Chapter 10: Dark History

Ultimate Counselor Kei, it's you again?!"

Junko Enoshima sneers at me. Damn it. After all that effort, it ends up like this?

"Even to the very end, resisting like that, as expected of Kei! Honestly, I was a bit moved. You went to such lengths to stop me...!"

My heart trembles. At first I thought I could win, and I actually won a few times, but when I came to my senses, I was already pushed to the brink. Where did I go wrong...?

"Of course I lost to you, but gathering all the 78th years, most of the 77th years, the student council, and the reserve course students to resist—I'll give you credit for that! Thanks to you, it was pretty fun!"

From the moment I couldn't stop Hinata from becoming Kamukura Izuru? From the moment I betrayed him to Komaeda?

"I didn't expect my dear sister to betray me either! Thanks to you, one more person had to be dealt with in my memories!"

From the moment I failed to redeem Ototsuki Ryoko who became Enoshima Junko? From the moment I failed to secure the Ultimate Animator Mitai Ryota?

"And originally we were supposed to spend about a year in a shelter academy, slowly preparing the killing game together, but thanks to you, I had to put the kids in a coma until the preparations were complete! Really~ thank you so much!"

Perhaps my defeat was decided from the moment Enoshima looked at me with that strange gaze on my first day of enrollment. Enraged, Junko grins even more.

"I received a report that all the 77th years and 78th years were subdued just now? The 78th years will be put into the killing game, as you know, and for the 77th years, I'll try something special! Why, there's that 'brainwashing video' you were so determined to stop, right? I'm going to test it out. What do you think?"

I knew this would happen. The damn 'brainwashing video' that turns viewers into Ultimate Despair was finally here. Even when I thought it was too over-the-top for an animation, it became reality, and it was really frustrating.

"But showing any video for brainwashing isn't fun, right? So I came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up with a fun scenario. Want to hear it? Ah, got it? Good, then I'll start! First, I'll loosen up the 77th years a bit, then use that dumb teacher to lure 'that woman'..."

"Phup"

Watching Enoshima happily chatter about how to brainwash the 77th years alone, I couldn't help but smile.

"Huh? Kei, why are you doing that? Did you finally break from despair? Or did you finally go crazy?"

"Ha ha ha ha ha...!"

Honestly I don't have the energy to laugh, but I squeeze out whatever energy I have and laugh out loud. Enoshima's face shows confusion, then she frowns and says.

"Hey... are you trying to buy time? Give up? Your comrades are all already neutralized. There's no point in dragging this out anymore..."

"Yeah, there's no need to drag this out anymore. I've already achieved my goal."

Enoshima's face shows more confusion. Yeah, yeah, she still gets one last hit even at the end.

"I just got 'that woman' out of the academy from the brainwashing video's key character."

".....!"

Even as my mind blurs, seeing Enoshima's distorted face makes me laugh.

"There, see? I always told you. You're not some 'Ultimate Despair' but just an 'ordinary student' who laughs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at happy things like us and frowns at unexpected things."

With Enoshima now glaring at me with a straight face, I mock her and squeeze out my last strength to say the words I always wanted to throw back at her once.

"Why? Were you in despair?"

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A strange... no, familiar ceiling. Staring blankly at the ceiling of the room I've gotten used to somewhat, I suddenly think about the dream I had just now.

'Was it... an important dream...? I can't remember anything... All I can think of is that my stomach feels refreshed...'

Trying hard to recall the important scene from the dream, but I can't remember anything. Eventually, giving up on recalling, I remember what happened yesterday.

The killing motive screening... secret meeting with Kirigiri-san... counseling with Maizono at the cost of my life...

My head starts throbbing again... right? Then, I realize I slept well. About to get up from my seat feeling refreshed for the first time in a while, I suddenly think.

Wait a minute... wasn't I on night watch...? Then, I remember I fell in front of Kirigiri-san yesterday...?

Did Kirigiri-san carry me to the room and take the night watch alone...?

"Heueng Kirigiri Mama..."

"What did you say?"

"...?"

Suddenly hearing a voice, looking to the side, there was Kirigiri Kyoko.

"....."

"....."

In an instant, my face turns as red as a tomato, and Kirigiri looks at me with disdain. Ah... I want to hide in a mouse hole...

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.

"So, you've been nursing me until now?"

"Yeah. What, is there any complaint?"

"No... I'm too grateful..."

"Since we agreed to form a cooperative relationship, I guess I should do something like this."

Wow, Kirigiri Kyoko nursed me all night. Is this still a dream? Unable to believe it, I pinch my cheek...

"Aaaack! It hurts!"

Right, I got injured by Maizono yesterday. Too painful, so wrapping my cheek, Kirigiri sighs and takes out the gauze and band-aids from beside her.

"Haa... this is when you're really unreliable..."

'Heueng Kirigiri Mama...'

This time, without blushing, I think to myself and accept Kirigiri's care. Kirigiri removes the existing band-aid, disinfects, and applies a new one to my face.

"Normally, I would get more professional treatment, but unfortunately, I don't have the equipment or knowledge for that, so this is all I can do."

"No, it's fine... I think it's just an image change..."

That's right. It's common sense that wild men have one scar each, right? Now I can push forward with a wild image too...

"You look pitiful enough already, but now you look even more pitiful."

Kirigiri's heavy fact hits me and passes. It wasn't a joke; the knife wound from Maizono hurt less than this one word...

Looking at Kirigiri with an injured expression, Kirigiri is smiling... what? Is this really a dream?

Rubbing my eyes and looking again, Kirigiri is back to her cold expression. That makes sense, our ice queen Kirigiri Kyoko wouldn't make such an expression. Maybe she was stressed and hallucinated for a moment.

"Kei-kun, do you perhaps have a future hope of being a hare...?"

Damn it, Monokuma pops out without noticing and interrupts. It's rare to be with Kirigiri Kyoko in a dream-like time, and he's disturbing it... He's definitely not an ordinary evil guy.

"No, that's not it. You're a walking flag generator... Kei-kun..."

While listening to Monokuma's sullen muttering on the side, I ask Kirigiri.

"But then, couldn't you take the night watch last night? Was there no danger...?"

"The kids who heard you fell took over the night watch."

Oh... Honestly, I didn't expect it, but I'm moved. As expected, connections are important.

"Yeah, since I spent such an intense night with Maizono yesterday, it was natural to fall..."

"Shut up"

Anger surges to the top of my head, I throw the pillow at Monokuma. Monokuma dodges the pillow nimbly and starts laughing.

"Uppuppu... If I hadn't dodged that pillow just now, it would have been a violation of school rules, right? How about it? Thank you? Huh?"

"Stop making noise and just go away."

"Huh? What? Are you... jealous? Kirigiri?"

"Haa..."

Kirigiri grabs Monokuma and drags him out. Monokuma struggles, saying violence is prohibited to the principal, but Kirigiri says simply grabbing isn't violence and throws Monokuma out the door. But throwing... isn't it violence...?

Kirigiri returns with a blank expression and says it's time to gather at the dining hall, so prepare, and leaves the room. I missed the chance to be with Kirigiri because of that damn bear. Feeling fierce anger towards Monokuma, I head to my room to change clothes.

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When I arrive at the dining hall, the kids swarm around me asking how I am. With countless handshake requests, my mind becomes hazy for a moment, but I snap out of it, say I'm fine, and look for Maizono.

"...!"

Maizono is far away talking to Naegi, sees me, suddenly blushes, and lowers her head deeply.

Yeah, after what happened, it's natural. Still, being able to see her normal self instead of the crazy one like yesterday, I'm satisfied.

Feeling presence, looking to the side, Kirigiri is glaring at Maizono with an unsatisfied expression. Asking why, she says Maizono told everyone about what happened yesterday.

Wow, she didn't have to do that. Maizono really decided to change.

While looking at Maizono with a warm feeling, Kirigiri glares at me this time. Ah, I wasn't staring with strange feelings, was I, Kyoko...

I wanted to explain, but Kirigiri goes to sit far away. Giving up on the awkwardness, I start scanning the suspicious individuals.

First, Byakuya Togami. Originally a troll position in Danganronpa 1, but in the current situation, he's not standing out.

Yeah, his trolling will start after the trial begins, so him not being prominent now means it's peaceful. I hope he doesn't get to shine...

Mondo Owada is the least cautious among the caution targets, but originally he would kill Fujisaki in chapter 2. Motive is trauma related to his brother. Meaning, if the trauma related to his brother motive is removed, he has no reason to kill. I need to think of a way soon.

Toko Fukawa is normally just a gloomy girl, but her true self is 'Genocider Syo' state.

The power of Genocider Syo as described in Ultimate Despair is so great that it can handle even Ikusaba or Ogami level, so it's better to be cautious.

I guess I should always carry pepper spray in my pocket.

Celeste is also a caution target. As the Ultimate Gambler, she's good at intelligence battles and schemes. If she carefully plans, even with my knowledge of game knowledge, I might not be able to stop her, so I need to be careful.

The most important to be cautious about is Ikusaba and Ogami. One of them will cause trouble soon, so I must always stay alert. I should talk to Kirigiri about this.

"Uppuppu! Good morning everyone!"

Monokuma suddenly pops out and cheerfully ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shouts, but the kids' reactions are cold. Of course, after playing that video yesterday, they wouldn't welcome it.

"Eh? Why is the atmosphere like this? I thought with the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠killing motive presented, it would be a hotter atmosphere, but this coolness...!"

Monokuma alone enthusiastically talks, but the kids' reactions remain the same. After a long time of him saying useless things alone, Monokuma finally gets to the point.

"So, the first motive alone wasn't enough, so I prepared the second motive!"

He even explodes fireworks when he prepared it. He has a talent for only doing things that are hard to look at. By the way, already the second motive? The killing in chapter 1 didn't happen, but this is too fast?

"This motive is 'embarrassing memories' and 'unwanted past'!"

That's right. The second motive is that if you don't commit murder within 24 hours, 'dark history' will be revealed. Satan's idea is ridiculous.

But my dark history is already all left behind in reality. Even if revealed, it's not my dark history, so no issue.

"Inside the envelope I'm holding is my independently investigated secret information about all of you!"