how much time he spent there was largely dictated by how often he could justify ‘going to the bathroom,’ as well as how long he could justify being in there for.
All that to say, Shuichi wasn’t watching the cameras when it happened. He was in his bedroom, sleeping a restless sleep, both terrified and excited for the events to come. Kiibo, on the other hand, got a front-row seat to watch as his wonderfully made plan came crashing down before his eyes. Metaphorically, but also literally.
“Kaito called me to meet with him in his lab, late at night,” Maki started, voice barely above a whisper, “I was scared, but I went anyway.”
“The Ultimate Aviator’s lab, right?” Kaede asked, and Maki nodded.
“He wanted to know why I was avoiding him. Why I kept leaving whenever he entered a room. Why I wouldn’t look him in the eyes.”
“Everybody was avoiding everybody after the motives!” Tsumugi argued, “There was nothing out of character about that!”
Perhaps not, but Shuichi knew better. He assigned everyone their videos. He knew Maki got Kaito’s.
Kaito’s video was arguably one of the worst. The original was brash and rude. The kind that didn’t have some tragic backstory to their audition, not like the majority. No, the kind that was just in it for the cash and fame. No wonder Maki refused to be anywhere near him after that. Shuichi couldn’t say he blamed her.
“I-I I didn’t want to talk about the videos. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. But then…”
“But then?” Kaede prompted.
“Things got heated,” Maki’s voice was haunted, “I didn’t mean to yell but-! But I couldn’t help it! Who was he to call me out on being suspicious? He was the most suspicious one here! Did he even remember what he said in that video?! Was he lying to all of us?! Playing us all for fools like the monster he was?!”
“Monster?” Miu questioned, “Kaito wasn’t a monster.”
Maki cringed, hands coming up to pull at her hair, “I-I know! But the video! He said those horrible things and I got scared and he was acting like nothing was wrong but he said SUCH HORRIBLE THINGS!”
“Maki?”
Maki shook her head, “I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean it but he asked how I could put the video motive over all of our experiences thus far and-! And I don’t know! I don’t know! I don’t know!”
“Don’t know what?” Kaede asked.
“I don’t know why I put it above our experiences!” Maki said, “I don’t know why! But I did and it scared me and HE scared me and I started to leave and he grabbed my hand and-!”
Maki broke off, devolving into sobs. She was a wreck. Strands of hair pulled out in her fists. Tears streamed down her face as her chest heaved. She stood, practically collapsed on her podium, legs weak and body shaking, as she recounted the events that led them to the trial room. As she recounted the events that resulted in everything coming tumbling down.
“The crime scene was the Ultimate Aviator’s lab,” Kokichi stated, finishing her thought for her, “The entrance is on the first floor, but the lab itself is at the top of a giant spiral staircase, to be close to the sky Kaito loved oh so much. All the way on the sixth floor.”
Maki sobbed.
“Kaito was found dead at the bottom of the staircase,” he continued.
“Kokichi, stop.”
“You pushed him.”
“I DIDN’T MEAN TO!”
The entire plan, crumbling down in front of their eyes. All the way from the sixth floor, to the first. There was no railing at the top of the stairs. With the way he was pushed, he likely didn’t even hit the stairs. Just a freefall from the top to the bottom, the stairs spiraling all around him. Maybe he tried to grab for one as he fell. It didn’t help him. He still hit the floor with a crack. Still ceased to exist the moment gravity caught up with him. How ironic, that the Ultimate Aviator died because he couldn’t fly.
“No,” Tsumugi said, silent tears pouring down her face, “Tell me it isn’t true. Maki please.”
“I’m sorry,” Maki sobbed, “I didn’t mean to. I tried to catch him. I tried, I tried and I failed!”
“We’re stuck in this game,” Kokichi stated, “All because you couldn’t last another day.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“That doesn’t matter!”
“Yes, it does!” Tsumugi cried, “It wasn’t her fault! She didn’t mean to kill anybody.”
“Oh yeah!? Lotta good that does us now! What are you going to say? ‘Oh, I’m sorry we messed up, Mastermind-chan, but it was voluntary manslaughter, so like, can we get another chance?!’”
“Kokichi!”
Maki screamed, “I’M SORRY!”
It was always destined to end up like that. They were never going to make it to the time limit. Never. Shuichi was a fool for thinking they would. For believing Kiibo’s plan would work out, even for a moment. It was always going to end this way.
“I didn’t- I didn’t- I didn’t know what to DO! The orphanage needs me! I promised her, I promised her I would look after everyone there. I promised!”
The orphanage that wasn’t real. That was just a made-up memory in her head of a fake childhood friend taken away to an evil assassin cult. A friend whose last request was that she look after the orphanage and everyone there. A wish that was never made and never granted. Nothing more than a lie.
“I couldn’t…” Maki’s words trailed off into sobs, “I couldn’t die here. I can’t die here. They need me.”
Tsumugi’s sobs joined her. Such a sad character, losing her third friend in the twisted game. She’d been made the love interest for Tenko and a friend of Rantaro. Their death portraits plastered around the trial room no doubt mocked her as she readied herself to lose another.
She was almost as sad as Miu, who was designed to outlive everyone around her, even if she didn’t want to. Shuichi’s father had been particularly cruel with her backstory, and her hollow words at the end of Himiko and Gonta’s trial still rested heavy in his heart. She’d outright admitted that she was furious, but Shuichi knew she was far too exhausted for it to spark. All her yelling just the sputtering flecks of dying coals.
“Yeah well, I’m pretty sure that ship’s sailed,” Kokichi muttered, hands gripping his shoulders to quell their shaking.
Kokichi, a fan favorite waiting to happen. Given the ever illusive Analyst talent, funny and cheeky and an asshole. But an asshole with a heart. His anger, Shuichi knew, was a billowing fire. What was it that set him off? That he hadn’t seen it coming? That he had? That, regardless, their shot at survival was now a shot in the dark? Stuck in the Killing Game till they fucked up or were down to two because of a stupid mistake from a girl whose only defense was that she was scared.
“Maki,” Kaede started, “…Thank you for telling us all this.”
And Kaede. The lovely protagonist designed to be BFFs with the audience surrogate. A surrogate who, even after being detached from his Inner Voice, still spoke fondly of his best friend. A leader, a flawed one, but a learning one. One that worked to be better, to help everyone, and to get out alive. To join hands with everyone in teamwork, the same way an orchestra worked together to create beautiful music. The way all the instruments singing in tune created a symphony.
All those innocent characters. All those innocent characters who would be stuck in the game till its conclusion. All because of an accidental shove.
Shuichi thought of Kaito. How he tried so hard to befriend him. How it was his actions that made Shuichi feel guilty, yes, knowing full well he was the reason for everyone’s suffering. But they also made him consider whether he could be forgiven. If maybe, just maybe, he could be redeemed.
How stupid. After Kaito and Maki’s deaths? No, there was no redemption for him. No forgiveness. No mercy. He was nothing more than the horrific, evil Mastermind he was cast as.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Maki’s words were a scratched record. There was nothing left for her to say.
“Puhuhu!” Monokuma laughed, “Looks like we’ve just about wrapped up!”
Maki looked up. Bloodshot eyes still streaming with tears, she met his eyes across the trial room. Barely able to suppress a flinch, he was once again grateful for the hat and shades he wore. Hiding his face from view, he didn’t want anyone seeing the emotion in his eyes. No doubt, they’d see nothing but unfettered guilt and self-hatred. The same emotions reflected in Maki’s eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, “You were close to Kaito, and I took him away. I’m just as bad as Kirumi. I took away the person most important to someone. I’m nothing but a monster.”
Miu stiffened at her podium. Her fist clenched as the coals stirred, but didn’t ignite.
“You know what that means!” Monokuma continued, “It’s Voting Time!”
“No,” Tsumugi sobbed, “Please no.”
“I’m sorry,” they were the only words Maki had left, “I’m sorry.”
It was as if the apology did double time. She didn’t know it, but she was apologizing to the Mastermind. Apologizing for killing Kaito, yes, but apologizing for killing the little glimmer of hope that resided in his soul. For proving, without a doubt, that there was no defying Team Danganronpa.
“I’m sorry!” she cried and Shuichi forgave her.
“You know the drill! Press the button in front of you to cast your vote. And don’t go running out the clock, unless you’re feeling particularly suicidal.”
After all, the one who didn’t deserve forgiveness was Shuichi himself.
“Once again, the heart-racing excitement as the blackened and spotless face off! It’s… VOTING TIME!”
The vote was unanimous. Kaede, Miu, Kokichi, Tsumugi, and even Maki herself all voted correctly. For a few seconds, Shuichi’s finger hovered over his own name. Then he steadied his breathing and voted for Maki.
Monokuma didn’t need to say it, but he said it anyway.
“Congratulations! You all voted correctly! The blackened who killed Kaito Momota is none other than Maki Harukawa, the Ultimate Child Caregiver!”
It was no surprise when Maki collapsed to the floor. Nor was it surprising to see Tsumugi rush up to her, wrapping her in a hug as they sobbed. Embraced so thoroughly, she looked so young, so innocent, that Shuichi couldn’t help but look away.
None of them deserved this. None of them deserved to be in such a fucked up game. Forced to kill. Forced to suffer for everyone else’s entertainment. Shuichi thought of Kaito’s body. Broken and bloodied at the bottom of the stairs, and wanted to throw up.
He didn’t. He didn’t even let himself cry. He just looked away as everyone broke. As Miu cursed her continued existence. As Kokichi mourned the loss of their chance at freedom. As Maki sobbed over the blood on her hands. As Tsumugi cried for the friends she’d lost and was about to lose. As Kaede questioned her role as a leader if, no matter what she did, they always ended up in the exact same situation.
He looked away until the words were spoken.
“Puhuhu! It’s… PUNISHMENT TIME!”
And then? Then he forced himself to watch.
When he made it back to the hidden room that night, no words were spoken. They didn’t need to be. Kiibo stared at him from the screen, sorrow filling every bit of circuitry he lived in. And under that gaze Shuichi collapsed into sobs, letting the despair fill him as tears dropped onto the floor. If he were anything like Junko, the woman every Mastermind tried to emulate, he’d thrive in that despair. Live for the feeling of the ceiling collapsing and relish in the pain.
But no matter how hard he tried, how hard he tried to embody the role he was forced into and enjoy the suffering and pain, he couldn’t. All he felt was empty. As empty as Maki and Kaito’s corpses, completely devoid of life.
In that emptiness, he heard Kiibo sing. Soft and mellow and sweet.
Shuichi cried harder.