(3rd Person's POV)

"Hey, Toko..." Komaru said as she, Toko, and Aki were now in the sewers.

"...What?" Toko, who was in front of her, turned her head back.

"We've been walking around this sewer so long... Do you think it'll be okay?" Komaru asked.

"What do you mean?" Toko raised an eyebrow.

"Like, is this smell gonna stick to me? I'm starting to worry I'll never get it off... Ah, sorry! You don't want me to talk about smells, do you?"

"No, it's just rude!"

---

"They're not following us this time, are they?" Akira asked, looking around for any Monokuma robots.

Toko shook her head. "I-I think we're okay... The problem is the adults... I don't know if they'll even listen to us." She said nervously.

"I'm sure it will be fine!" Komaru cheerfully chirped. "If we do our best to persuade them, I'm sure it'll work out."

"Hmph... The former you would have been sobbing and crying out, "Waaah, Toko, Tokooo"!" Toko mocked.

"I don't talk like that!" Komaru embarrassedly replied.

Toko chuckled. "Well, even if you're bound to fail, we'll always proudly watch over you."

"Yeah. Just having you two here by my side is reassuring." Komaru smiled.

"...You know I was being sarcastic, right?" Toko frowned.

"Ah, right. If you meant it as actual encouragement, then you're the one who's changed." Komaru said.

Toko gasped. "Th-That'd be no good! Having a dirty mouth and a heart of gold is like, my thing."

"...Wait." Akira furrowed her eyebrows as her ahoge twitched. "Do you guys hear that?"

"Wh-What...?" Toko said.

The three then heard faint screaming coming from up the ladders.

"Sc-Screams!?" Toko exclaimed.

"They're in trouble!" Komaru widened her eyes. "Toko, Aki, let's hurry!"

---

The girls quickly climbed the ladder and entered the secret base. When the did, they were greeted with the base being under attack, with countless Monokumas assaulting the adults.

"What's happening?" Komaru looked at the scene with a horrified expression.

"Toko! Aki! Komaru!" Shirokuma ran up to them. "Oh, I'm so glad you guys came!"

"What's going on here?" Akira asked.

"A huge group of Monokumas ambushed us! Please, please help us! If this keeps up, the secret base is gonna be totally wiped out!" Shirokuma pleaded.

"L-Looks like there's no time to waste." Toko said as the other two girls nodded, jumping in to protect the adults.

---

Eventually, it was all over as the girls managed to destroy all the Monokumas invading the base. But it wasn't without sacrifices, as there were multiple adults scrambled all over the base, either heavily injured or dead.

"Looks like...it's all over..." Komaru panted.

"Y-You're right..." Toko breathed.

"Oy vey..." Akira muttered.

"...No. Not yet." Shirokuma shook his head, sweating. "They want to destroy us all. They won't stop after this. They never will."

"N-Never? I... I'm just so tired, I don't know if I can keep up anymore..." Toko lightly coughed.

Shirokuma looked down at the ground, thinking to himself before nodding. "...Um... I have a little proposition for you. Will you hear me out?"

"What kind of proposition?" Toko glanced at him.

"The enemies aren't attacking from the front, but from the hole at the back of the base." Shirokuma pointed to the large hole. "To hold out against the enemy attack, we have to find some way to block the hole."

"Block the hole? But how?" Komaru inquired.

"To tell you the truth, high explosives are packed inside my body in case of emergency." Shirokuma informed.

"You mean in a suicide attack?" Komaru stared at him, having an idea as to where this was going.

"But my self-destruct button was damaged in battle. I can't do it on my own. So...there's no choice but to ask you to do it." Shirokuma said with a pained expression.

"Y-You... You want Komaru to shoot you so you explode?" Toko correctly guessed.

"N-No! I can't do it!" Komaru frantically shook her head.

"But this is the only way to save everyone." Shirokuma argued. " I'm scared too... But it will be alright. It feels strange, but thinking about saving everyone...gives me courage. Maybe that's not saying much, coming from an AI inside a Monokuma... But it's the truth! And if it's for everyone's lives, then I'm not scared at all! So please!" He begged.

"B-But..." Komaru tried to argue back.

"Bad news!" An adult screamed. "The Monokumas are coming through the hole in the back again."

Shirokuma turned to Komaru in a deperate and pleading look in his eyes. "I beg you, please! Take me to the hole and let me save everyone!"

"..." Komaru looked scared, but reluctantly nodded.

---

The four then ran to the hole in the back of the base. Shirokuma turned around. "Komaru! Now's your chance! Shoot me!"

"No, n-no, I can't... I can't do it..." Komaru sobbed.

Shirokuma let out a sad sigh. "Komaru... ...No matter how scared you are, there are times that you have to fight. There are times you need to stand up. Times you can't be afraid of death." He sternly narrowed his eyes. "Do it, before we lose something important!"

"Shirokuma..." Komaru still looked hesitant.

"But...if you still think you can't..." Shirokuma took off the bandages on his right paw and covered up eye as he showed his glowing red eye. "I'm gonna kill you!"

"Ah!" Komaru yelped as Shirokuma charged towards her.

"C'mon, shoot me! Shoot me, Komaru!" Shirokuma ordered as he got closer.

"I-I'm sorry!" Komaru shut her eyes as she aimed the Hacking Gun and shot a Break Bullet.

Shirokuma was sent back, electricity crackling around his body. He looked at the girls with a grateful smile. "Th-Thank...you..."

A single tear escaped his beady black eye as an explosion erupted out of him, sending the girls back and landing them straight on the ground.

---

Komaru groaned. "...Huh?"

"Wh-What just...? Please tell me, Master Byakuya!" Toko quickly got up, waking up from her dream.

"Ow..." Akira cracked her neck as she got up.

"So you're awake. You guys lost consciousness after the explosion." A man approached them.

"Um...where's Shirokuma!? What happened to him?" Komaru asked in a desperate tone.

"Thanks to Shirokuma, the hole was blocked. His sacrifice...saved us all." The man tilted his head down in respect for their fallen ally.

"Sacrifice...? Then that means..." Komaru trailed off.

"All I need is the CO2 that Master exhaled... I-I can live...on just that..." Toko perversely smirked as she hugged herself, still half-asleep.

An annoyed tic mark appeared on the side of Komaru's head. "...Jeez, wake up already!" She shook her.

"Ah!" Toko widened her eyes, back in reality. She lightly bit her thumb, acknowledging what happened. "I know AIs typically sacrifice themselves in situations like this, but I didn't think..."

"To break out of jail and come back here... You have some courage." A voice said as Haiji approached them, looking displeased.

"Y-You!" Toko exclaimed before narrowing her eyes. "But we're the ones who saved you! You should be thanking us!"

Haiji scoffed. "Most of the thanks goes to Shirokuma... Though I am willing to acknowledge that you're not spies."

"Th-That's it? That's all you'll acknowledge?" Toko's eye twitched.

"Oy vey..." Akira shook her head.

"Now's not the time for this kind of argument! Thanks to Shirokuma, we're out of danger for now... But the problem's far from solved." Haiji said.

"What's going on?" Komaru asked.

"The hole those brats opened is closed now, but we have Monokumas at the front entrance. We can hold them off for a little while, but if this keeps up..." Haiji trailed off, letting the girls fill in the blanks.

"So we're running out of time..." Komaru pursed her lips.

"Dammit, do they really intend to destroy this base at any cost?" Haiji looked frustrated.

"So what are you gonna do? You gonna "wait for an opportunity" as usual?" Toko frowned.

"H-Haiji...If we don't do something now, we..." A man pointed out.

"...No matter how scared you are, there are times when you have to fight."

"...Hm?" Haiji looked at Komaru.

"There are times when you need to stand up...and not be afraid of death." Komaru repeated the words of advice Shirokuma gave them before his sacrifice. "We have to do something before we lose something important!" She turned to the girls. "Toko, Aki, lend me your hand!"

"...Huh? Ah, okay..." Toko nodded as Akira shrugged.

Komaru then dragged them to the vehicle with the television. She then jumped on Akira's shoulders, who was being held up by Toko.

"I said we'd lend you a hand, not be your stepladder!" Toko said in an annoyed tone.

"S-Sorry!" Komaru apologized as she got up onto the top of the vehicle.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Haiji called out.

"Um, please listen up!" Komaru shouted out, getting all the adults' attention.

"Huh? What is she doing?" Toko wondered.

"I...I think she's gonna made a speech." Akira assumed.

Toko's face went blank. "Oy vey..."

"U-Um... Um..." Komaru looked down nervously at all the adults staring at her. "I...don't have any talent... I'm just a normal girl, not special or anything... And I know you guys don't have any reason to listen to someone like me...  B-But, well... Ah, how do I put it...? There's something I want to say... B-Because I'm a normal human with no talent...ummm..." She let out a sigh. "Ah, I-I'm sorry, I really don't know how to put it..."

"H-Hey! Komaru!" Toko called.

Komaru looked down at her. "Toko! What do I do?"

"Why are you asking me!? You didn't plan this out!? Then what are you up there for?"

"Yeah I... I don't really know..."

Toko let out a rough sigh. "F-For now, let me just say this." Her expression softened as she looked up at her. "...Me and Aki are with you...so do your best!" She said while Aki give her a silent thumbs-up.

"Y-You guys..." Komaru stared down at her before nodding. "Y-Yeah." She directed her gaze to teh adults. "I...I'm just like everyone else here. "I got caught up in something I didn't understand at all, and I couldn't do anything... So I... I guess I'll just say to you what I wish I said to myself. ..Hey! How much longer are you going to be just another victim!?"

"...Huh!?" Haiji cocked his head to the side.

"You're "normal," you're "weak"... How much longer are you going to use those damn excuses!? You're just happy to be a victim and ignore everything around you! Are you really okay with that, you coward!?  Talent or whatever, that doesn't even matter. No matter how much talent or power you have, you can't avoid being scared or hurt! You let everyone else handle things that scare you and say, "I can't help it, I'm normal"... Are you really going to stay that way forever!?"

"..." Haiji closed his eyes, her words echoing within his mind.

"Maybe you can't help being normal... But you can't just keep using that as an excuse! If you do... If you do, someday... You're gonna lose something that's important to you, y'know? And after that...it'll be too late! It's obvious that we're all afraid... I'm just as scared as you are... But even though I'm afraid... I know I made the right decision. To stay here, with Toko and Aki. Because if we just went and left her... I think I would have regretted it."

"Komaru..." Toko whispered, looking down on her floor while Akira pursed her lips.

"I, along with Toko and Aki and everyone here, want a happy ending! A proper happy ending that's super cliché and predictable, where everyone's smiling... So please... Please, let's make that ending happen! Let's stand up against this despair together!" Komaru pleaded, tears flowing down her cheeks before letting out a sigh, drying her tears. "...Th-That's it... That's all I have to say. Sorry for being so loud..."

"..." Haiji took in a deep breath.

Toko walked up to him, looking smug. "Well? Feel stupid now? You just got told by a high school chick!"

Haiji sighed. "...Wait here. I'm going to make some preparations."

"Preparations? For what?" Toko raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I have a trump card... And I might as well bet the house on it." Haiji said as he walked off.

"A trump card...?" Toko mumbled, looking confused.

Komaru got down from her spot. "Ugh, you guys..." She groaned. "I feel like one of those lame kids who try to motivate everyone and fail completely..."

"It was fine." Akira spoke up, rubbing the back of her neck. "It wasn't bad for your first try. I'm kinda impressed. Nice job."

"Y-You really think so?!" Komaru's face lit up.

"...Though it was painful to listen to." Toko added.

"So it was awful!" Komaru's face flushed red.

"But! It looks like you were able to motivate the cowards here a little bit." Toko said as two adults approached them.

"...You inspired me. I never expected you to start a speech like that."

"Oh, I'm sure I'll try to forget this ever happened later..." Komaru sighed, looking worn-out.

"But... Y'know, you might be right, after all."

"Huh?" Komaru wondered as she saw another adult walk up to them, holding up a white bear head.

"W-Wait, hold on! What's that you're holding?" Toko asked.

"What, this? It's Shirokuma, of course." The female adult responded.

"Komaru, Toko, Aki!" The head started speaking. "Thank you for earlier. And your speech just now was splendid, too!"

"...The head's talking." Akira pointed out with a deadpan tone.

"Shirokuma! You're alive!?" Komaru gasped.

"The only thing left is my head, but my AI chip is in there, safe and sound! It's a miracle! Hehe, it's not exactly a triumphant resurrection, but here I am, nonetheless."

"I heard you sacrificed yourself, or so I thought..."

"Well, that was pretty misleading." Toko sweatdropped.

"But I'm relieved. If you're alive, then everything's fine!" Komaru beamed.

"Looks like you made that traumatizing speech for nothing, then." Toko rolled her eyes.

"Was it that bad!?" Komaru turned to her.

"No, no, it was great!" Shirokuma responded. "I feel like you gave everyone a little light of hope... But it's still a small light... In order to make it grow, we need to do something more..."

"Hey, the preparation's done." Haiji walked back in. "We gotta hurry and get outta here."

"Get out of here...?" Komaru tilted her head.

"Looks like he's finally gonna start fighting back." Toko remarked.

Shirokuma gasped. "Is it true, Haiji!?"

Haiji nodded. "...It's all thanks to you, Shirokuma. You risked your life for us... I finally realize what I need to do. So thanks, bear." He thanked, patting his head.

"H-Haiji!"

Toko snorted. "Looks like your speech wasn't that memorable..."

"Aw, don't say that!" Komaru puffed her cheeks out.

"From here on, I want you three to follow me to a certain place." Haiji looked at the girls. "It's where our game-changing trump card is hidden. But it's not gonna be easy. You guys better prepare yourselves. ...Well, I guess I hardly have to tell you that. I'll be waiting for you at the entrance." He walked off.

---

Haiji turned around, seeing the girls approach him. "Looks like the Monokumas are easing off a bit. Now's a good time to head out.

"Um...where are we going?" Komaru asked.

"Didn't I tell you? The place where our trump card is hidden."

"And just what the hell is this "trump card" and why didn't you say anything about it earlier?" Toko looked at him suspiciously.

"I'm not trying to be cryptic, it's just... hard to explain in words. It's much easier if you see it with your own eyes. Then you'll understand, I promise." Haiji responded.

"Jeez, you sound like some manga protagonist from the 90s..." Toko muttered.

"...Not that you'd know anything about that, Toko." Akira commented.

"No, I wouldn't. Thanks for bringing it up, though."

"Anyway, it's our last hope for stopping the kids before it gets any worse." Haiji said. "If there's one thing I know for sure... This is our last shot."

"Does something like that really exist?" Komaru looked confused.

"I'm telling you because I trust you guys. And I need you three to trust me as well." 

"Ah, so not only are you chicken, you're also a narcissistic bastard." Toko snarked.

"However... Getting there is going to be a problem. Let me think..." Haiji mused before pointing at Komaru. "You look like you're in better shape than the other two. I'll leave this to you. Me, Goldilocks, and Four Eyes will go in the back. It'll be cramped, but you'll have to deal with it for now."

"Wh-What do you mean leave it to me?" Komaru inquired.

"Listen, it's important that you don't freak out. If you don't...we should be fine." Haiji assured him, though it did nothing to calm her nerves.

"That's not an explanation!"

"Didn't he just say not to freak out? I don't really get it, but...you should prepare yourself." Toko advised.

"W-Wait, I haven't mentally prepared myself yet..." Komaru mumbled.

"Enough with the complaints, let's just go." Toko dragged her by the wrist.

---

A few minutes later...

"Yahooo!" Komaru shouted with glee.

"Gyaaa!" Toko screamed with fear.

"Waaaah!" Akira wailed.

The four were riding on a motorcycle, with Komaru driving. 

"S-Slow down! I haven't mentally prepared myself yet!" Toko shouted, wrapping her arms around Komaru's waist.

"Enough with the complaints, let's gooo!" Komaru grinned.

"Haha, I thought you'd be the one freaking out, Komaru!" Haiji laughed.

"I've never ridden one of these before! This is so fun!" Komaru smiled.

"Wh-Why is Komaru the one driving!? She doesn't even have a license!" Toko pointed out.

"I can't drive with my arm like this! And it's not like cops are gonna pull us over or somethin'!" Haiji countered.

"Y-You're right, but...!"

"Hey listen, we never know when the Monokumas might attack next. Let's speed it up!" Haiji suggested.

"Rogeeer!" Komaru nodded as they went even faster.

"Oh Kami, noooo!" Akira screamed.

"Gyaaa!" Toko screeched.

---

Another few minutes later...

"Alright, we're here." Haiji said as they were in what looked like a green, grassy field.

"We are...? Where are we?" Komaru looked around.

"A-Are you...taking us to a secluded spot to... To do "stuff" with us!?" Toko gasped before huffing. "If that's your plan, hurry up and get it over with! I won't resist!"

"...Um, no. That's not what I was thinking at all." Haiji shook his head. "Especially not with you. I...I like 'em younger. As young as possible."

"...What." Akira deadpanned.

" ...Actually, can I leave now?" Komaru requested.

"Anyway! It's time. Careful of where you stand, if you talk you might bite your tongue." Haiji warned.

Suddenly, the field sudden closed as it was replaced with walls that surrounded the girls.

"Is this...an elevator?" Komaru guessed, feeling the ground shake.

"You'd never expect such an elaborate machine here, right? That's how you know it's important. This is Towa Group's secret factory, after all." Haiji said.

"Secret factory?"

"This place was restricted to top executives only. During emergencies, the restrictions get tougher. Now, the only ones who can move this elevator are me and my old man."

"I see... So not even the brats can get into this place..." Toko mused.

Finally, after a couple minutes, the doors to the elevator opened up as they walked out to see the secret factory.

"Um...isn't it about time you tell us what you're hiding here?" Komaru got right to the point.

"I've told you already. It's our last hope. And it's deep inside this factory. However, we do have a bit of a problem." Haiji started. "It's the reason I was hesitant to come here in the first place."

"Wh-What? Just say it." Toko demanded.

"...In order to deter intruders and thieves, our family uses Monokumas to guard the area..." Haiji grimaced.

"...Monokumas!?" Komaru parroted in shock.

Haiji grimly nodded. "Ever since the riot, we haven't been able to contact the office that controls them. To what I can guess, the Monokumas here had their control functions broken. I bet they would even attack me, like I was any other adult."

"Okay, j-just wait! Slow down a sec! Why are the Monokumas here in the first place!? Didn't the kids bring them?" Toko interrupted.

Haiji sighed. "Yeah, I expected this reaction... But you'll know the answer to that question as well once we're through here."

"Y-You... You're being awfully suspicious..." Toko narrowed her eyes.

"Yeah, probably. I even think so myself." Haiji admitted. "But for now...will you please trust me? I'm begging you, you three are the only ones who can make it through here. You have to help! There's no way I can do it alone, but I'm not just going to abandon the hope that's in here. I took your words to heart... That I need to fight back, no giving up."

"Haiji..." Komaru looked at him before turning to Toko. "Toko, why don't we just try going there for now? I mean, we've gone this far already..."

Toko shifted her eyes to Haiji. "If he does anything I don't like along the way... I'm turning around and leaving."

"That sounds fair to me. The trump card is deep inside this factory. We need to take the elevator to the bottom floor." Haiji said.

---

Finally, after navigating through the secret factory, the four was on the 3rd floor. They then saw a multitude of detecting lasers.

"What should we do? We can't move the elevator like this..." Toko said.

"Don't worry, if you input the password in the Management Room, the lasers will shut off." Haiji informed. "The Management Room is at the back of the conveyor. We should go there first. Just a bit more... If we can get to that elevator, we can get to the deepest area. Once we're there...the trump card is ours."

Toko groaned. "Jeez, this sucks. I'm starting to wish I just left..."

---

Once the entered said management room, they were then greeted with...

"A-A body!?" Komaru looked in horror.

"...Just like I thought." Haiji frowned.

"What, you expected this!? Explain!" Toko demanded.

"This guy wasn't killed by a kid. He was killed by a Guard Monokuma that went haywire. But this is a problem... He's the only one who knows the password to turn off the lasers. We gotta find that password somehow... I'm sure there's a clue or something in here. We can't just give up..."

---

After a couple searching around and a few hints, the four entered the password into the computer: 718. And outside, the detecting lasers shut off.

"Yes! Now we can get to the deepest part!" Haiji cheered. "I knew I could trust you guys!"

"You sure talk big, you couldn't even look us in the eye a while ago!" Toko spat.

"Oy vey..." Akira rolled her eyes.

"N-Now now..." Komaru timidly scolded.

---

"Here we are." Haiji said as they stopped in front of a door. "Our trump card is just behind the door. Our last hope..."

"Finally..." Akira sighed.

Toko lightly bit her thumb. "We've come this far, but... This is just too suspicious... Komaru, open the door...but be careful."

"...So I'm the one who has to open the door." Komaru deadpanned.

But regardless, Komaru did just that and opened the door. Once she did, Komaru's eyes widened, her jaw dropping in unison. Toko and Akira looked on in awe and shock, but Haiji looked at the trump card with a proud smile.

It was...a giant Monokuma.

"Th-This is...a Monokuma?" Komaru looked in shock.

Haiji chuckled. "Yeah... Our trump card, the last hope for us adults..."

"This Monokuma is the last hope...?" Komaru blinked.

"It's not just an oversized Monokuma. It's a secret weapon that was built by Towa Group in case we ever needed to defend the city. If we use Big Bang Monokuma now... We can put up a fight and take back the city." Haiji said.

"Big Bang Monokuma...?" Akira tilted her head.

Toko clenched her fist. "I-It's just as I thought... This is wrong! Why did Towa Group make such a thing!? And not only that, this whole factory! You were building Monokumas here!?" She fiercely pointed at Haiji. "What's the meaning of this? Why are they being built in Towa's factory?"

"..." Haiji sighed.

"Oh, don't tell me... You better not turn out to be the mastermind or some bullshit like that." Toko snarled.

"Hey c'mon, if I were behind it all, why would I make Monokuma break my arm?" Haiji pointed out.

"Then you better start talking." Komaru folded her arms with an expecting look.

Haiji nodded as he began. "The Monokumas that are built here were supposed to be introduced to the world as Maid Robots. They were developed to assist daily life and also to help with dangerous labor tasks. But...those kids ended up taking over..."

"In wh-what way would this giant thing be a maid, exactly!?" Toko pointed up to the robot.

"This one's special. Didn't I tell you? This was built to protect the town from danger."

"Then why make it look like a Monokuma? If these things were supposed to be maid robots..."

"Don't blame me, I didn't pick the design. The one who developed them chose that on their own."

""Don't blame me" is a classic excuse for dodging responsibility... Typical."

"It is what it is. At the time these were being made, I wasn't even aware of it."

"Ah, wait... About the one who developed them..." Komaru started before a loud rumble cut her off.

"Wh-What is it now!?" Toko groaned as they looked up to see a giant robot crashing through the ceiling.

"What the hell happened?!" Haiji yelled as the robot flew in.

The robot landed and made a pose, but next to it was Nagisa, who had his head down.

"Wh-What is this?" Toko took an apprehensive step back.

"That kid... He's the one who wanted to let us go, right?" Komaru recalled.

"But...what's he doing here?" Akira wondered.

"..." Nagisa tilted his head up, showing his eyes void of all emotion. "Found you... Demons... I can't believe it... Hiding something like this..."

"Let me guess, did she tell you about this? If she can't control it, she wants you to destroy it?" Haiji narrowed his eyes. "Well, I won't let it happen! This is the hope we've finally got for ourselves..."

"You want to crush our paradise...with something like this... I won't let you..." Nagisa droned. "Everyone expects so much of the Warriors of Hope... And of me..." His expression then regained some emotion as he looked desperate. "To meet these expectations, I have to build Paradise all by myself! So expect more of me!" He pleaded as countless tears poured out of his eyes. "I'll work harder! I'll do it, anything, just please don't abandon me... Father... Mother... Big Sis Junko! Monaca! More, more, more! Expect more from me!"

"Wh-What's wrong with him!? He's batshit crazy!" Haiji exclaimed.

"How did he get like this...?" Komaru mumbled.

"I can do it... I can really do it... Because out of all the Warriors of Hope... I'm the best at controlling these robots!" Nagisa screamed as the robot started blasting indiscriminately, causing Komaru to run for cover.

"Shit! This is bad!" Haiji clenched his fist.

"Toko! Aki! This way!" Komaru called as they ran towards her.

"Whether they're Demons or not... anyone who gets in the way of paradise... I'll defeat each and every one of them!" Nagisa was hyperventilating. "So please! Give me high expectations! Expect more of me! More! Please expect the best from me!"

"H-He... He's lost it..." Toko muttered. "What do we do? Should we just run?"

"...But... Haiji said... The big Monokuma is the last hope for everyone back at the base..." Komaru argued. "If we run now, that Monokuma's gonna be destroyed, right? The last hope for the adults will be gone..."

"Y-You... Are you actually going to protect that thing!?" Toko looked at her like she was insane. "D-Do you realize what you're doing!? It's too dangerous..." She sighed. "But then again... Maybe we have to fight."

"Huh?"

"Maybe a certain someone's speech actually influenced me a little... That's so unlike me..." Toko chuckled before her expression became determined. "But it's going to be alright. Look how far we've come already..."

"Yeah, you're right." Komaru nodded as they faced the robot.

"Let's do this!" Akira shouted as Komaru aimed her Hacking Gun at the robot.

https://youtu.be/Pcm2IIqsDDE

(Play BGM)

Broken Beyond Belief - Nagisa Shingetsu

"If I hunt you down, Monaca will acknowledge me! She'll listen to me! She has to!" Nagisa desperately screamed as the robot shot at Komaru with its sniper rifle, but she would just dodge.

Komaru would try to shoot the robot, but it would just slide around the area. "Dang it! There's too much ground for it to cover!"

The robot hid behind a corner and tried to snipe Akira, but she would just flash-step away from it. Though unfortunately for the robot, it left itself wide-open.

"Gotcha!" Komaru said as she aimed her Hacking Gun and shot Break Bullets at its eye, stunning it as Komaru would shoot off a Burn Bullet as well.

Eventually, the robot snapped out of it and jumped to a high pillar to get some better ground. It aimed at Komaru, but she would see it just in time as she shot of a Break Bullet, cancelling the attacks out. Rolling to the ground, Komaru took a shot at the robots eye, which was enough for the shield on its eye to break, exposing the core.

The robot let out a droning sound as it jumped around and landed on the windows. Looking at Komaru, it threw a grenade towards her, but she would just jump out of the way, though she got knocked back by the explosion.

The robot saw this and took the opportunity to take a shot a her while she was vulnerable, though as it readied its sniper rifle, the robot left itself open as Komaru quickly got back up and shot the robot in the core, stunning it. Komaru would repeatedly shoot it to Kingdom Come before charging the Hacking Gun and sending off a large Burn Bullet at the core.

(End BGM)

The robot then froze as it crackled with electricity.

---

THE SAGE'S PUNISHMENT!

https://youtu.be/BqaQKtIJkqs

---

"It looks like we're okay." Akira said.

"But what about that kid...?" Komaru looked over, seeing the explosion from afar.

"Guess you can say... He wasn't "expecting" that." Haiji joked before sighing. "...Sorry, that wasn't funny."

"Now's not the time! We gotta save him!" Komaru urged.

"Just leave him..."

"...Huh?"

"If we save this crazy-ass kid, he'll just end up doing the same thing again." Haiji assumed. "He probably got crushed anyway. We can't save him even if we wanted to."

"..." Komaru slowly nodded.

Haiji turned to the Big Bang Monokuma. "More importantly, take a look at this. Hahaha... We've finally got it. Hahahaha... The hope... We've finally got our hope..." He smirked.

"H-Hope..." Komaru mumbled.

"Alright, let's ride this right to the enemy's HQ!" Haiji said.

"Ride? On the Monokuma?" Komaru tilted her head.

"Oh, don't worry, you aren't driving this time. You wouldn't be able to, anyway. The only ones who can control this are me and my old man. So I've gotta move this myself..." Haiji had a determined smirk on his face. "Now, let's begin the counterattack! Once the others see this, they'll be pumped for sure! Haha...hahahaha!"

---

Meanwhile, with Monaca...

"Hmhm, hmmmm, hmhmhm~ Nmmm hm hmmm, nmmm hm hmmm~" Monaca hummed. "I'm sure Nagisa has been crushed by the adults hope by now. Just as Monaca expected. Ufufu, it's just like I thought. He met my expectations to the letter." She giggled. "Now then...I should get started on the final preparations." She wheeled over to a scratched up metal door and opened it. "Now come on over here. Let's open the gates of Hell with Monaca. You too, Mom and Dad." Her eyes darkened as a menacing smile crept onto her lips. "The climax is gonna start soon... Your child will be born again as The Successor to Junko Enoshima. Aha, ahahaha..."

Arc 4: The Way We Live...Complete!

To be continued...?