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“Now, now, now—heroes shouldn't be asleep on the job!”
That familiar, annoyingly gleeful voice had woken me up with a start. The unpleasant, confined surroundings of my room at Hope's Peak Academy came into focus as my vision slowly returned.
“Gooood morningggg! Although it's technically still night, do you feel well-rested anyway?”
The source of that unwelcome voice and the wake-up call was standing right beside my bed, with his distinctive, permanent devilish grin.
“GAAAHHHH!” I yelled on impulse, scooting back until my back hit the headboard behind me.
“Nice face, Makoto! You definitely look your best in the morning,” Monokuma quipped. “You could look better, though. I'm pretty picky about people's morning faces.”
“What do you want?” I demanded. This was not the first time this awful robotic bear had intruded into my room, but it was something I refused to get used to.
Monokuma threw his arms in the air in anger. “How rude! My time is very valuable, you know! Since you fell asleep still clutching the Love Key, I went out of my way to wake you! I really wish you were more appreciative!”
“Love Key…? You mean this thing I won from the MonoMono Machine?”
“Yep, yep! I'll tell you how to use it.”
Being as rightfully confused as I was, Monokuma “graciously” explained to me the basic details of the strange item, saying that there was a very special place where I could unleash my “suppressed teenage hormonal urges.” Being Monokuma, he didn't shy away from making perverted remarks along the way.
‘It's true that I'm a teenager and I could often have those urges like any human being, but now wasn't the time or place for those thoughts! How could I possibly think about sex at a time like this? I'm not in high school under normal circumstances; fourteen other students and I have been forced into a killing game, and several of our friends have already died. My main priority is to survive and escape alongside everyone else.’
“Oooh, how exciting! Judging by your silence, you're probably conceptualizing all of the possible steamy escapades you could get yourself into!” Monokuma said tauntingly. “Now then, please read the instructions.”
A notification sound emanated from my e-Handbook on my nightstand. Hesitantly, I picked it up and read what was added…
It's time for The Talk.
The Love Key Talk.
This is the key that is used to unlock the Love Suite.
When night falls, you and one other person will be invited to the Love Suite.
There you will be part of that person's fantasy.
They will see you as their “ideal,” and basically just swoon all over you.
Think of it as a kind of dream that lets you escape this cruel, dark reality.
That's why it's important to play the role that person wants you to.
If you do something that breaks character, the other person will wake up in anguish.
And what happens there, stays there. Memories are wiped when you exit.
It's like a one-night stand within a dream. Probably best that you both forget it.
Well then, that's it!
Stay safe! Enjoy!
I gawked at those rules in dumbfounded silence.
‘I'm well aware that I've encountered my fair share of strange, nonsensical things in this place, but this is on a whole other level!’
“Oh? You seem skeptical,” Monokuma said. “Why don't you try it out for yourself, then? Go ahead, take that Love Key out for a spin!”
My grip on the Love Key clasped in my hand tightened.
“Now then, let love take hold of you! It'll make you sweeter than a bear's honey pot!”
With that, Monokuma finally left.
I sat on my bed, stunned. The key felt heavy in my hand.
‘If this is all going to be a dream and I won't remember anything, then it couldn't hurt to try it out… right? After all of this despair and pent-up urges, I could use some relief…’
I reexamined a certain section of the established rules: “When night falls, you and one other person will be invited to the Love Suite. There you will be part of that person's fantasy.” One other person… who could that be? There were a few of my fellow survivors I would consider generally attractive, I guess, but I haven't really thought of anything beyond that. Well, we were in a killing game, after all. Sayaka, she could have been that someone… but she's gone…
‘No, I can't focus on reminiscing about her.’
After debating with myself for a while—mostly being a heated debate between my mind and body—I finally made my decision…
XXX
Monokuma was right; that key unlocked a very special place, a place seeped with lust. The room was oozing with passionate red, and in the center of said room was a snug, round bed with a large heart-shaped mirror right behind it. Encircling the bed was a single carousel horse—an odd choice of decoration. There was also a wide selection of kinky objects hanging up on display all around the room: whips, chains, handcuffs, and more questionable objects strewn all about the floor. There were even shower nozzles and a bathtub in one corner of the room. Seeing all of that was pretty intimidating, but what made things even more strange and intimidating was the person standing directly in front of the bed.
Byakuya?
There was no mistaking it; that tall and stern boy standing there, overwhelming me with his usual unapproachable aura, was Byakuya Togami himself. He had his arms crossed and wasn't even looking in my direction, as if I wasn't there. Why Byakuya? Sure, he was attractive and all, but… wait! Did I really just think that? Good thing Genocide Jack couldn't see all this or read my thoughts; she would cut me into pieces.
Byakuya suddenly glanced my way, and I felt myself freeze in place. He didn't speak; he just focused on me expectantly with his trademark frown.
‘Okay, calm down. So, apparently I play the role of the other person's “ideal,” like some kind of shared fantasy. What kind of fantasies would someone like Byakuya have? He doesn't seem like the type to fantasize about things.’
Byakuya's intense gaze lingered on me, but I didn't know what to say or do, so I waited for him to speak first. That proved to be difficult because all that ended up happening was an awkward staring contest. He clearly expected me to say something, but I still wasn't sure what to do. It didn't take too long for Byakuya to lose his patience. While he still didn't say anything, his frown was now contorted into a sneer. I had to say something.
“Umm, so…”
“You wasted precious seconds of my time just to begin with an unbelievably pitiable excuse for a sentence?” Byakuya scoffed. “Clearly, it was foolish of me to wait for you to tell me something actually worth my time.”
Well, that didn't go well. Byakuya certainly didn't seem too different in his own fantasy.
‘Why must he be such a difficult person to understand and handle?’
“Exactly how long do you intend to stand there like a brainless idiot?” Byakuya demanded.
I have to say something, and quickly. I scratched the back of my head and admitted, “Umm, I'm not sure what to say.”
That uncertain comment of mine seemed to fuel Byakuya's anger and impatience because now his body was completely facing me in a fierce stance. His teeth were gritted, his fists clenched, and his icy-cold glare bore into my soul.
‘I have to go along with this fantasy somehow; I don't want him to wake up in anguish. But with the lack of any given context, I'm not exactly sure how to work around that. But I have to try…’
“Actually, there is something I wanted to tell you. I'm just not sure where to start…”
“If you intend to waste even more of my time, then I will take my leave.” The heir turned his back to me as he set off to make his way to the exit.
“No, wait, Byakuya!” I called out. I wasn't entirely sure where that sheer desperation came from, but I didn't want him to leave.
He stood there motionless, his back still turned towards me. I swore I could spot the smallest hint of a smirk on his face. “Hmph, so it seems you have dropped the casualties of calling me sir or Mr. Togami.”
The tone of Byakuya's voice was now a stark contrast compared to how it was before. He sounded calm and almost… glad? Though it was still laced with a hint of his typical smugness. Since he seemed glad that I dropped the formalities with him, I could only assume it means we were close?
Thanks to what he said, I now had a better idea of our roles in this fantasy: I was somebody who worked for him. He did offer me a job as his personal assistant before, though he wrote the whole thing off as a “test,” despite being more than willing to pay me a board member's salary a year for practically nothing…
“Y-Yeah, I want to get to know you even more, Byakuya,” I said earnestly. “As more than just my boss.”
‘Byakuya may not have been the most pleasant person, but I know that he's not a bad person. In fact, he had quite a few strong points. He was a good leader, intelligent, and confident in his abilities (though tremendously so.) If only he used his strong points to help us all escape together instead of focusing on helping himself. Despite his protests against it, I still believe more than ever that there's a chance that we can truly understand and accept each other, and maybe, just maybe, even become friends someday.’
That smirk on his face seemed to spread even wider. “I expected as much, considering you dragged me to a place like this. I pride myself on knowing everything, but I never expected you to make such a bold move by bringing me here.”
That comment struck me, reminding me of where I was and the whole purpose behind the suite. My entire body suddenly felt like it was on high alert, as panic crept on me. Were we really going to…?
“You want me to give myself to you, that much is obvious. But I refuse to give myself to somebody who is so painfully pathetic with their approaches,” Byakuya spat. ”If you truly want me, act like it! You have certainly failed to impress me so far.”
There was so much weight behind Byakuya's words. While he came across as angry and intimidating, I swore I could also detect a subtle trace of dejection in his overall demeanor. Was that why he was so set on me talking first? Why he was so impatient? Was he so frustrated and defensive all this time because he thought I didn't want him? I guess this was Byakuya's way of expressing his hurt.
‘Does that mean… he actually wants me?’
Suddenly, a memory of the Love Key's rules came flooding back: “There you will be part of that person's fantasy. They will see you as their ‘ideal,’ and basically just swoon all over you.”
‘Oh, right, it's just a fantasy. Wait! Why am I disappointed?!’
Assuming it was because of my hesitation yet again, Byakuya marched over to the door of the hotel in a huff, his hand on the verge of turning the knob.
Without really thinking, I sprinted over to the taller boy and grabbed his free hand. His eyes behind his white-rimmed glasses widened—really bringing out their deep blue color—as his body stiffened. Feeling his larger hand in mine, I noticed that it felt surprisingly soft and delicate. I figured words wouldn't be enough, especially for someone as difficult as him, so I held his hand more firmly and peered directly into his widened eyes to get my point across.
Seeing the usually stoic progeny completely caught off guard was honestly quite a sight to behold. His mouth hung slightly open, and his face was flushed a deep shade of pink. While I couldn't see my own face, I could feel—based on the heat of my own cheeks—that it was just as flushed as his.
We stood there, staring at each other for what felt like hours. Then Byakuya pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose with his hand that was originally on the doorknob. I could assume it was because he wanted to hide some of his flustered face.
“You really do desire me,” Byakuya said in a quiet voice. Suddenly, he crossed his arms and stared me down, reverting back to his haughty self. “However, it seems that you are still ignorant of the fact that despite your desires and best efforts, you will always be beneath me. You know nothing about fighting, struggling, and ultimately winning. You are no different from any other boring, worthless commoner. Your life is ultimately meaningless.”
At first, I frowned at the insult, but then my frown gradually curved into a mischievous smirk. “You say that it's obvious that I want you, but I can say the same about you. It's obvious you want this. You sure seem desperate for somebody you view as ‘beneath’ you. Also, if I'm such a worthless, boring commoner, why even bother with me?”
“Ggghh!” The blush on Byakuya's face was definitely obvious now. Everything about his reaction proved that I was right on the money.
I wasn't exactly sure where all of this confidence of mine had come from, but it felt satisfying. It was especially worth it to see Byakuya's over-the-top bewildered reactions.
My determination didn't seem to falter, because I had more to say. “But even if you do want this, you keep looking down on people like me and the way we live. Yes, you had to face a lot of struggles and fight your way to the top to become who you are, but normal people like us also have struggles! We may be a dime a dozen to you, but we have normal lives we want to fight for and protect! I'm not gonna involve myself with someone who sees my entire existence as meaningless.”
I felt like I just poured my heart out. I was so caught up in my brief speech that I forgot if I was even supposed to know Byakuya's story in this fantasy.
Byakuya focused on me intently, wearing the same bewildered and stunned expression. I waited with bated breath, my hands balled into fists. Due to the silence, I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. After a while, he closed his eyes and fondly smirked, just as he had done earlier. Judging by his reaction, I would assume that Byakuya did tell me his story in this illusion. In a way, I was glad that he was able to trust me so much in both versions of us.
“It seems you have passed my test.” Yet again, Byakuya pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose as his eyes shifted to the side. “Then again… you always do.”
I was rendered speechless by his inflection while uttering that last sentence. There was no trace of arrogance or impatience. He sounded… sincere and almost… shy? I could see his cheeks reddening again behind his hand. He looked surprisingly cute like that. But what exactly was he testing? Did he want me to stand up to him like that?
I unclenched my fists and smiled. “I'm glad I passed, I guess, but I don't want any more games or tests. Let's just be real with each other.”
Byakuya lowered his hand and made direct eye contact with me again as he said, “Indeed.”
That tone, the way he was looking at me—it sent extra rushes of blood pumping throughout my entire body.
His shy and sincere exterior disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared, and he crossed his arms again with a scowl. “You are quite infuriating, Makoto. Even when you were meant to be my assistant, a mere servant, for several years you have managed to impress me more than once. You had nearly as much to teach me as I did for you. While I, of course, remain superior in every possible aspect, I suppose you would just barely make the cut as a worthwhile human being.”
While he was still acting all high and mighty, I could easily tell that what he was saying was still his way of complimenting me. I could also tell that saying anything remotely positive about another person besides himself was a struggle for him, judging by his constant pauses and the grimace contorting his face whenever he complimented. Still, I impressed him more than once? We've known each other for years? It felt like I couldn't keep up with this strangely staggering and elaborate fantasy. But at least I now had much more useful info than I did upon entering the suite.
“I enjoyed the time I spent with you, Byakuya. I feel like I'm getting to know you better with each passing day. I like getting to see this side of you.”
“This side of me?”
“Yeah. It's nice to see you opening up to me, smiling. You should do that more.”
Byakuya made a half-assed attempt at a scoff. “You truly are incomprehensible,” he muttered. “So much so that you only accepted my career offer for the sole purpose of remaining in my presence, as opposed to the salary and benefits that come along with it.”
“Like I said, I like being around you and getting to know you. The money doesn't really matter.”
“What about my role?”
“Your role?”
Byakuya grew impatient again. “My family name and all the benefits that come from being chosen. In some sad, wretched alternate world where I didn't possess any of those honors, could you truly say with certainty that you would still bother in getting to know me?”
“Of course.”
Byakuya looked down at the ground, tapping the side of his glasses, seemingly lost in thought.
‘This has got to be the oddest, most complicated fantasy ever. When I think of fantasies, I think of joyful, idealistic happily-ever-after scenarios, not this. Then again, this is Byakuya. I wasn't expecting him to be the hopeless daydreaming type anyway.’
After pondering, his gaze—highly concentrated—lingered on me once again.
“Makoto, make love to me.”
…..
…..
…..
…..
“Huh?!”
Never in a million years would I expect Byakuya of all people to say something like that to me.
“Why so shocked? You brought me to this very place for this very purpose, and you said no more tricks or games, correct? I am simply establishing consent. So far, you have proven yourself, and our gradual time together has shown that we seem to be compatible.”
He was explaining all this in such a professional and casual way. It felt like I was an employee being talked to by my boss, who was offering me a promotion for my overall performance and progress in the workplace.
“However, if you are going to be my lifelong partner, I will have to make certain that we are compatible in terms of intimacy.”
‘Lifelong partner? Doesn't he have to continue his family's “unique” inheritance system someday?’ Suddenly, my chest involuntarily twinged from the unpleasant scenario of Byakuya being intimate with anyone else.
Also, Byakuya still treated this whole situation as a test anyway, but it was a different kind of test, so I decided to let that slide and not interject.
“You should feel honored that I desire you in return—nobody else has had the privilege to be with me in such a way,” Byakuya said pridefully.
I couldn't decide what was more shocking: the fact that Byakuya was a virgin despite his looks and status, the fact that he wanted me of all people to be his first, the fact that he wanted me to be his lover for life, or the fact that he wanted me to take the lead and be inside him. Inside him… that thought got more of my blood pumping, but this time especially down south. I'm not sure if it was just the effect of the Love Suite or what, but Byakuya was really having a strong effect on me.
Finally acknowledging my silence, he said with utmost seriousness, “You are still concerned about what is expected of me to continue the Togami bloodline, aren't you?”
While I was curious about that whole situation, that was not what stunned me into silence…
“As I have divulged to you before, I have no intention of concurring with that tradition. I am Byakuya Togami, I pave my own path. I will find another way.”
I couldn't believe it. We must have been close in this fantasy for him to trust me so much. I swear, this was becoming more and more unbelievable the more this scene progressed. Then again, most fantasies were. Not to mention, Byakuya was always confident in himself to such an exaggerated degree, but something about his confidence right at that moment was very… attractive.
Byakuya waited for me to speak, but somehow I was even more speechless than I was before. I knew he didn't like to be kept waiting, especially in this scenario, but I had no idea what to do.
Instead of reacting angrily as he did earlier due to my silence, he exhaled deeply through his nostrils and closed his eyes. “As much as it utterly pains me to admit this, on many occasions you have enlightened me about a great deal of things I would ordinarily refuse to understand.” His eyes suddenly opened, and my heart skipped a beat upon spotting a certain glint in their intense, seductive, and meaningful gaze. “Makoto, will you… continue to enlighten me?”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. Our eyes were locked, and I felt like I was in some sort of trance. Whether it was a potent effect of the Love Suite or not, I wanted this—I wanted Byakuya. His looks, his confidence, his trust, his honesty, and his passion, all blended together to make an utterly perfect man. That was why… I firmly nodded my head. I still didn't speak, but that nod seemed to convey just enough to Byakuya.
I was unsure of how to start and what exactly Byakuya expected me to do, but I decided to go with the flow and do what felt right. From that point on, the reality that this was all just a dreamlike circumstance, or even the fact that we were still trapped in a school and forced into a killing game, had slipped from my mind.
Rolling with the punches, I reached one of my hands forward so I could gently run my fingers through Byakuya's thin, golden strands of hair. He slightly flinched from the contact, and his eyes widened like they did when I held his hand earlier, but he didn't try to stop me… he was being timid. Vulnerable Byakuya was still something I wasn't used to, but at the same time, it was something I wanted to get used to.
I decided to push my luck even further, so I slid my fingers even deeper through the tresses. His hair was just as incredibly soft and silky as it appeared, but that wasn't exactly surprising. Being as wealthy as he was, he would only use the highest-quality hair-related products.
I swore I caught a glimpse of his eyes rolling to the back of his head and heard him hum in delight. Did I discover a sweet spot of his? That filled me with a great deal of confidence as well as excitement. Mere seconds later, he held the hand buried in his hair and looked at me with half-lidded eyes. That was when, for the first time ever, I saw him smile. It wasn't an arrogant smirk or a twisted, amused grin; it was a smile that was both sincere and warm.
On complete impulse and feeling drawn to him like a magnet's pull, I moved my free hand to his right cheek, stood on my tiptoes, and leaned my head forward and upward to kiss his lips firmly. Even his lips were soft. It took a few seconds, but Byakuya eventually returned the gesture.
……....
*Ding dong, bing bong*
My eyes wearily fluttered open, and my mind felt hazy, leaving me particularly confused about where I was at that very moment.
“Goooood morning, everyone!”
Hearing the annoying, malicious voice of Monokuma coming from the monitor quickly brought me back to reality—a horrific reality.
After the usual stupid morning announcement had played, I let out a groan and sighed as I begrudgingly sat up in bed.
‘What happened between Byakuya and me last night… Was that a dream? I don't see myself forgetting that sincere smile of his anytime soon.’
The moment I moved my legs, I noticed it felt warm and damp between them, soaking the front of my pants.
‘Oh no! I didn't wet the bed, did I? Is my problem back?’
When I glanced down to inspect further, I noticed that it was… Wait, did I have a wet dream involving Byakuya?! What didn't help my situation was the prominent case of morning wood pushing against the wet spot on my pants. Thankfully, it was morning, which meant that I could take a quick shower to wash up. Even though it was still painful to step foot into that very bathroom of my dorm, I staggered over to it so I could clean up as quickly as possible.
“I'm going to have to make sure I don't look Byakuya directly in the eye when I see him next…”