(3rd Person's POV)

Junko: Anyway, where were we...? Oh right, the final vote! (Goes into her Monokuma persona) So? What will it be? Will you choose to live in here forever in peace? Or will you go ahead and die in the outside world...?

Makoto grit his teeth. This situation went from bad to worse to catastrophic! Now the others are in even more despair than ever before! But still...he can't lose hope now! And neither can the others! Because to live in despair...

That's not living at all...!

---

NONSTOP DEBATE: MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT!

Makoto: We won't give up...! As long as there's hope, we'll never give up!

Junko: If I were to die...that would be the end of Hope's Peak Academy.

Hiro: ... ... ...

Junko: By the way, the air outside is totally polluted, ya know. The only reason we're okay in here...is thanks to the air purifiers in the physics lab.

Hina: ... ... ...

Junko: If I die, the purifiers will screech to a halt. In other words, as soon as I die...the communal life you've all been living will come to an end.

Genocide Jill: ... ... ...

Junko: All of you will have to leave. You'll have to go into the world outside, where only death and despair are waiting...

Byakuya: ... ... ...

Junko: Oh, and by the way... Shirayuki, if you go out into the outside world...there's a high chance that they'll kill you on sight. After all, you are a member of Ultimate Despair...

Sora: ... ... ....

Junko: So? What are you gonna do? Will you just die? Is that what you want?

Kyoko: ... ... ...

Junko: There is no hope left in the world. When you sleep, it's on a bed of despair... The world is in despair. You are in despair.

Makoto clenched his fist. If he doesn't do something, everyone's gonna get consumed by despair...!

The boy closes his eyes, thinking. Junko...she says that there's no hope left in the world. But if despair is as contagious as she claims...then so is hope! He'll use his own hope to plant seeds of hope inside everyone else!

Makoto's New Argument: Hope

Hiro: ... ... ...

"DON'T LOSE HOPE NOW!"

---

Hiro: All my fortune-telling senses are telling me not to leave this place...

The man folded his arms, conflicted on what to do.

Hiro: ...Ngaaaaaahh! But to live means moving forward, right...? So even if it's hard...even if we're scared...we don't have any choice, do we? I want to keep on living! I want to open the next door! There must be something new waiting for me! So that's why... That's why...!

The man made his decision as he declared.

Hiro: No matter what, I need to get outta here! The whole fortune-telling thing doesn't matter anymore! What matters is my own gut feelings!

---

Hina: ... ... ...

Makoto's New Argument: Hope

"DON'T LOSE HOPE NOW!"

---

Hina let out a deep sigh, contemplating on everything that's happened up until now.

Hina: ..I've been thinking about all this... And I was thinking...at a time like this, what would Sakura do?

But the girl lifted her head up.

Hina: You only get stronger by taking adversity by the horns! Confront that thorny path with enthusiasm!  That sounds like something she'd say, right? No, I think that's definitely what she'd say! Which is why I...I...! (Nods confidently) Yeah! I've made up my mind!

---

Genocide Jill: ... ... ...

Makoto's New Argument: Hope

"DON'T LOSE HOPE NOW!"

---

Genocide Jill gave a blank stare before suddenly erupting with laughter.

Genocide Jill: ...Kyeeehahahaha! I don't care either way! I'm fine with whichever one is more interesting! Actually, I may not look like it, but I've always hated school! Hell, no matter how I look! Still hate it! Kyeeehahahaha! Oh, but...no matter what, Master and and Mistress has to come along with us!

---

Byakuya ... ... ...

Makoto's New Argument: Hope

"DON'T LOSE HOPE NOW!"

---

The heir of the now-deceased Togami family looked at Makoto before coldly turning away.

Byakuya: ...What's the matter? You're not actually trying to encourage me, are you? 

He scoffed, turning back around.

Byakuya: Hmph. Ridiculous. It never even crossed my mind that I might give in to despair. But don't misunderstand me. I couldn't care in the slightest what happens to you. I just have to keep my word. I swore I would end the life of the mastermind. Besides, the Togami family isn't dead. Because I'm still alive... So until I can restore the Togami family, and bring it greater glory than it's ever known...!

---

Kyoko: ... ... ...

Makoto's New Argument: Hope

"DON'T LOSE HOPE NOW!"

---

The detective folded her arms before letting out a sigh.

Kyoko: I didn't really know my father, so I can't pretend to know what he was thinking. But even if we're just connected by blood, there's one thing I am sure of... He would never want us to abandon Naegi and choose to stay here. I can't explain why, exactly. But if I'm sure of anything, I'm sure of that... Just because we don't actually know anything, does that mean we can't understand...? Could it be that...? (Shakes her head) No, never mind.

---

Makoto: We won't give up...! As long as there's hope, we'll never give up!

Junko: If I were to die...that would be the end of Hope's Peak Academy.

Hiro: I...I've decided to have faith in myself!

Junko: By the way, the air outside is totally polluted, ya know. The only reason we're okay in here...is thanks to the air purifiers in the physics lab.

Hina: Say whatever you want, I've made my decision!

Junko: If I die, the purifiers will screech to a halt. In other words, as soon as I die...the communal life you've all been living will come to an end.

Genocide Jill: I can keep on living, as long as I have my master's love!

Junko: All of you will have to leave. You'll have to go into the world outside, where only death and despair are waiting...

Byakuya: I already said I would end the mastermind's life, by any means necessary.

 Junko: Oh, and by the way... Shirayuki, if you go out into the outside world...there's a high chance that they'll kill you on sight. After all, you are a member of Ultimate Despair...

Sora: ... ... ...

Junko: So? What are you gonna do? Will you just die? Is that what you want?

Kyoko: ...Me and my father may not have been very close, but I refuse to abandon one of my classmates again to save my own skin. That I am sure of.

Junko: There is no hope left in the world. When you sleep, it's on a bed of despair... The world is in despair. You are in despair.

Makoto's New Argument: Hope

"DON'T LOSE HOPE NOW!"

...

...

...

Sora's Rebuttal!

 "WHAT HOPE DO I HAVE LEFT?!"

---

Sora found it in herself to stand up again. Her face was still overshadowed and her lips pursed into a straight line.

This...this is insane... Sora thought. Live in the school in despair or run outside to the dangerous outside world... Makoto or us... Hope or despair...They're telling me to choose...? To choose between that...? Wh-Why...? Why...do I have to choose...?

At that moment, Sora felt something snap inside her mind. And then...it exploded.

Sora: ...I can't do it...

Everyone widened their eyes at Sora's silent, but powerful words.

Makoto: ...Huh? C-Can't do it...?

Sora: I...I can't choose... You're telling me to choose between sacrificing you...or going out to the outside world where our chances of surviving all null at best... And that...I can't decide... I can't choose either one...

Makoto looked shocked, but shook his head.

Makoto: Sh-Shirayuki!

Sora: (Grits her teeth a rare moment of anger) SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!

Everyone flinched slightly at the blonde's outburst. Suddenly, her mood switched as tears started appearing in the corners of her eyes as a broken smile formed on her face.

Sora: This...this is just...too much... Why do I...why do I have to be a part of this...? I mean, I'm different from the rest of you guys... I'm a part of the Ultimate Despair and helped destroy the entire world! But even so...I got dragged into this... Plus, even if I do leave this school...when the people in the outside world find out I'm alive and I escaped the school...they'll...THEY'LL KILL ME!

 Kyoko: Shirayuki, no! We won't let them do that to you.

The detective placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder, but the latter broke off her grip.

Sora: And how do you know?! You don't even know what I did as Ultimate Despair! Hell, even I don't know because apparently because all my memories at this point are nothing but a LIE! (Places her eyes on her face) I...I just...hahahaha...I just...don't understand it at all... Both choices...are hopeless... How...how many people do I have to sacrifice...? This burden on my shoulders...it's too much for me to bear...

Kyoko: Shirayuki, please...get ahold of yourself...!

Sora: IT'S IMPOSIBLE! For someone like me...it's impossible! I can't choose the future...! (Her breath hitches as she shakes her head) Hope...despair... Do whatever the hell you want! It's not my fucking problem!

Everyone was speechless. Sora...she was always so calm...so level-headed... She always looked so tired and bored and uninterested in whatever was going on... The only time where she lost her temper was when she was being accused in the last trial... The emotions she's displaying right now...it made her breakdown during Mukuro's trial look tame in comparison...

Makoto: T-That's...

Junko: Aaaand...there's no answer. So you've chosen to make no choice at all. (Smirks) Jeez...once again, this went exactly as I thought it would...

Sora's head limply fell down. The blonde's consciousness was slipping before...

Everything went dark.

---

Inside Sora's consciousness... 

What...was was happening again...? ...Oh well. There's no need to think about it.

"Hey..." A voice called out. "Hey. How long are you gonna be this indecisive? Good grief, man..."

"...What...?"

Sora lifted her head up. Once again, she was trapped within a dark voice. She heard sounds of stepping before she saw a young woman with golden blonde hair, light blue eyes, and an ahoge walk up to her.

"Didn't you want to escape this place, Shirayuki? You can't just give up right now..."

"Who...are you?"

"Me? I suppose you can say that...I'm...you."

"You're...me?"

"Yes. Though a more accurate explanation would be...I am who you used to be."

Sora blinked. "What I used to be...? You mean...you're me from the past? Who has her memories intact? How...how are you...talking to me...?"

"It took a while, but since your mind got weakened by that mental breakdown you had a while ago, it seems that I can talk to you now."

"I-I see...then...can I ask you something?" Sora looked at her past self. "Why...? Why did you join Ultimate Despair...?"

She sighed. "I...I was just...scared."

"...Huh?"

"She... She practically blackmailed me."

---

"Sorry, Junko. You're my friend, but I won't involve myself in this. I won't tell anyone what you told me, but I'm not joining you. Period."

"...Oh~?" That's a shame. ...You wanna know what else is a shame? If I were to...star our beloved classmates in my next killing game. Remember that video I showed you~?"

"The one where the Student Council slaughtered each other...?" She gasped. "You wouldn't."

 "Oh, I would~ And I could make it so that the first victim would be your precious girlfriend~! Or better yet, I could keep her alive then have her kick the bucket right when you two are at your closest! ...So? What's it gonna be?"

"...Why? Why are you doing this, Junko...?! I thought we were-!!"

"Of course we're friends! That's exactly why I'm doing all this! I love you sooo much, I want to share this wooonderful despair with you! With all of you!"

---

"S-So...that's what happened, huh...?" Sora muttered.

"Yeah... You see? I didn't want to join Ultimate Despair, but... Junko didn't give me any other desirable options. And she did all this... She betrayed us... She stole our futures and forced us into this killing game. She even killed Mukuro..."

"E-Even so...the rest of the world doesn't know that. The people out there will want my head... They'll never believe I'm not like Enoshima..."

"...Then prove them wrong."

"...Huh?"

"If the world sees you as nothing but a heartless monster, all you have to do is prove them wrong. Junko may be crazy, but she was right about one thing...with our talent, we can do practically anything. All we have to do is put our mind to it. Now...do you truly wanna escape this school?"

Sora nodded. "O...Of course..."

"Do you love your classmates? Naegi, Hina, Hiro, Fukawa, Togami...Kiri?"

"Y...Yes...I do love them... I might not show it to the others as much as Kiri, but I've grown close to them in this killing game. They're...my friends. Heck, someday I might even consider them my family..."

"Then take my hand." She stretched out her hand.

"What...what will this do?"

"Thanks to your breakdown, your mind has weakened enough for me to do this. Take my hand, and we'll merge as one. It might not be enough to regain your memories, but it'll be more than enough to regain the full extent of your analytical talent and your true personality." She made a small smile. "So? Are you ready?"

Sora pursed her lips tightly while nodding as she took her hand. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Suddenly, the two were surrounded with a bright royal blue aura. The dark void started shaking as the two Soras smiled at each other.

"It's time to say goodbye to despair..."

"And welcome to a new hope..."

---

In the real world...

Junko smirked as she turned to the students, feeling smug at her alleged victory.

Junko: Well...if even one refuses to vote for hope...then I guess that means you all lose! I guess that means it's punishment ti-!"

"NO, THAT'S WRONG!"

Everyone stopped. The students looked at Makoto before realizing that the shout didn't come from him. And in a moments notice, they felt a powerful gust of wind around the trial. 

Makoto: W-What the-?!

The survivors and the mastermind then heard a familiar voice fill their ears.

"There won't just be hope...there will probably be a lot of despair, too... Despite my talent, I don't know what kind of future awaits us...or me... But..."

The female fiercely pointed, causing another powerful gust of wind.

"That future belongs to us! And I won't let anyone take them away from us!"

Junko: (Stares at the girl before blinking in confusion) ...Huh? Who the hell are you?

Kyoko: Is that...?!

The woman smirked.

"Isn't it obvious...? I'M THE ULTIMATE SUPERGENIUS! SORA SHIRAYUKI!"

Sora looked quite different. Replacing her golden blonde hair was a bright blue color. Her eyes were golden yellow and she displayed a royal blue aura that surrounded her.

Everyone, especially Junko, looked at her in shock and disbelief.

Junko: ...Shirayuki? Hey, what the heck is going on!? Something like this isn't supposed to happen until the second game!

Sora: ...I've made my decision now... I'm not gonna stand around and let people make choices for me... That choice is mines and mine alone! I'm going to help put an end to this, once and for all!

Junko: H..H..Huuuuh?!

Sora: Lemme guess. The next thing you're gonna say is, "What kinda Heroic Second Wind bullshit is this?!".

Junko: What kinda Heroic Second Wind bullshit is this?! (Realizes what she said) W-What?! You...you regained your ability...?! B-But...how...?!

Sora: How doesn't matter. What does matter is that I'm done letting you get to me. I'm voting for hope, and that's final!

Although the students didn't have a clue what was going on, they felt relived that Sora was back to her senses.

Byakuya: Hmph. About time you stopped moping around...

Makoto: (Smiles) Shirayuki...you're really siding for hope...

Sora: Of course. After all, seeing you guys find your own reasons for moving forward...I'd hate to be the odd one out. But...I guess it's thanks to you that I found mine to begin with...

Kyoko made a small smile at Sora before turning to Makoto.

Kyoko: Speaking of which... Naegi... I don't think you wound up at this school because you had good luck or bad luck... I think you came here for a different reason entirely... You came here to bring down the Ultimate Despair. You came here to confront despair without ever giving up.

She folded her arms as she made her last statement.

Kyoko: And if that's true, I think we could call you...the Ultimate Hope. What do you think?

Junko looked at the entire scene, pure disbelief present on her face.

Junko: Wh...what the...? What the hell are you!?

Truth Bullet: Ultimate Hope

Junko scowled at the boy.

Junko: So uncool... Your stupid face... The stupid things you've said... The stupid way you all treat each other...! It's all SO uncool! SO unhip! (Grits her teeth as she shakes her head in frustration) Shut up shut up shut up shut up SHUT UP! Lame lame lame lame LAME!

Makoto closed his eyes while taking in a deep breath. He's not any kind of elite anything. Hope isn't a talent you develop, but... But still...

"But I still...!"

---

BULLET TIME BATTLE: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!

The Queen of Despair - Junko Enoshima

 "You suck!"

"Whaddya want?!"

"SO Uncool!"

"You dare stand against us?!"

"Hope is a joke!"

"Outside is only despair!"

"Who are you?!"

"Your idiocy ends here..."

"Your gross!"

"Your scared, aren't you?"

"Suffer from despair!"

"I just loooove despair!"

"You suck!"

"Whaddya want?!"

"SO Uncool!"

"You're unbearable!"

"Hope is a joke!"

"Outside is only despair!"

"Who are you?!"

"Would you like to die?"

"Everything is pointless!"

"Your defiance is useless, useless, useless!"

"No...No...No...! No....!!!"

"Despair into tomorrow! Despair into your memories! Despair into nothingness!"

Makoto's Truth Bullet: Ultimate Hope

"HOPE KEEPS ON GOING!"

---

Makoto defiantly shakes his head.

Makoto: I refuse to give up. I refuse to get bored! I refuse to throw it all away! I refuse to despair! Because all I have going for me is the desire to keep moving forward!

The blonde mastermind looked at Makoto in hopelessness. Ironic, considering who she is...

Junko: What's...going on...? What's happeniiiing!?

And with that, the other students considered this an almost shut and done.

Byakuya: It looks like we've reached the end. I think it may be time to vote...

Hiro: We just gotta pull the lever, right?

Hina: Good! I'm ready to go!

Genocide Jill: Kyeeehahahaha!

Sora: Good grief... This killing game was so hopelessly pointless...

Kyoko: Let's put an end to these trials. Put an end to the killing...with our own hands.

With a nod of agreement, everyone pulled their levers at the same time. Then...

It was done. Hope was unanimously voted. Cheers were heard and banquets could be seen. They've won. The mastermind, Junko Enoshima...

Was defeated...

Class Trial: End

To be concluded...in the final chapter...