✧ Chapter 54 ✧
[ C2: They Call It "Fallen in Love" ]
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[ Shuichi's PoV ]

I staggered to my feet, blood dripping to the floor while holding a hand against my bleeding nose. Kaito was in front of me.. his magenta eyes devoid of any emotions.

Behind him, a small group of people watched us, looking down at their gadgets as though we were mere subjects in an experiment. Perhaps we were.. and we existed for their amusement. I didn't know who they were, but if they were watching, they sure weren't helping.

I've tried to call for help many times, but none of them looked in my direction. They were eyes in the darkness, watching Kaito and I with anticipation and eagerness.

"Kaito, please," I held out my bloodied hands and stepped backwards. I struggled to catch my breath, still breathless from that punch I had received from him earlier, "Just snap out of it, and let me go.. Y-You're not a bad person."

He blinked, as if processing my desperate comment. He was my childhood friend.. someone I trusted a lot. It was a pain to see him like this.

"I'm sorry Shuichi.. but there's nothing I can do." he replied stonily, "The Reverse Serum made me this way.. you did this to me." the last sentence made my heart pound slightly faster. My fault.

"You took everything away from me. If you want to help.." he suddenly rushed forward, swinging his arm back but I dodged backwards, a flash of memory hitting me as my foot slipped. "Give me the serums!"

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"You can't fight like that!" Kaito chuckled, seizing my arm and stopping me mid-punch. "Jeez, haven't your dad taught you how to fight?"

I rolled my eyes, dropping my raised arm, "Not everyone is as fortunate as you to get great parents, Kaito."

We were at a nearby park, just hanging out with each other. Around us, were the sounds of children playing and couples roaming around. We were free in this world.. free to do whatever we wanted. I sighed and brushed my hair away from my face.

"Grandparents," Kaito corrected with a smile, "They may be old, but hell, they can fight."

"Can you imagine though?" I started to laugh, "Your granddad waving a walking stick around as a bunch of robbers try to mug him. And suddenly he pulls off all those ninja moves."

"Technically," Kaito smirked rather proudly, "That actually happened. My grandad fought off a bunch of people who tried to rob him with only an iron bucket."

I stared at him, before smirking, punching his arm, "You're totally lying."

"Am not!" he replied haughtily- at the corner of my eye, I saw a purple haired boy run past with a dog in his arms, chased by a man with a metal pole.

...

Well, you don't see that everyday.

"Hey Kaito," I found myself starting to move forward as Kaito grabbed a bottle of water from the crate beside us, "I'll.. be right back, I think I saw something." Without waiting for a reply from him, I followed the strange purple haired boy.

"Wrong-."

A voice made me stop in my tracks as the world seemed to freeze along with me. It was a unfamiliar voice, unlike Monokuma's raspy, mechanical one; or Kaede's soothing gentle tone. In fact, it sounded familiar...

"I have to do this.. I don't care if it's right or wrong-."

"I  just wanted a world without love.. what's wrong with that? I hate falling in love- I've told you so many times but you're just not listening!"

I fell silent, waiting for the strange voice to continue..

However, another voice whispered back to the speaker, a garbled mix of a strange warped sound.

"I.. suppose you're right.. but we have to hide them.. like you suggested..". 

The other person mumbled a reply to the first.

"Hmm?"

"What am I talking about? The project, of course."

"..."

"You can't just give up now, Ouma, you promised you'll work together with me!"

"Fine.. it's your choice anyway.. we have to be careful though.. she's always watching us.."

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Kaito slammed his fist to my side, making me fall once more. Kokichi.. I saw him in my memory. I remembered him, despite the passing of time. When he ran past, with the dog in his arms. But what was that voice?

No, whatever it was, I had to get out of here. Find Kokichi, and hope he remembers me. Quickly rolling over, I dodged the knife which Kaito had swung down. I have to knock him out.. but with what?

My eyes darted around the empty white space, but nothing was available for me to use. Dust hung in the air, with a few blood splatters here and there. The only weapon I could use was the dagger he was holding, but that would be suicidal if I grabbed it from him.

"For Ouma." I muttered, clenching my hands into fists as Kaito swung at me again. I dodged once more, ducking down and grabbing Kaito's arm. I winced when he managed to slash at my own, but my arm reached up and grabbed his wrist instead. Pain flared as I did so, nearly making me start to regret.

Kaito's eyes widened as I brought all my weight down to break-

his-

wrist-

He swiftly punched me in the face, sending me falling backwards and onto the floor. God- I didn't see that coming-

"Did you just try to fight? How pathetic.." Kaito calmly flexed his wrist to crack it back to place. I stared up at him, my eyes watering from the punch to the face. Blood from my nose dripped to the floor; a continuous distraction.

My nightmare-

"Tell me the secret of the serum, and I'll stop this fight." he drawled nonchalantly, as I slowly used my elbow to prop myself up, feeling dizzy. "I-I don't even know.. I cant remember.." I murmured, my voice muffled from the injury of my face. My nose was probably broken.. since I had to breathe through my bleeding mouth.

"I should probably take pity on you," Kaito scoffed, looking to the side of the room, "Or maybe not. It seems that the only way to get the Regain serum back is to turn your whole lab upside down or search everything.. talking to you is no use."

"However," he continued as I tried to interrupt him, "That doesn't mean we're done with you yet, Mastermind. Or rather, one of two Masterminds."

That sent a shock of surprise through my body, "One of two-?" I muttered. Glaring right at him despite my bloodied appearance, I continued to pry for answers. "What do you mean?"

"Oh right.. you forgot-."

"You don't have to be such an asshole." I somehow found the energy to say, but that was my mistake. Kaito's magenta eyes hardened as he kicked me in the stomach, the sudden blow making me hit the cold ground once more. "Shut. Up." he snapped.

"What? I'm just telling the truth.." I muttered, clenching my fists as Kaito scowled even harder. He turned away and headed over to a table of torture devices. He regarded the tools for a second before scooping up a sharpened scalpel.

Blood covered some of the tools; my blood. But hell, if he thinks that I'm going to give up so easily.. just because of the torture.. he wasn't going to get the satisfaction.

"It seems like you need to learn a few more lessons about keeping your mouth shut." he inspected the edge of the silver metal, before sauntering towards me.

"You can try all you want.." I murmured as Kaito stopped in his tracks, "But I know Ouma will come for me. I love him no matter what." I felt my face heat slightly, just saying those words made me feel more grounded.

I expected Kaito to back off the moment I proclaimed that, but he suddenly chuckled. Before finally laughing so loudly, my ears rang. "You love him?" he managed to say in between laughs, "He doesn't even remember you, Shuichi. And you know who made him forget?"

He bent down and jabbed a finger to my chest, making me wince. "Does that answer your question?" he asked rather quietly, his mood changing drastically, "Now, why not I knock you out, and afterwards, search your lab? That would be so much more fun than torturing you.

"I cant wait to get my hands on the two serums which could change the world.."

He paused, as if expecting a reply from me, but I was getting exhausted. So he smiled and whispered, almost to himself:

"With the Revival Serum.. we can bring Junko Enoshima back to life.."

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[ Maki's PoV ]

"I thought you were.. a good person?" I whispered as the mauve haired girl looked at the computer, her eyes washed with blue light. She had her arms folded across her chest, playing with the end of a string.

"I.." she paused, "I never really considered myself as a good nor a bad person. All I'm good at is playing video games, that's all. I've never been the one who makes friends.." she dropped the string and walked in a circle, "It was Hinata and Komaeda, who approached me and became my friends."

"Soon, my whole class appreciated and liked me.. what more could I ask for?" she sounded wistful. "Except.."

The pink haired girl pulled out a game controller, pressing a red button with her thumb, "I liked Hinata-kun.. as more than a friend. But I've never been a very social person.. and when Komaeda announced that they were together.."

"I became jealous," she sighed, slowly slipping the controller back into her hoodie pocket, "I found myself third wheeling them.. and just isolated. I wasn't thinking clearly.. even as I joined the Monokuma Traitors."

She looked at the ground, not making eye contact with me as she confessed, "However.." she looked at her hands, "I feel guilty for turning against my friends, which is why I'm trying to get Izuru to stop this. To stop this simulation. To stop the whole system."

I wanted to trust her.. but Mukuro always told me to be wary. Trust others too easily, and there would be a price to pay. "How can I trust you?" I demanded as Chiaki sighed slightly once more.

"I know you've been betrayed many times, Maki, I'm sorry. Maybe it's best if you don't trust me. I'm a Traitor, after all. But I know my mistakes, and I feel.. guilty of them." her eyes shone with tears, "I want to help my friends.. I just want to be with them again.."

She sounded genuine, but I still had trouble trusting her empty sounding words. "If you want me to trust you, tell me everything. What's going on now?"

Chiaki regarded my question for a moment, looking thoughtful as she glanced at the glowing, blue computer screen again. "Alright," she finally announced, "I'll tell you the plan, if that will make you trust me."

She took a deep breath, "Kaito Momota is in the process of torturing information out of Shuichi Saihara.. who is actually one of the Masterminds behind this.. I think.. no, I'm sure.."

"The.. other Mastermind is Kokichi Ouma. Both have lost their memories because they've taken the serum a few years ago."

"There was a person behind Team Danganronpa, and her name is Junko Enoshima. She died a long time ago, but now the traitors are planning to revive her because they don't want Izuru to live as their leader."

"Since Izuru is merely a program, born by Fujisaki and Saihara's programming, given life by.. Hajime."

"Shuichi and Kokichi are the only ones who knows the secret of the Revive Serums and therefore.. the Traitors need them to revive Enoshima. That's the plan so far.." she trailed off as I sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about what she had said. Junko Enoshima.. Mukuro told me about her..

Her younger sister was perfect in every single way, she was a genius in manipulating people to do what she wanted. I've never met Junko, and by the sound of it, I definitely did not want to see her anytime soon.

"Enoshima was the one to influence Shuichi to make the serums, she was the Mastermind behind Team Danganronpa along with other people.." Chiaki explained. "That's the whole story."

"..." I frowned. Her use of past tense did indicate that Junko was dead.. However, something didn't seem to add up, "What about.. Kaito?" I asked, "What made him the way he's acting right now?"

Chiaki bit her lip, glancing up at the ceiling, "Experiments. The others tried to make up different serums in hopes to find the recipe of the Revival and the Regain. But as you could see, it changed him. So now he seems to have split personality, much like Fukawa."

I felt myself hesitate. Kaito had always been that cheerful, yet annoying guy. The guy who others would pick on just for being annoying and sometimes dumb. But endearing anyway.

He could be a bit charming sometimes, and an idiot, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy. He always believed too much in his friends, trusting them so much, till the point of naivety.

"Alright," I got up from the bed, making it creak with old age, "I need to tell my leaders about this new information.. I'm sure you know them." I found myself saying.

Chiaki smiled slightly, brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes. "I knew.. Hinata and Komaeda were alive. Monokuma had covered their deaths with fake news.. but I don't know if they'd.. accept me."

"You'll.." I hesitantly placed my hand on her shoulder, "Never know till you find out, right? If you want to see them again, follow me."

Chiaki blinked, looking up at me as she held the strings of her hoodie. Her pink eyes shone with a mix between guilt and hopefulness. "You.. trust me?" she asked rather timidly.

Was I making the correct choice? She had told me the plans of the Traitors, so it seemed right to trust her.. "For now.. but if you betray us.. I'll have to kill you."

The gamer gave me a small smile, about to say something when I stretched out my hand, "But first, may I have my knives back?"

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[ Kokichi's PoV ]

I stared at the hallway, shining the flashlight down the narrow passage. The roof of the tunnel was jagged and sharp, but for once, I thanked my height. None of us took a step forward, as if reluctant to enter.

"Man, you Remnant guys live in a swamp or something?" I asked, waving the light around so it appeared we were at a disco.

"Ouma stop!" Keebo grabbed my wrist to stop me, "You might attract Monokuma or the Traitor's attention.."

"Now now," I yanked the light away, sticking out my tongue, "I'm sure you don't want to Panic! At the Disco."

Keebo groaned with annoyance as Nagito looked totally confused before rolling his eyes, "Alright, enough with the talk, just go in, and you'll get to the Hideout. I shouldn't be the one leading.." his mouth turned down slightly, "A useless trash like me shouldn't be leading-."

"Go on Keeboy! Let's go!" I smiled cheerfully as Usami walked in front of us, leading the way.

"W-Wait!" the scientist seemed to panic, "Why am I going before you?"

"Because you're a good friend." I grinned after thinking for a valid reason. "And when the time comes, we'll use you as a shield."

"Wha-?" he sputtered as Nagito mumbled something about 'teenagers'. He seemed to have closed the passageway by pushing a bookcase. It seemed rather obvious but hey, whoever thought of this must've been a complete nerd.

About fifteen minutes of walking, I was already getting bored of the emptiness. "Are we there yet?" I asked, dragging my feet along and making Keebo sigh.

"It appears we have at least a few more minutes of walking."

"What are you?" I questioned innocently, "A GPS? Siri in disguise?"

"Someone kill me." Keebo muttered in reply as Usami covered her ears to block out our chatter. Her paws emitted a squeak with each step she took, and I found that rather amusing.

"If you don't keep your mouth shut in the next five seconds, I will personally kill you, Kokichi Ouma." Nagito finally snapped. I stopped talking, not because I was scared of him, no way, but because I had finally annoyed him. Success!

"Aww, but surely I was entertaining in our journey!" I told the other three, who replied in unison: "No."

"Anyway," Nagito cleared his throat, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with a piece of cloth, "We're here.. now don't expect five-star service, seeing that many people here actually want to kill you, Mastermind."

We finally came across a door, which was carved from stone with incredible details along the side. Along the top, I could barely make out the words:

"Praise to Atua!"

"That's obviously Angie." I heard Keebo mutter as Nagito used his hand to push against the stone door. It rumbled slightly, and bright yellow light flooded the passageway we were in.

"Welcome to the Hideout, you two!" Usami exclaimed cheerfully. As soon as she said that, a small group of familiar faces turned to face our direction.

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[ Kaito's PoV // Heartbreak Hospital ]

I slammed Shuichi's lab door open, staring right at the messy room which greeted me. It's been about three to four years since he's stepped foot in here after all, so it's bound to be messy..

Using my hand to flick a switch on the wall, I decided to check the desk at the centre of the room.. I had to find this serum as quickly as possible so I could revive Junko..

Find the serums, Izuru said. It would be fun, he said. I wondered why would he say such a thing when he doesn't even know what 'fun' was. He was a strange guy, always going into the Neo World Program just to stare at that glass chamber..

No, enough about him. I have to look for the whereabouts of the two most important serums..

Everything was such a lie.. even though it has been a few years, none of us seemed to have aged much. I still felt like I were eighteen, but in reality, I was probably an adult. The logic of this strange place was confusing. Almost as if it were a game that wasn't well planned, and just jumbled together into one big mess.

But of course, this was reality, and this really was happening..

A sharp pain shot through my head, making me pause momentarily to recollect my thoughts. That other side of me was trying to take control again.. how annoying. Each day, I was plagued by that stupid personality. The stupid, lovestruck 'Maki-loving' Kaito Momota.

Focus. I narrowed my eyes at the piles of folders scattered on the floor and on the desk. Where would Shuichi Saihara hide two bottles of serums in here? A safe? A hidden compartment? Perhaps I should probably get that information out of him.

"I swear I'll find those serums, Shuichi.." I muttered, glaring at a photograph of Ouma sitting on the desk. "You can't hide from me forever.."

With that said, I reached out and swiped the picture off the table, turning around and ignoring the sound of the glass crashing onto the floor.

♥ End of Chapter Fifty-Four ♥