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Chapter Text

There's something to be said about waking up and finding out that one isn't truly dead, just being held in a virtual reality. Kaito still can't believe it either, but here he was. He expected to continue heaving or coughing up blood but the reality has set in more early on than he'd like. He nicked his finger with his nail, just to check, and there it was; the blood is no longer pink, it's red, and it's what gets him rooted to the real world. The remaining survivors are yet to come out since the sixth trial is ongoing, but what matters is that they're all alive. He's got Team Danganronpa's therapy sessions with almost everyone else.

Kokichi doesn't show up in therapy. 

The doctors reasoned that his body is still recuperating from the mental trauma ( from his untreated concussion within the game ) and the overall nerve damage that caused his spine to lose sense of touch. His arms and legs are there, but useless as he can't do anything on his own. Talking is his only way of communicating at the moment, but it's better than nothing.

The hard part to take in is how silent Kokichi is being. Kaito doesn't like the implication that the Kokichi he's facing now is only a husk of who he was. The smaller man's mind ran miles per minute, that he was sure of, but without words to hear what's on his mind, Kaito was coming up blank and he hated it so much.

So he always approached him and talked. He always starts the conversation and luckily for him, Kokichi responded and even though the jester mask is up, at least he's somewhat alive enough to keep a very uncivil conversation with him.

There's occasional jokes about being a vegetable that Kokichi makes about himself, but it only made his conviction to help the other improve in physical therapy solidify. He even suggested to the staff for Kokichi to be roomed together with him so he can monitor his condition himself, and while the staff hardly minded, Kokichi put up a fight that Kaito was willing to take on. Needless to say, Kaito won with his stubbornness by making the supreme leader choose between him and Team Danganronpa. Of course he knew Kokichi wouldn't allow them to care for him seeing that they're part of the people responsible for putting them in there. Kaito mentally gave himself a pat on the back. 

There was one instance where they fought yet again that Kokichi had passed out during a panic attack, and Kaito could only be filled with guilt for causing that in the first place.

And when they slept together on Kaito's bed, backs pressed against each other, it's oddly comforting.

Not as much as when Kokichi told him at 3 am that he felt how Kaito's back is warm like a heater. He felt something, and the statement feels like hope.

So they both work on it, slowly but surely.

The survivors got out, and that's when things start to get...weird.

Shuuichi and Maki comments on how Kaito spends most of his time with Kokichi, and it's not like it was ever a secret. He did have asked for his therapy schedule ( both physical and psychological ) aligned with the gremlin's just to support him.

"Why do you keep going to that basket case?" Maki asked, though genuine but still holding a shred of malice. "Is he your pet project now?"

Kaito was honestly surprised about that question. He never thought of Kokichi like that. He only wanted to help, especially that Kokichi doesn't have anyone to support him. Team Danganronpa hardly counted, even if they spoonfed him gross hospital food.

"That's really uncalled for, Harumaki," the former Ultimate Astronaut replied, scratching the back of his neck. "That's like saying you've been--"

His eyes widened in realization and covered his mouth. He almost said it and internally cringed at what he was going to say.

"-- nevermind. Anyway, why don't you give him the benefit of the doubt? Visiting hours at night is totally allowed for us."

Shuuichi looked...pensive. 

"What changed your mind, Momota-kun? About him, I mean." The detective asked earnestly. "I clearly remembered you still having doubts about his motives despite having partnered up with him in your last moments."

Kaito crossed his arms and closed his eyes, seeking in his head for a somewhat solid reason why he sticks around Kokichi. He started, "Yeah, I know I was pretty much doubting the little asshole, but then I decided to watch the past trials by myself. Ouma was too cynical, we all hated that and I realized that he felt the need to be in the killing game. I had to admit that he made a lot of damning points during most of the class trials but that doesn't mean he is completely blameless in all what happened to Gonta. Don't get me wrong, I still hate what he did. But think about this; now that the killing game is over, he doesn't have to feel that way anymore."

"That's stupid. Ouma could still manipulate you, killing game or not," Maki retorted.

Kaito didn't want this conversation to become a start of an argument; he's explaining himself but now it feels like Maki is itching for a fight and he didn't know why.

"He literally cannot move on his own! He's really vulnerable right now!" 

"Maybe that's what he wants you to think. After all, he can still use his mouth and you would take his words naively."

Now that offended Kaito. He hates being treated like he's so dumb, but he steeled himself and got up to leave the area. He isn't going to give Maki the fight she wants, nor say anything else that he might regret.

"Momota-kun, wait..." Shuuichi called after him, but he was already far away. 

When Kaito arrived in his room, Kokichi greeted him with a smarmy smile, still on the hospital bed that they share and leaning on the pillow like a cat too calm. "Trouble in paradise, huh, Momota-chan?" he said, tone almost taunting. 

The taller man is not in a mood for games, but at this point, he's somewhat tolerant with whatever the former Supreme Leader dishes out.

"How would you even know? You weren't there," Kaito huffed. 

"Your ugly mug says it all. Come on, now I wanna hear about it. Tell all your frustrations to your local therapist." Kokichi seemed too eager to know about his current dilemma.

Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose. "...Harumaki told me how you can manipulate me and I'm naive."

Kokichi's face was blank for a while, and then it morphed into a mocking expression, holding giggles but failing spectacularly. Kaito swears that if the gremlin could move, he'd point his finger at him and slap the bed in full laughter. "H-How does it feel like to be called naive this time? Bet it wasn't pleasant at all!" He cackled out loud.

"Will you quit it? I'm starting to regret telling you this," Kaito sighed, messing up his already limp hair in frustration.

"But she's right, Kaito," Kokichi said as he calmed down. "I can still manipulate you as long as I have a liar's mouth. And that's not gonna change anytime soon. You'd be too foolish to put your trust in a guy like me."

'Since when did he--'

The former astronaut's train of thought died as he looked at the smaller man's face; serious and eyebrows creased. He wasn't aware when he started knowing what Kokichi meant to convey by his words, but with the expression he's making now, he knew there was underlying worry. The knowledge settled in his gut like a heavy rock, because he's not supposed to make people worried about him and the fact the other man is making that expression speaks volumes.

Kaito replied, "I'll...believe on whoever I want, so if you betray me, that's on me for believing in you."

The statement felt so fake, yet appropriate. 

Now Kokichi looked so annoyed at him. "You know what? Harumaki-chan is right, you are naive. When will you start thinking with logic instead of emotion?"

He couldn't answer that. His mind is still befuddled with all the truths and lies but one thing he knew he didn't regret is believing in Kokichi's plan.

"Where is this coming from?" Kaito asked, clearly exasperated with how the smaller man is reacting. "We're past the killing game, we're all alive now so what's with you putting up walls again?" He meant to ask this question on another time but right now he's swimming in the thoughts of why and Kokichi makes it harder to hold back all of it.

"You don't want the answer to that." 

Cryptic as always. It's probably for the best that this...conversation ended this way. Kokichi had fallen asleep. Talking probably spent his energy more than practicing body movement. The way his chest rose and fall in a few minutes indicated that their conversation, despite how short it was, has tired him out. Kaito observes how his eyelids show rapid eye movement, knowing the other is falling deep into sleep.

Kaito is left sorting out thoughts on his own.

What else is there to doubt now? 

He turns on the tv, knowing that in this time of the night, the entire sixth class trial has been edited clean and ready to air. Emotions ran wild in him as he watched, like everything is ripped out of his body and hollowness is the only thing remaining for him.

His fake past, fake talent, his true self who was eager to kill everyone for the sake of fortune and fame... he should have braced himself for this, been so stupid to expect what was on the surface. He had been so complacent at the fact that they're alive that this information has crumbled the peace he was envisioning. He willingly joined the killing game, and the whole world watched them. He was as equally fucked up as the rest of humanity.

As he questioned how much of a monster he really is, the word doubt started to make sense.

Kaito didn't want to believe that his loving grandparents didn't exist, but at the back of his mind he knew that if they really existed, they wouldn't let him join something stupidly barbaric.

He wants to believe in something, but now he's not sure anymore.

Chapter Text

Kokichi slowly opened his eyes and tried to process the sight he was seeing. There's an IV line from his hand connected to a fluid bag hanging on the stand. How is he even alive at this point? He was clearly crushed under the press, reduced to nothing but a gory bloodbath.

Unless he's in some kind of a fucked up purgatory. He's not being picky,  but he should be in hell. This much white paint is torture already for him. Too clean. Too pristine. It checks out, really.

His eyes travel towards a familiar person sitting by his bed, someone who tried to murder him and almost succeeded.

"Oh fuck, you're awake now, shitty shota." Miu started, her tough act looking really fragile. Yep, he's in hell, no doubt about it.

"On a second thought, I'm going back to being in coma." He quipped, pretending to close his eyes shut.

The inventor twists her face in annoyance, which made Kokichi glad. She won't cry in front of him with his usual attitude.

"Goddammit, asshole, I want to apologize!" She exclaimed, her eyes determined.

The supreme leader's eyebrow twitched and he cracked one eye open. "So you'll demand my attention like the whore you are? How cruel, Iruma-chan," He started, but he went on, "Then again, I'm not one to speak when I got you murdered so you couldn't kill me."

Miu visibly flinched at the reminder.

Kokichi opens his eyes and decided to swerve the topic by speaking up again. "Where are we anyway?"

"...Team Danganronpa Facility."

"What's that?"

"The place where the killing games were held."

"But we're alive, Iruma-chan, so what gives?"

"We were put into something similar to Neo World Program. Virtual reality and all that shit. Apparently we consented to be put in here," Miu clenched her jaw. "I saw the proof they showed me. Fucking hell."

Well, shit. That's not the plot twist he was expecting, but it does explain some things, such as why there would be people rooting for this game to happen. If there were volunteers, recruitment to the fold is way easier.

"Iruma-chan, you're gonna have to show and tell me all you know about every corner of this place," Kokichi said with much seriousness. "Blueprints, operating systems and internet."

Miu proudly said, "Way ahead of you, twerp." She brandished a flash drive and placed it in his hands. "I'll bring you a laptop, so you can watch the rest of the stupid killing game finale. I managed to get us connected to internet, but the main building's operating system is fucked to boot. It's hard to navigate on it using voice activation."

"You mean the OS was created from scratch?" Huh. Interesting. "As long as I can get in. Do you still make toys?"

"Hell yeah, I got a talent room here."

There's so much that he should do. Being confined is suffocating, but he knows that whoever else is alive might not appreciate him being out and about. He may be a grade A asshole but he knows when he's not wanted. 

After everything he has done, it's understandable. Miu is obviously going to be doing this for some kind of favor. 

"Ouma." 

Oh, that just gave him internal hives. Miu should stop right there.

"I didn't know you wanna be buddies with me to point you're on a last name basis towards me, Iruma-chan. You must be desperate." Kokichi commented. 

"We are," Miu snapped. "If there's anyone who has the shitty overthinking brain on steroids, it's you. You're the only one who can get us out of here, one way or another."

And there it is. 

"So that's why you wanna apologize. I get it, but seriously you can't be thinking I'm the only one you needed to apologize to."

Miu looked confused, so Kokichi helpfully points out, 

"You tried to frame Momota-chan."

"Wh-- He literally fucking killed you later on! It doesn't matter!" Miu said in defense. 

"You're such a dumb bitch, Iruma-chan. I consented to being killed so it's assisted suicide at best. Being a murder victim doesn't absolve you from the obvious pre-meditated plan you had." He said with much malice. 

"And yours is any fucking better?! Fuck you!" 

Miu stormed out of his room, and in turn two other people had come in his room. It was Tenko, looking like she's going to flip whoever made Miu act like that. A fair reaction, though Kokichi would very much wish he wouldn't be flipped. He just woke up, thank you very much. The other one is Angie, holding a tray of food. She looks way chipper than she should, but this is the woman who created a cult like student council. She's inevitably going to be looking like a saint. 

"What did you do this time, you tiny degenerate?" Tenko asked, already looming over him. 

"In my humble defense, I spoke facts for once, Chabashira-chan." Kokichi smiled. 

"No fighting!" Angie chimed in. "Atua forbids dispute and power imbalance!" 

"He started shit with Iruma-san!" Tenko replied angrily. 

Angie set down the tray on the table, swaying from side to side. "Pray tell, who's stronger between you two?" 

Kokichi answered, "It's Chabashira-chan, obviously."

"Right, so both of you know who can do the most physical damage, right? Atua has prophesied that the stronger ones would protect the weak ones."

"This degenerate shouldn't count." Tenko stated. "He has made more damage with his lies."

Angie didn't cease with her peaceful stance, yet her next words were challenging. "So does that make you feel better about yourself? That you can hurt him this time around? Is that what your strength is for?" 

Kokichi didn't really want to see more beef happening between the two, so he said, "You can stop with the white knighting, Yonaga-chan, it's creepy."

"Atua knows Ouma is spouting nonsense on empty stomach, so Angie brought food!" She said, slowly moving the table towards him. 

Kokichi found himself unable to move his hands. He tried to will himself to reach for the table but he really can't, not even a twitch of finger is happening. He tried the same for his feet and the rest of his body to no avail. 

"I can't move." 

Both girls looked at him. Kokichi cringed at blurting out a weakness. 

Tenko thought Kokichi was bullshitting again so she slightly nudges him out of balance to force him to prevent his body from falling but it doesn't happen, he only falls off the bed and the IV needle accidentally gets pulled out of his hand. 

Kokichi couldn't feel any pain, but he can tell Tenko had caught him in time before he fell to the floor. He can only watch as his wrist bled profusely, feeling faint. The blood is weirdly red. He could hear Angie calling for help and the last thing he saw was the USB Miu gave him. It lay on his hand, a heavy reaminder of what he has to do for everyone. 

...

... 

When Kokichi woke up again, it was Kaede that was beside him this time. He couldn't look into her eyes without feeling something akin to guilt, but her stare towards him felt firm. 

"Ouma-kun, I know you can't move. Please, let me help you."

"Don't bother, Akamatsu-chan. Why try to reach out to everyone when you've started it all?"

He glanced at her; she looked hurt yet stubborn all the same.

"You need to regain strength. We're all going out of here." 

Kaede looked determined as ever, and Kokichi wishes it was that easy to win against something as big as this. Whomever is responsible for such wouldn't let them go easily. 

Not without a fight. 

Kokichi steeled himself, and then resigned. Kaede is right, he needs to be strong enough to do what needs to be done.

As the days and weeks passed, Kaede visits Kokichi almost daily and feeds him as well though she has to rest as well due to the detrimental effects of her in-game death. Angie and Miu are doing the same. Tenko must somewhat felt guilty for his depleted blood supply, but it's not like he's never going to get blood transfusion. With a trillion dollar company like Team Danganronpa, it would be the easiest steal.

Kokichi tells Miu to create some items that would help him navigate the internal system of the building as well as the internet access via using his voice. Miu has created glasses that would serve as his sight reticle that was detected by the laptop.

He also had her make brainwave activators to jumpstart the brains of the ones still in comatose state, which took most of their time since it's quite the trouble to catch and fire synapses throughout his own system. If there's going to be the assigned lab rat for this, it should be him mainly because his parathesia is still not making him move.

The beta version had turned out bulky, but since prolonged use for better effect is adviced by an outside doctor, Kokichi agreed to downsize it.

And when he's not doing gadget testing, he's watching the Killing Game Livestream. Kokichi desperately needs answers to his questions. 

Rantaro started visiting him, and it was some sort of love/hate thing for Kokichi. He knew his in game death was unfortunate and to know the actual reason why just hits quite a little more clear now. Of course Rantaro was targeted for his personal motive as the Ultimate Survivor. And it just meant that Kaede's decisiveness to chase after the mastermind made her the perfect person to take the blame for it all. Kokichi despised that they all played right into Tsumugi's hands; hook, line and sinker. However, the sole reason for Rantaro to get close to him was out of logic. Unless, he also needs something from him.

"Are you ever going to visit Momota-kun's pod?" Rantaro asked him, sitting oddly by his bedside.

"What for? It's not like he'd be super thrilled to see me when he wakes up." Kokichi replied. His eyes moved fast, the reticle moving about in the laptop screen faster than average human function, with so many tabs open and functioning including command prompts.

"You could be wrong. I could bring you there."

"That 50/50 chance are odds I can't deal with, Amami-chan. That other half could mean he would not like my presence is like shortening my lifespan. Harumaki-chan would eviscerate my body. Need I remind you that I value my life."

Rantaro just tilted his head to the side. 

"What an obvious lie, Ouma-kun."

Kokichi froze in that instant. 

"You care about Momota-kun than you'd ever let yourself admit, and you think so little of your life that you sacrificed it."

"Have you been paying attention?" Kokichi sneered. "I blackmailed him into doing my bidding. He had no choice."

"I did watch it," Rantaro said as he casually stretched. "He admitted to cooperating after he learned about your plan. The blackmail didn't matter."

"Stop painting me as some secretly benevolent person. Disgusting."

"I promise, I'm not." Rantaro replied. "I'm just wondering why you're so hellbent on doing everything by yourself."

"I'm just doing Iruma-chan a favor. I could drop this anytime." Kokichi went back to navigating the screen, clearly not wanting to pursue the subject.

"So why don't you?"

If Kokichi could ball up his hands into fists, he would already have done so. Rantaro means well, but he hates being pried open, even if they're the only people in the room. One person is too much.

"Kaito hesitated." Kokichi called back to their earlier conversation. 

Rantaro smiles. "If he didn't, I'd take him for a giant fool."

'A fool who knew how to wear a liar's mask.' Kokichi thought.

"The Enoshima System is a pain in the ass to work with," Miu complained as she worked while still being in Kokichi's room, typing away at the laptop in her possession. "It filters all voices perfectly. I don't know how to infiltrate them without sounding the admin alarms."

"Record all the staff's conversations and make voice banks." Kokichi replied without care in the world. Kaede was feeding him bunny apples all the while.

"All of them?!? That's an even bigger hurdle! Fuck!" Miu exclaimed, wanting to punch something but she stops herself.

"Ouma-kun, aren't you worried about the CCTV cameras recording everything? They probably already know what you're planning to do." Kaede asked, and within good reason.

Kokichi knew that already. That's why he has been always thinking ahead. The entirety of the staff are probably documenting each and every move of theirs, but the thing is, Team Danganronpa has grown so confident. Even after so many killing games that occured, they have stopped boycotts and strikes multiple times that they have believed that they're invincible.

"Nope! They can peek all they want!" Kokichi quipped. "Besides, it only makes things veeeery challenging for me!" 

For a moment, the two ladies looked at Kokichi like he's a madman. Good. They'll know not to make an enemy out of him.

Rantaro wheeled him to Korekiyo's room, and from then on, has hatched a plan that will inevitably get them all out. Whether he has his classmates will cooperate is the big question. At first, Korekiyo is hesitant, as he has learned of the truth and wallowed in despair, in knowing that his demented psyche is nothing more than a product of fiction, all to appeal for entertainmet value. Kokichi has pointed out how Ryoma has the same feeling with his depression, and he has no way to mitigate this traumatic effect for all of them. He tells them this much, and he leaves the rest to them. No one is ready to fight this battle with him, though now he has equipped them with knowledge that they can fight back. 

"You know, you're acting more of a Supreme Leader now than you did in the killing game," Rantaro commented. 

Kokichi was displeased with this, because he's not doing this for self-gratification. He's just paying them what he owed. He masks it with his usual cutting banter. "Am I now~? I guess making minions out of murderers and victims is a goal well reached!" 

Rantaro laughs, never phased by anything he says at all. If he had lived longer in the killing game, surely he would have been a formidable enemy to deal with. "Can you say the same for Gokuhara-kun?" 

And in that moment, Gonta is walking towards them. 

What an absolutely dreadful timing. 

Kokichi didn't wanna look at him but Gonta just sobs, "Kokichi is doing okay! Gokuhara... no, I wanna hug him but I know it might be bad for him!" 

"Glad to know you're still as dumb as ever!" Kokichi says, donning a cruel expression but Gonta is not budging, all more looking so hopeful. 

Instead, Gonta goes, "You and Momota-kun are friends now, right? Go-- I feel at ease knowing that."

"We're barely friends." Kokichi said flatly. 

"But it was all to end the killing game, right?" Gonta deflected. "Momota-kun almost succeeded, so you two had to have become friends in the end!" 

Rantaro tried to hide his smile, but Kokichi can't even retort to something like this hopeful stupidity. He can't ruin it for Gonta, but he can't explain it either. Rantaro has excused them both, and waved goodbye to Gonta, who waved goodbye in return.

"I think it's about time you watched the fifth trial." Rantaro said, knowing that the supreme leader's been avoiding that particular feed. 

Kokichi doesn't want to, not yet, but this world doesn't wait for any of them to recover. Sooner or later, Kaito will wake up, and so will the rest of the survivors. They'll all be put into a world full of lions, devouring each and every detail of them. The producers in their private chat prepares all the moderators so. 

And so he did, in the confines of his own room. 

As he started to watch it all, Kokichi marvels at the fact that Kaito has replicated his ideal trial, down to imitation of him as if he never died. It was nothing short of entertaining, and he smirks a little at the song adlib. It was... as much as he hated to admit it to himself... incredible feat, all while maneuvering the exisal. And towards the end of it, when Kaito was revealing himself, he had botched the plan in order to save their classmates' lives. He understood, that if Shuichi had insisted on that lie, they would have died. Kaito took on the burden of being the blackened to save them, even at the cost of his short life. 

And when Kaito died in the arms of the stars, Kokichi couldn't help but think that he was indeed, a tragic hero.

Kokichi pressed his lips in a thin line. He rewrites his original plan in the laptop and it's grueling for someone who can only navigate it through sight alone. He couldn't trust his own voice to succeed this.

All that's left is to leave Kaito out of his plan. That guy has already done so much. 

More than he expected.

He didn't want him to fight this anymore. 

The news of Kaito waking up didn't put much damper in his goal, but the majority of people flocking to where the guy is did. Kaito was loved by many and it's not a surprise at all, the emptiness of his own room got him recalling Shuichi's cutting words. 

'You are alone, Ouma. And you always will be.'

It hurts so much, but it grounds him as companion to sadness that he comes to embrace. When all of this is over, there would be no longer need for him, and he will be alone as intended. That's just the truth to him.

Kokichi forbids anyone from their class to enter his room, and they have respected that. He wants to get used to the isolation, and he works out the codes needed to fix the voice decrypting that Iruma is working on. 

Somehow, it was some sign from the heavens for Momota Kaito to barge into his life uninvited. Kaito tries to talk to him, to get him to respond, but Kokichi replies in short words. It's civil, but it's the best he can give.

Days turn into weeks, and by then, they have settled into physical therapy together.

One day, he asks, "Do you like vegetables, Momota-chan?" 

" 'course I do. They're an integral part of human survival." Kaito replied, easy as breathing.

"Am I your favorite vegetable, then?" Kokichi asked slyly.

Kaito let out an exasperated sigh. "Jesus fucking Christ, Ouma, stop saying shit like that. You will get better, dude."

Well, his recovery is a parade in a fiery lake. That's how he feels, but chooses not to address it. Kaito will eventually forget about him, so no use making a silly memory with him. 

He doesn't even know why he made that joke.

The former Ultimate Supreme Leader does not like being dependent on anyone. It was incredibly annoying how Kirumi goes into his room and remind him of being such, not by words, but by being so disgustingly caring for him. He's more than sure that she would trade him for bottle cap in a heartbeat. But alas, Kirumi is currently giving eyedrops to lessen his eye strain. He cannot push her away as his body is still paralyzed, but if he used his words, he would blind himself after six consecutive hours of using the damn laptop. So, he behaves, albeit a little temporarily.

"Ouma-kun, please do not push yourself to the limit," Kirumi stated, sitting by his bed and reaching for the tray of food she brought to him with the intention of feeding him. "Please eat."

"There's not enough time, Toujou-chan. I'll eat later." Kokichi replied.

"At the very least, do let Momota-kun take care of you."

Ha! That was a funny joke, so he laughs a bit and goes back to working on his plans. Kirumi doesn't seemed deterred at his reaction, so Kokichi says, "You got better things to do, Toujou-chan. And seeing as you won't leave me, I'll let you in on a secret!"

"Nothing you say will drive me away, Ouma-kun. I'm here to make up for my mistakes, and leaving you would be against everyone's wishes."

Blegh, another stupid ass lie. "Well, what if I told you that Team Danganronpa is planning to auction all of us and Shirogane-chan is our key to getting out of here~?" Kokichi supplied.

He can practically see Kirumi's entire thought process like an x-ray vision.

"Are those statements true, or are you playing mind games with me?" She asked in a serious tone.

"You're smart enough to kill a threat, I wouldn't put it past you to be able to figure it out yourself!"

Her expression of disdain told him that she got under her skin perfectly.

Kirumi gets up and leaves him to his own devices.

'More loadwork for me', Kokichi thought as he looked up some interesting bracelets that would make a good addition to the game he's cooking up.

"Choose right now, Kokichi. Me, or Team Danganronpa staff."

Kokichi doesn't like this progression of him being made to choose from options that is obviously pointless. Of course he doesn't want any staff related to the killing game taking care of him. Who knows what they'd do to him. The other option, Kaito, is just as risky. Maki will eventually know that this happened, and will likely ask him why he didn't try harder to avoid choosing Kaito. 

"Will you leave me alone if I choose Team Danganronpa?" He grinned, knowing Kaito won't take that choice well.

"No, that's not part of the agreement." Kaito replied. 

"There is no reason for you to stick around me, I don't know why you keep fitting yourself in my cramped room, you six foot gorilla."

"Just give me a straight answer, Ouma." 

"What if I don't wanna? I can give you a gay answer~" Kokichi replied haughtily.

Kaito groaned, obviously frustrated by the minute. "Ugh, why won't you just cooperate?"

"I dunno, I feel like this is a lose-lose negotiation."

"There's nothing to lose here, what are you talking about?" 

'There is everything to lose!' Kokichi thought to himself. 'My control, my space, my plans being jeopardized--'

"I'm forfeiting, so I'm rooming with you. Don't expect me to bend over backwards because of this decision, Momota-chan!" 

Kaito looked delighted with his answer. 

What was he doing? Why did he say that?

After a trip to the company doctor, it wasn't surprising for Kokichi to learn that he has congenital insensitivity to pain and anhydrosis, also known as CIPA syndrome. He figured that his lack of sensation has been the main effect, and while it has rendered him mostly immobile, he can safely say it has been a blessing in disguise. If he had any semblance of pain like the others have felt, he's not sure if he can live with it. Being crushed alive is a sordid affair.

"Oi, Ouma. I heard you made Toujou upset." Kaito said, eyes narrowed at him. This is an expected outcome, because despite all the things she said and did, Kaito seemed to have placed it aside.

"She was being pushy, Momota-chan. I have boundaries, too!" Kokichi replied.

"Does this mean you're always going to bring up the mastermind to drive people away? Because while this is working, it's a massive asshole move. You know how people feel about it." Kaito stated in a stern voice.

"That's the entire point! I'm an asshole! Duh." Kaito looked so done with him, and Kokichi had it in him to piss him off more. "Why are you even talking about this? You know this, everyone knows this."

"You don't need to be a dick about it!"

"Do you really expect me to spare her feelings?"

"No, but that is a sore topic! You shouldn't lash out at people over your diagnosis-- Shit."

So he knows...and so does all of them. Kokichi's breathing became heavy, heart pounding in his ribcage uncontrollably.

"Leave me alone, Momota."

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to. Not after that." Kaito replied, clearly not budging.

The only thing filling his ears is endless static. In a last attempt to gain control, he angrily shouted,

"I SAID OUT, MOTHERFUCKER!"

Despite all of that, Kaito immediately went by his side as his body fell forward. "Fuck, I'm sorry Kokichi!" He held him close, not sure on what to do.

His eyes became unfocused, blurry and slowly losing grip of reality.

"Help! Anyone!" was the last thing he heard Kaito say before he lost consciousness.

...

...

When Kokichi had woken up again, Rantaro and Kaede was by his side. He didn't want to be seen in such a pathetic, pitiful state. 

"Hey, Momota-kun said you had a panic attack and passed out." Rantaro stated, patting his head as if to comfort him. If he could reject it, he would. "He told us everything. He's blaming himself." 

"Tell him he can breathe again. I'm the one who lost control of myself," Kokichi replied. 

"Ouma-kun, don't say that. You're just as human as the rest of us." Kaede scolded. "You're allowed to feel upset." 

The frustration in him is building up, but this time, he reigned in his emotions. "We're running out of time. Saihara-chan and the others are going to wake up soon. Call everyone except Kaito." Kokichi said coldly. 

The two looked at each other, but they understood. Rantaro took out an EMP bomb and activated it, while Kaede went out to the halls and activated hers as well. 

Miu had brought some documents with her, seeing as no electronics would work with the EMP bombs having been activated. She laid out everything on Kokichi's bed, while Gonta helped Kokichi sit up and placed pillows on his back. Tenko brought in a box full of the bracelets Kokichi had commissioned from Miu. When everyone had finally gathered in his room, Angie distributed the papers cheerfully, and Kokichi began talking. 

"As you all already know, we're in imminent danger, as well as participants of previous killing games had gotten the short end of the stick. Most of you have reviewed what I had in mind when I told you guys to browse the web, right?" 

"Yeah," Ryoma replied gruffly. "I have to say, this plan is quite brutal. Are you sure this is what will end all of it?" 

"Nope, but it will be a huge catalyst to make the effect we wanted." Kokichi replied. "Wear the bracelets with your respective names on the inside. The ones without are for the staff."

Kaede raised her hand. "I'm glad we have an idea on what's going to happen, but why do we not have a script?" 

"Because it will be too suspicious, Akamatsu-chan." Kokichi explained. "Everything has to feel natural. There are some things that I kept in the dark from you all so it would be very believable for the remaining survivors to latch onto. I want you guys to adlib with all your best." 

Kirumi looked uncomfortable, but she raised her hand as well. "Why does Shirogane have her own bracelet, Ouma-kun?" 

Kokichi tilted his head to the side. "I thought you know by now, I've given you hints. We're going to save her." 

It was when the pin dropped, and everyone had collective explosive reactions. He expected this, after all. 

Kirumi is shaking, but she wants answers very badly. "To what end is this move of yours?"

Kokichi's face turned blank for a long while, and then he started to speak again. "Are you guys sure you want her to get away from her crimes scot free? She's been trying to get the easy way out for the longest time and I'm not letting her." And by easy way out, it meant suicide but it was left unsaid. Surely anyone can guess what it is now. 

Kirumi seemed to be satisfied by that answer, while Kaede is conflicted, because she was the one affected the most regarding her. Even if she did the attempt to kill Rantaro, she still got framed by Tsumugi, and her existence upsets her greatly. "I don't know how you can stand the idea of saving that monster, Ouma-kun."

"That's really easy! Because I killed three people officially! Gokuhara-chan, Iruma-chan and Momota-chan specifically. What are the odds, and when you think about that, I have higher kill count that Harukawa-chan because she never killed anyone at all!" Kokichi helpfully supplied. 

Rantaro placed his hand on his shoulder, as if to pacify this self-destructive behavior of his. "That's enough. Now that we have everything we need and discussed what is needed to be addressed, it's time to wear the bracelets." 

Miu interjected, "Hold the fuck up, how are we going to convince space idiot and the rest to wear the bracelets? I'm sure they won't agree to it as long as they don't get a reasonable explanation." 

Kokichi clicked his tongue. "We can just gas them, Iruma-chan." 

With that, they began to equip the bracelets. Rantaro helped Kokichi equip his own.

The contents of the papers are layouts of the Team Danganronpa Buildings, and escape routes for all of them to go to.

It was Gonta who helped him get back to his room, and Kokichi was quiet throughout until Gonta decided to talk to him. 

"Ouma-kun, why did you leave Momota-kun out of the plan?" 

The former supreme leader wanted to lie, to dismiss the question, but it was genuine and not accusatory. "Momota-chan has done enough. And if we didn't leave him, Saihara-chan and others might catch on to our plans. I can't risk us getting taken down by whoever CEO is sitting on top of this hellhole." He replied. 

Gonta got confused. "But he helped you with your plan." Murder case.

Kokichi sighed. "Gokuhara-chan, have you watched your audition tape?" He asked.

He pondered about it. "I haven't yet, but Miu said that hers was bad."

"All of everyone's audition tapes are bad. That's precisely why," Kokichi explained. "Momota-chan will see his own when he watches the sixth trial. It's unavoidable. He will be in a fragile state of mind, and if I had included him prior, he would have given our plan away."

Gonta frowned, but he could see Kokichi's reason.

"It's cruel, Ouma-kun. For you to put him through this. He's your friend." Gonta stated sadly.

Kokichi's heart constricted when he heard that. "I am...the supreme leader of evil, after all." His lie didn't reach his eyes.

Kaito was awake when he was wheeled into his room, and Kokichi felt even more guilty as the former astronaut went close to him. 

"Hey, dude." Kaito said weakly. 

"Wassup partner?" Kokichi teased back. 

It was entertaining to see how the larger man sputter. 

"I'm not...!" Kaito shook his head, blushing. "Forget that, I want to say sorry for making you panic earlier." He scratched the back of his neck, apologetic. "I didn't mean to make you feel cornered." 

"Psh, you're fine, Momota-chan. That was entirely a me problem." Kokichi said, dismissing the issue already. 

Kaito didn't look like he believed any of it. "It can't be that easy." 

Gonta smiled in a bittersweet way towards Kokichi, and it made the shorter man feel a little ill. But he masked it instantly, not looking back as Gonta left, waving to Kaito as he did so.

"Well. if you reaaaaally wanna make up for it..." Kokichi faked pondering. "Then carry me all the time! That's your community service!"

"Now you're just asking for a princess carry." 

"Call it a bridal carry and we'll talk!" 

Kaito scowled at him, and Kokichi laughed, the knowledge that moments like this will be short-lived had been pushed in the back of his mind.

In the early morning, he complained about feeling Kaito's back being hot on his own, and Kaito took it as a victory, a fruit of their shared hard work and perseverance.

Kokichi didn't have the heart to say that it was a lie, that it was because of the brainwave activator on his wrist that made him start to feel again.

When Shuichi, Maki and Himiko had finally woken up, Kokichi had steeled himself. From here on out, they all have to be careful. As far as he knows, Shuichi is the one who's been the focus of everybody since he's mainly the one who ended the killing game, which is naturally something that makes the higher ups wary about him. They are bracing for his active rebellion against them. Perfect diversion, as he would like to think it. He remained in his room, practicing voice commands for the finale. The Enoshima System is going to be smashed in smithereens when he gets the key to it. The annoying thing is that Kaito still chooses his company over his friends, and obviously, it doesn't sit well with both Shuichi and Maki that he's doing therapy sessions with Kaito. 

Kokichi is in cafeteria, brought in with a wheelchair and Rantaro was fetching food for him when Maki had approached him. Gonta was on standby, and while he does not care whether he gets throttled or not, Kokichi does want to go through his plan unscathed until he has fully realized it. 

"You're planning something again." Maki said, glaring at him. 

Kokichi played innocent. "I don't know what you mean, Harukawa-chan. The killing game is over now, is it not?" 

"Don't bullshit me. Those bracelets everyone wears aside from us who woke up, they're not a part of the staff." 

Kokichi commends her observations internally, but he kept talking to know more to gauge how much she has already concluded. "So what? I can't even move, how can you think this is my idea?"

Maki clenched her hands. It's clear she wants to attack him, but Rantaro has arrived with a tray of food, wary of her actions. 

"As long as your head is not beheaded, you will keep scheming." She said with malice.

Rantaro beside Kokichi, face unreadable as he fed him carefully. Kokichi paid no mind to the very real threat, eating silently. 

What neither of them expected, is for someone else to speak up against her. 

"Nyahahahaha! As long as your heart chooses killing, you will keep hurting other people. Have you ever thought about that, Maki?" Angie pointed out, smiling cheerfully.

It seemed that those words had gotten to Maki if her eyes widening and guilty expression is any indication. "I won't kill anyone anymore." She declared with determination. 

"Atua says it's foolish to think that you can't kill with words, you know!" Angie smiled back. 

"Words aren't enough to destroy me inside out, Yonaga-chan," Kokichi said after chewing.


"I would have to be pulverized!"

Shuichi had approached him next, but this time, he's alone watching the night sky. Kokichi hated seeing him the most, but he honestly couldn't think of deserving to be in his presence at all. He can't be choosy and and have an attitude at a time like this. There's no avoiding this interaction, so Kokichi greets him casually. 

"What's the occasion, Saihara-chan? Missing li'l ol' me?" 

Shuichi looked like he wanted to be elsewhere, but his gaze was firm. "That's...not what I'm here for, Ouma-kun. I want you to join me in fighting Danganronpa." He offered his hand, and this might be the twisted fate stabbing Kokichi right in the gut. 

"I'm immobile, so I can't really take your hand." Kokichi said flatly. 

The former detective seemed to be embarrassed at reaching out, pulling back his hand. "I'm sorry." 

"Don't be. You ended the killing game. You hardly needed my help." 

"That's not true...while the killing game is over, the company that supported it is still thriving. Team Danganronpa needs to be brought down." Shuichi remarked. "There's so many things that we still need to do." 

Kokichi doesn't want to talk to him anymore, so he had to drive him away with his words. 

"Have you ever thought that I'm tired of fighting this bullshit, Saihara?"

Shuichi looked taken aback. "But you--"

"Yes, I did want to end the killing game. Things changed when I woke up. This is an entire ecosystem ingrained in the whole world. Uprooting it could take more than six months. Years even."

Shuichi looked for any lies on his face. Kokichi's expression remained indistinct.

"What about the bracelets? You had them made." Shuichi recalled.

Same old dance, just with the former detective this time. He can do this in a heartbeat.

"They're brainwave activators." Kokichi replied. "It's true, you can confirm it with Iruma-chan."

The silence that followed was comforting. With this, Shuichi should give up on him joining his side. 

"Ouma-kun, if you couldn't move, how did you get here?" 

Kokichi only said, "I asked Amami-chan to bring me here." 

"Alone?" Shuichi asked suspiciously. 

Kokichi puffed his cheeks. "He will come back for me. Now shoo, I'm busy stargazing."

After another EMP bomb was released, Kokichi  had begun discussing the release of gas in the air ventilation system with Miu when Ryoma had come in to tell what he overheard from Momota discussing with his friends about his involvement in Kokichi's recovery in general. It seemed unresolved as the former tennis player only heard it as he passed by, so they couldn't really form an opinion about it. 

"Why are you telling us this, Hoshi-chan?" 

"Because it's likely that Momota is going to be approaching you after this. I'm not telling you to wrap this up, I just thought that if you're going to say something to him, I don't want you to go hard on him." 

Kokichi whined at him playfully. "You losing confidence in me is not really giving me motivation to soften any blow, Hoshi-chaaan."

"I mean it, Ouma. Just don't." Ryoma warned, and then turned to leave.

Miu caught on what is happening, so she rolled up the documents and left, but not before pinching Kokichi's nose that earned her a yelp. 

"Meanie!" Kokichi yelled at her.

When Kaito arrived in his room, Kokichi greeted him with a smile, still on the hospital bed that they share and leaning on the pillow like a cat too calm. "Trouble in paradise, huh, Momota-chan?" he said in his usual teasing manner.

"How would you even know? You weren't there," Kaito huffed. 

"Your ugly mug says it all. Come on, now I wanna hear about it. Tell all your frustrations to your local therapist." Kokichi egged him to say it.

Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose. "...Harumaki told me how you can manipulate me and I'm naive."

Kokichi's face was blank for a while, and then it morphed into a mocking expression, holding giggles but failing spectacularly. "H-How does it feel like to be called naive this time? Bet it wasn't pleasant at all!" He cackled out loud.

"Will you quit it? I'm starting to regret telling you this," Kaito sighed, messing up his already limp hair in frustration.

"But she's right, Kaito," Kokichi said as he calmed down. "I can still manipulate you as long as I have a liar's mouth. And that's not gonna change anytime soon. You'd be too foolish to put your trust in a guy like me."

Kokichi is completely serious when he said this, especially with all the things he's been hiding from him. He's worried, very much so, and this is his way of warning him to not trust him anymore.

Kaito replied, "I'll...believe on whoever I want, so if you betray me, that's on me for believing in you."

This. Fucking. Bonehead.

Kokichi wants to drill it in his skull that he's not trustworthy, and this man is avoiding his signs. "You know what? Harumaki-chan is right, you are naïve. When will you start thinking with logic instead of emotion?"

"Where is this coming from?" Kaito asked, clearly exasperated with how the smaller man is reacting. "We're past the killing game, we're all alive now so what's with you putting up walls again?" 

Exhaustion seeped into Kokichi's system, but he replied regardless.

"You don't want the answer to that." 

He fell asleep, knowing it will be his only rest before he pulls off his plan.

His activator beeped in a middle of the night, and it was Miu's signal for him to wear the gas mask that she hid under his bed. He had practiced moving with the activator when no one can see him, and that practice paid off, being able to move his hands, feet, and carry his entire weight. He reached for the mask, and then the gas started seeping out. He wore said mask and held Kaito's bracelet, remembering all their time since he woke up. This betrayal would hurt Kaito the most, that he knew very well, but he can't back down now. Kokichi attached the bracelet around Kaito's wrist with a heavy heart. He made his way towards the place where Tsumugi is monitoring everyone, holding her bracelet in his hand. She should be affected by the sleeping gas as well

As soon as everyone slowly woke up, Kokichi turned on the camera and leaned into the microphone. 'It's showtime.' 

"Nishishi~"

Chapter Text

Kaito woke up as he heard Kokichi's laughing voice through the speaker in their room, suddenly hyperaware of the mild heaviness on his left wrist. It was a completely white bracelet, and something in his gut is telling him that it isn't right. "What the fuck is this...?" he said, trying to get it off but to no avail. 

There were loud commotions outside of his room and it was enough for Kaito to make his way down the hall. Outside, he saw that even the staff are panicking, pounding at the steel gates that was supposed to be open at all times. Some were even crying, and some are passed out, lying on the floor. These are all Team Danganronpa staff, so it's bizarre to see them like this. The TVs everywhere suddenly turned on, revealing Kokichi, dressed to the nines, elegant as a prince would be.

''Momota-kun...are you alright?'' Shuichi asked, panting a bit as he ran out from his room which is on the far end of the hallway. Maki followed after, glaring at the TVs that were playing the live feed. 

"Wakey wakey everyone~! What you're all wearing right now is a Forbidden Action Bracelet!" Kokichi exclaimed, waving his own that has a similar bracelet as well. 

Kaito only noticed that he can move his hand, because if he can freely move now, then this has to be his surprise for him. "You can move? Since when?" He asked, and even though he's feeling happy for Kokichi, the former supreme leader seemed almost... distant. The happy expression is a mask, that he knows. "Why are you talking to us like this? Where are you?" 

With a grand gesture, Kokichi kept talking. "I'm in the mastermind's lair right now! And I can prove it to you! Enoshima-chan, will you do the honors~?" 

"Upupupu!"

Kaito's entire body went cold. That sickening, familiar voice just took him back to the killing game. He has watched the sixth trial, he knew whose voice it could be. His rage bubbled up in his chest as he exploded,

"OUMA, WHAT THE FUCK! WHY ARE YOU WITH SHIROGANE RIGHT NOW?!?"

Kokichi seemed to have ignored his shout and took Tsumugi's hand as if he was a prince asking a princess to dance, and the Ultimate Cosplayer who's dressed up as Enoshima Junko looked absolutely delighted. They got into a ballroom dance position, and the viennese waltz played through the speakers, with both of them dancing in joy. If anyone saw this, it would be the most horrific thing they could witness. It was an absolute slap on Kaito's face, on top of all Kokichi's lies that he just learned from a single revelation.

''I knew this would happen...'' She said, biting her thumb in frustration. ''I should've killed him when I got the chance.''

"I don't get it, Enoshima-chan! Why are they acting like the world is over? We just restarted the killing game!" Kokichi pouted as he dipped her, which only made her laugh like the maniac she is. 

"But it's your plan! I must say, for you to use the concept of Forbidden Action Bracelets from the Final Killing Game Arc is a marvelous work of genius!" Junko/Tsumugi exclaimed with a crazed smile. "That meant lying to your poor classmates, too! I can't believe they're so gullible that they believed they are wearing brainwave activators!"

Kokichi pulled her close, and her back was turned from the camera. He sat on the plush chair behind him, while Junko/Tsumugi sat on his lap lovingly. "Well, most of our participants have no idea how the bracelets work, so let's recap for all of them!" He crossed his legs to get comfortable. The display showed Monokuma wearing a bracelet, and Kokichi began to explain away.

"Anyone wearing a Forbidden Action Bracelet is bound to it, which means you have to avoid doing the one thing you are not allowed to do! For example, if your bracelet says you can't sneeze, you shouldn't or you're dead meat!" Monokuma got injected in its wrist, and it fell to the ground. "The bracelets cannot be removed, and it contains poison that will be injected once you violated the forbidden action!"

Kaito's palms are cold with sweat, the reality of it all now setting in. He doesn't want to accept this just as much as his own goddamn audition tape, but what can he do as he is right now? If this is despair... it certainly is. Why didn't his efforts reach Kokichi? Was it so bad that he had to blatantly switch sides, doing the long con from the start?

A hand patted his shoulder, and he glanced to see that it was Rantaro who grounded him. "We can do this, Momota-kun. Let's just go with their rules." It was reassuring, but Kaito doesn't know how long he will be comforted. His classmates-- no, castmates are still within Tsumugi's playground, just no longer in Neo World Program. Kaito checked his own forbidden action, and it weirded him out, because this doesn't make sense. 

[ Going back to Team Danganronpa ]

The former astronaut didn't need to be told to get out. He gladly would, but after hearing out what Kokichi had to say for himself.  

"Ouma-kun, I don't know what you're trying to achieve by doing this, but another killing game will not solve this," Kaede spoke with determination. "Please come back with us." 

"Funny how I'm a part of you guys now, don't you think?" Kokichi drawled. "Cooperation this, belief in that... But you see, Akamatsu-chan, you fail to see the bigger picture. Getting here is all my hardwork. Just play the game, and we're all going to live happily ever after!" 

"I won't play this game at all even if you force me!" Kaede screamed, her voice echoing in the the halls. Suddenly, her bracelet beeped, words [ Defying Ouma Kokichi's Authority ] flashing and she felt a sharp sting on her hand.

Collective shouts of Kaede's name was heard.

"Nishishi! I knew this was gonna happen, so I decided that you should become a shining example of everyone here to follow my rules~" 

She felt her consciousness fading away fast, body swaying as it lost stability. Her last words were, "Ouma-kun....how could you..."

"Yahoo! The killing game has officially started, so do your best not to die! Upupupu!" Junko/Tsumugi cheered, and the TVs shut down all at once.

And then she was no more, almost falling to the ground but Kaito caught her rigid body.

Shuichi checked her pulse, eyes widening. He held her close to him, pulling her away from Kaito. ''Akamatsu-san...'' His voice quivered. 

All hell broke lose, with the TDR staff becoming more and more desperate to get out. People had flocked to the gate, trying to claw their way out to no avail. 

"Before anyone does anything rash, check your goddamn forbidden actions!" Kaito bellowed. He hated this, but everyone needed a voice of reason now that Kaede is gone. God, he wants to throw up.

He can't do anything for those who are driven to bare survival instincts, but those who heard him followed, checking their bracelets. 

Angie's familiar humming became closer and closer, and Tenko could only be horrified to see her bloodied form walking to the front. The sharp smell of fresh blood had alarmed her. "Yonaga-san, what did you do?!?" 

The former Artist only giggled, pointing to her Forbidden Action bracelet. 

[ Leaving Iruma Miu Alive ]

"I did good, everyone! Atua has told me so!" Angie cheered, which was more menacing than it had any right to be.

Maki was about to go towards her when Rantaro pulled her hand.

''What's your forbidden action?'' He asked, to which he earned a glare from her as well.

She showed her bracelet to him for transparency.

[ Killing Anyone ]

''Then you know that you're going to die should you kill Yonaga-san, right? Momota-kun cannot handle losing more friends. He just lost two today.'' Rantaro reasoned.

Kaito tensed at that. He balled his fists, but he unclenched them to calm himself.

The former assassin gritted her teeth, pulling her hand away. She knew he's right but it still made her feel aggravated. 

''Ouma-kun...knew Harukawa-san still can and will kill him so this is more of a preventive measure on his side,'' Shuichi said, deep in thought. ''May I know everyone's forbidden actions?'' 

Kirumi showed hers, the words [ Running ] flashing on her bracelet. ''I do not understand why this is my forbidden action, but it seemed harmless enough.'' 

''I know why,'' Ryoma commented. ''You ran away from the trial grounds. Must be Ouma's way of telling you that you cannot run away anymore.''

''What could yours be, Hoshi-san?'' Kirumi bit back. 

[ Hitting All Cameras With Any Item ] flashed on Ryoma's bracelet.

''It's for the safety of the cameras everywhere...'' Gonta chimed in. ''Ouma-kun thought of this much.''

Kaito is still processing Kaede's death, and as much as he wanted to take her body from Shuichi, it seems that he doesn't want to stop cradling her. 

"Saihara, I'll take Akamatsu's body. Let her go." Maki offered. 

The former detective was still reeling from these events. It was one thing to relive a killing game again but to lose the former pianist for the second time... he wanted to cry. But at the same time, so many strange things are happening. He was very sure that she still had a pulse, just slower than normal. It could be his last delusion that Kaede is still alive, but the facts are hard to ignore, too. Maybe Kaede's body is slowing its functions until it comes to a full stop.

He's determined to get to the bottom of this, especially with the current killing game. If there were forbidden action bracelets for everyone, then Miu must have mass produced them for Kokichi. But she was blindsided, with Angie killing her for her forbidden action. He could only interpret that Miu is a loose end, and she had to be eliminated. Kokichi is going this far, and he doesn't know what goal he has. It couldn't be bringing down Team Danganronpa. A killing game only furthers their popularity. But this is a closed door killing game. Could it be that this was also broadcasted? It doesn't make sense. What would he gain from doing this? He needs to figure out Kokichi's plan before more people die.

He didn't want to let go, embracing her more before stopping himself from crying as he reluctantly gave Kaede to the former assassin. Now, he has to be strong to solve all of this. "I was meaning to say... I found a map of this facility that has escape routes..." 

Kaito then chimed in, "Let's check it out--"

"We can't," Kirumi interjected. "I have the same, but if we compare it with the one Saihara-san found," She said as she did compare it side by side, "the routes are different. It's meant to confuse us." 

"Then we should at least use the maps to determine which is the real one." Korekiyo spoke, while Gonta wheeled him closer to the group. "Ouma-kun likes making things interesting."

"I don't mean to be callous, but do you even have a forbidden action?" Maki asked, to which Korekiyo only laughed. 

"Everyone has forbidden actions, Harukawa-san." He tapped his bracelet and it revealed one thing.

[ Reveal Truth About Bracelets ] 

The air instantly got cold. Kokichi was sowing seeds of doubt, and everyone knows this makes Korekiyo vulnerable for murder.

Tenko broke the silence by carrying Kirumi on her back. "Now, you can move around, Toujo-san! I'll be your legs!" She declared, and it lightened the atmosphere a bit. "We'll have to check in on Yumeno-san, she's still fast asleep." Kirumi agreed to that, but they both looked at Angie cautiously. She did just murder Miu for her forbidden action, after all. "Yonaga-san, you can go ahead. We'll watch you."

"What about Maki? Is she free to go too?" She asked, like she can't believe they would allow for her to roam free. 

"I'll accompany her somewhere. She's carrying Akamatsu-san right now." Rantaro interjected.

"Oh, I see! Body disposal!" Angie cheered. "She would be good at that." Satisfied, she began to make her way towards Himiko's room, with Tenko and Kirumi following.

Maki was visibly frustrated at how she was making her a target to be eliminated.

Rantaro shook his head and beckoned the former assassin, saying, "Come on, I'll lead the way." He knew the outline of the TDR building, after all. They both went to the other end of the hall.

"Wait, where are they going?" Shuichi asked, and Gonta could only answer that. 

"Places Ouma-kun can't reach. G-- I think... Amami-kun has figured it out. The maps." 

This made Shuichi slightly suspicious. How much does Gonta know? "Can you point me to those places, Gokuhara-kun?" He asked. 

"Ah, yes, Saihara-kun! I'll be bringing Shinguuji-kun with us, if you're okay with that." Gonta replied enthusiastically.

Korekiyo smiled as the former entomologist wheeled him away. "Let us revel in the beauty of humanity." He said.

Before Kaito could stop them, they have already gone on their path.

"Momota, I'll stay here with you," Ryoma declared. "You can't handle all these people alone."

Kaito tried to smile, like he used to, but he couldn't bring himself to. He's still mad and worried about Kokichi, but he knows Ryoma is right. "Alright, man. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it." He replied. The former astronaut breathed in, then exhaled. He told the TDR staff to gather in one place. Most of them are still hesitant to follow, but as they collectively looked at their bracelets, they had no choice but to obey. 

One thing unsettled him, and with what's currently happening, he had forgotten to ask;



What is Shuichi's forbidden action?

"Saihara found a pulse...we should take her to the hospital. Maybe there's antidote for this." Maki said as she ran, while Rantaro kept eyeing every camera they pass by. It was strange, and it's bothering her a lot. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for something." Rantaro replied.  He looks at the particular one, stopping to use his shoe to throw it in the camera's direction in full force, breaking it.

"You're going to get killed, moron!" She hissed at him, but his bracelet remained deactivated. "What the hell is happening?!" 

"I don't think there's any need for us to bring her to the hospital." He redirected. 

"Are you seriously implying we should give up on Akamatsu?"

"Oh sweet...being carried by a girl feels so nice...." Kaede chimed in from behind her. Maki was so surprised that she had dropped Kaede out of instinct. "Oww! Geez, that hurt!" 

"This is what I mean, Harukawa-san. Akamatsu-san is alive." Rantaro smiled. "It's all part of Ouma-kun's plan. We just have to trust him." 

"It's in full swing now," Kaede cheered, but she was still shaking as she held herself. "H-Honestly, I thought I'm a goner, but I woke up. With this, I can believe in Ouma-kun, that he will save everyone!" 

"How can you trust him when he's collaborated with Shirogane of all people?" Maki asked incredulously.

"Trust me, it was difficult to process it. She was the mastermind but... she's also bound by the strings of Team Danganronpa. I had a hard time accepting that Ouma-kun wants to save her, too." Kaede replied. "Why do you think they both have Forbidden Action bracelets?" 

"...to keep her in line?" Maki slowly realized.

"Exactly." 

"Then why wasn't Rantaro punished for killing the camera?" Maki asked.

"Because only Hoshi-kun has that forbidden action. Nobody else has realized that everything else is fair game." Rantaro explained.

The former assassin's head felt like it was pounding, because this new information sounded so unreal. She couldn't refute the fact that Kaede is actually alive and Kokichi has a plan to save everyone. It was a clear juxtaposition to what she saw earlier. "I need a moment..." She said as she sat down on the ground. 

"Phase one has started...but I'm worried about Ouma-kun." Kaede started, holding herself anxiously. "You don't think he's gonna do that, is he?"

"Knowing Ouma-kun, he is. He's leaning into the mastermind role again."

"Phase one? Do you mean there's more?" Maki asked. She hated being so out of loop, but now she is getting the information she needed.