✧ Chapter 56 ✧
[ That Wasn't Reality ]
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[ Kokichi's PoV ]

"Mark this one down as attempt number fifty-six." I told Keebo, who was posing as my assistant. We were in the hidden room; playing around with the many neatly labeled test tubes.

Even as I was working, I couldn't help but feel a shred of memory from my old life. My older and more insane self, that is. I could faintly remember experimenting with the various Serums, testing them with the help of those infected by Love. But now, things were different.

I was saving two strangers.. Shuichi, and this Hajime guy. But honestly, I just wanted to find out what's all the fuss about the serums. They seemed to be normal ingredients mixed together. By normal, I mean different medications, fused together and mixed as one.

My hands worked while my mind wandered once more. A very long time ago.. before I ran away from my family, I had been diagnosed with mild ADHD.. my mind could concentrate for only a short period of time. And Panta was the only thing which could calm me down. Not coffee.

"Hey," I glanced at Keebo, whose glasses were perched on his head, "Shouldn't we ask Himiko for this? She's a 'mage', isn't she?"

The scientist shook his head, closing the cap of a large green medicine bottle. "She's helping Angie with the carving of names on the wall. Apparently, Angie likes to whittle and chisel stuff."

"Yeah, they're both weirdos." I snickered as Hajime mumbled something I couldn't quite catch. The brunet was sitting at his desk, head in his hands as his nose bled. Apparently, that was one of the signs of the Reverse Serum, as told by Mikan's old notes. Apparently, the Ultimate Nurse had been a Monokuma Traitor.

I turned my attention back to the huge pot in front of Keebo and I. The liquid was coloured in a dull shade of lilac. Definitely not pink.

But then again, the Reverse Serum was pink.. so with logical thinking, I was pretty sure the other two serums were coloured differently.

"Time to taste test then!" Breaking the silence with my proclamation, I grinned and dipped the ladle into the pot full of bubbling sludge.

"However, Grumpy Hajime, if this poisons you, I'm truly sorry." I told him, who didn't reply as he made his way to stand by our side.

The front of his black jacket had a line of blood, and he looked nauseous. The leader looked so sickly, that I didn't expect him to grab my wrist with a sudden sweep of his hand when I tried to give him the 'serum'.

"Ugh.. no thanks." Hajime muttered, "Surely there's some other foolproof way to do this. Not just some dangerous trial and errors." he slowly released his grip on my hand.

Keebo and I looked at each other, his blue eyes turning to analyse the bubbling pot of purple liquid. "If you truly wanted the perfect serum, we have to get to the Hospital before Hajime's memories fade." the scientist informed us.

The brown haired male's eyes softened, "As soon as possible then. I'm afraid I've forgotten how Komaeda and I initially met, even though it's been a mere two days in the Hideout." He was obviously frustrated with himself, for forgetting something as simple as that.

I felt my heart skip a beat. Finally!
I'll finally get to see this mysterious Mastermind they call Shuichi!

"Keeboy," I said casually, trying not to sound too excited, "Gather everyone you think is reliable- no nevermind," I grinned, leaning forward where I stood.

"I'll gather those who I think are reliable! Cause I know you're terrible when it comes to picking teams!"

Keebo looked insulted and just as he was about to reply, I smirked, "Nishishi~! That's just a lie! Come on Keeboy! Hey Tsun Tsun hair.."

With a wave of my hand, Hajime looked over at me with a bored expression in his green eyes. "Pack your things." I paused for dramatic effect, making Tetsuya roll his eyes, "We're going to finally break into the Hospital."

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When Keebo, Hajime and I exited from the room, a large group of people crowded around us. "Whoa whoa!" Hajime held up his hands to calm the panicked voices, "What's going on?"

"Maki brought Monokuma Traitor in!" Gonta boomed, drowning everyone's voices out, "Gonta not sure Maki do that."

"Maki-? A Monokuma Traitor?" I heard Hajime repeat as his eyes flickered once more. They seemed to do that whenever he was agitated or stressed or when he was using his abilities. "Where are they?"

Everyone parted before him, like he was the king of this place. But then again, he and Komaeda were the leaders after all. Man, the two of them had so much power, I wanted to have my old group of friends back. I missed them..

The brown haired student paused abruptly, his hands dropping to his sides. In front of him, was a girl who I've seen around the school campus. She always seemed to be playing her video games all the time, so I didn't really pay attention to her. However, I knew her name since she held a reputation of being the best at video games.

"Chiaki?" Hajime whispered as Nagito stood beside him, holding a metal pole and in a defensive stance. He seemed ready to attack the two girls, Maki Harukawa and Chiaki Namami.

"Hey Hinata.. hey Komaeda.." the pink haired girl smiled slightly, hiding her face with the shadow of her Monokuma hoodie.

She didn't seem to want to look at them but the brown haired leader stepped forward and hugged her tightly. I glanced at Nagito, who seemed to be regarding the two with a guarded expression.

"Looks like someone's jealous~!" I whispered to him, making the albino glare at me, his metal pole glinting by the light of the lamps overhead. "Do you want me to throw you in the dungeons?" he muttered quietly, sending chills down my spine but I carefully hid my feelings.

"Wow!" I grinned, "You have an actual dungeon? That's soooo cool! But I have to say, if you do throw me in there, I'll always find a way out! I have an amazing talent of lock picking!"

Nagito scoffed, opening his mouth as he was about to supposedly reprimand me. "Hey Komaeda!" Hajime's voice stopped him, "Aren't you happy to see Chiaki again?"

Nagito heaved a sigh, before walking over to the two of them.

Beside the trio, a girl stood to the side, her arms folded across her chest. She had her brown hair cut short, and a scar on her cheek. Her intense red eyes fixed me with coldness or some unexplainable malice, as if I had done something wrong which might had pissed her off. But then again, I don't remember, so I might've really pissed her off.

With a simple red sleeveless shirt, and a recognisable Remnant's black hoodie tied around her waist, a layered skirt and black boots, she looked ready to kill somebody, or ready to start a fight. Whatever it is, I wasn't that scared of her.

"Hey Maki.." Keebo started to say when she whipped out two knives, the length of her forearms from her belt.

"Kokichi." she pointed the blade right at me, "I should've known you were behind this all along you scheming liar."

"Uh.. about that." I pointed out with a grin, holding my pointer finger out, "I don't remember anything, so don't pin the blame on me so quickly, Maki Roll."

Thankfully, I saw her move before anyone else did. And besides, I was intentionally using that lame nickname Kaito Momota gave to her as a trigger.

Dodging to the side, Maki rushed past, her right arm ready to grab me but I was too quick. With surprise in her eyes, I aimed a kick right at her, but what I didn't expect, was for her to be prepared as well.

"Ouma!" Keebo gasped as Maki grabbed my foot and pulled, making my other foot slip out beneath me. The back of my head hit the ground. Hard.

My ears rang, as spits appeared in my vision. However, I managed to chuckle.. and break out into a laugh. "Is that all, Maki? How.." I faltered when I noticed the assassin's red eyes were brimming with tears.

There was a silence as everyone turned their attention to the two of us. Maki holding my foot and me just staring up at her face. She fixed her eyes onto mine, pain reflected in them as her shoulders shook. I've.. never seen her cry before.

"Maki? Are you alright?" Sakura asked quietly as the assassin hid her face with the sides of her hair. I knew about hiding true feelings. Something welled up inside me as I forced a grin, "Well, wouldcha look at that.. it's seems like you beat me again, Harukawa! Great job! Now would you mind letting go of my foot.?"

Without hesitation, she dropped it, sending a sting of electricity-like pain up my spine. I got up, holding the back of my head while brushing myself off, "Hmph, talk about surprising!" I smirked at the crowd of stunned Remnants, "Anyway.." I trailed off, waiting for Keebo to do something.

Thankfully, he seemed to get the message, because he reached out and took Maki's arm. He guided her away from the crowd while I distracted the Remnants. "What do we do now? We storm in and attack the place?" I continued, wanting to change the topic despite the faint traces of blood from my hands. Thinking quickly, I hid my hand behind my back as to not alarm the others.

"It does seem to be the case.." the large sized Imposter nodded. I knew of him, the Ultimate Imposter. He never revealed his real name, since I knew he had to take on the name of the one he was impersonating as. He was a tricky guy, but hey, an imposter? That's fun! So I respected him. It's no surprise he was a Remnant, since his friend, Ryota Mitarai was here too. "I say we attack where we must. Fight if we have to."

"Yeah, what he said." Mahiru pointed to him, "Even though he's a male, I suppose we have to listen to him."

"Hey! Why should we listen to some degenerate male, huh?" Tenko spoke up with a frown as Himiko looked puzzled, "Nyehh? The both of you hate guys? What a surprise.."

"You're getting off topic," I clapped my hands together to get their attention once more. Man, they were like a bunch of animals, "Now that we have gamer girl's help, I'm sure there's a secret entrance we can use to sneak into the-."

"This isn't a video game, Ouma-kun.." The pink haired girl played with a small electronic video game in her hands, the blue light from the game illuminating her face, "There are no hidden entrances. If the whole hospital collapses, everyone has to get out by the front door, or they will be brought down with the building."

I shuddered slightly, feeling the mood of the crowd in front of me growing restless. That's.. a depressing thought. "So what you're saying," I started to say, "Is that we have to get in by the front door, which means, there's no element of surprise."

Chiaki nodded, as Hajime looked at Komaeda, his gaze unfocused the longer they seemed to look at one another. Time was running out. The longer we stayed in here, Saihara-chan might be getting tortured or something.. however, in my heart.. I knew he was alive.

"So.. were just gonna storm in and find this Shuichi guy as quickly as possible?" Akane asked through a mouthful of food she was snarfing down. "Hmph, all this for just one depressed little emo.."

"He's vital to this mission and to everyone else," Nagito regarded the pole he was holding with his ruby red eyes, "If the Traitors get their hands on the secret of the Regain and Revival serums, they can and will revive Junko."

"The last time she was alive.." the albino glanced at Hajime worriedly, "She caused the world to fall into a Loveless life. Saihara and Ouma were the ones with the idea, she was the one who manipulated the people. That's why that woman.." he frowned with distaste, "Was dangerous."

"I-I don't want a loveless future!" Tsumugi stammered, holding onto a bunch of books, "What will happen to all my mangas and my love triangles and all my ships and all-."

"We get it." The lucky student held up a hand as Hifumi Yamada started to join her ranting. "I know all of us has many different reasons as to why we have to make love legal again.."

"To avenge those who had fallen to the hands of the doctors.." Kazuichi spoke up, clenching his fists, "They influenced Miss Sonia and killed Tanaka.. I won't forgive them. I'll never forgive them."

"They killed Fuyuhiko and Peko too.." Maki spoke up, her usual self seemed to have returned. However, her crimson eyes were fixed on the rocky floor as she spoke. "If they can kill two brilliant fighters as them.. the Traitors must be strong. I have faced Izuru, and if him alone can radiate such a powerful vibe, what would his whole army of Traitors be like.."

"Nekomaru's joined their side too." Akane spoke up, pausing mid-bite to stare at the huge lump of meat on her plate. "That stupid idiot.. I told him so many times I saw him as my best friend, but that guy sure is stubborn."

"Maizono and Celestia have joined them too." Leon announced, folding his arms, "Almost everyone in our class have gone over to their side."

Togami bowed his head, pushing his glasses up at the same time. "How annoying. They've influenced Makoto and Fujisaki. Even though they're just small and insignificant like the rest of you, they're still our classmates."

"Whatever it is.." Hajime's voice faded away as I turned away from the group, bored of their information. So many of our schoolmates were lost to this Hospital. The Hospital which Shuichi and I started.

All the lives we've killed without knowing. How much blood was there on my hands the longer I stood here? How ironic. I spent my life telling myself not to use violence. To spare innocent lives, to only find that I've killed countless more.

I wasn't going to let this continue. Shuichi needed me, even though I barely remembered him. I just hope he remembers me too.. despite all that's happened. Because right now, this was going to the final fight between the Monokuma Traitors and the Remnants of Love. However, something told me that not all of us were going to make it out alive..

But if it were up to me.. I would sacrifice myself.. just to end this. 

♥ End of Chapter Fifty-Six ♥