Emergency Substitute Deployment
Monokuma didn't move at all, and suddenly disappeared.
"Right? Kei?"
Hearing Kirigiri's words, I barely came to my senses and naturally responded, recalling the promise I made to Kirigiri earlier.
"Uh... yeah... right...?"
No way I could respond naturally.
My favorite character is now saying that I'm her boyfriend.
My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it. Watching me stammer with a red face, Kirigiri smiled faintly and said.
"Are you that embarrassed? With us?"
"No... well... once it's out to everyone... it feels a bit... awkward...?"
Since it's come to this, I have to push the 'girlfriend' concept where I'm being led by Kirigiri. It would be the most natural that way. But isn't this a fact, not just a concept?
"It... is sudden... but for now... um... congratulations?"
"Th... the unhealthy opposite-sex relationship is not allowed! Even if it's opposite-sex, it should be a healthy relationship suitable for the age..."
"You said you were a virgin yourself... you're a liar... you bastard!!!"
"Is this something that requires a compatibility check? Of course, if it's you, I'd be happy to check for free anytime, no worries!"
"Ho... how far... how far have we gone? If it's a hot meeting in the bathroom... no way... no way...!"
Finally, the kids' reactions, once they understood the situation, exploded. Fukawa fantasized alone and eventually fainted from reaching her limit.
"Haa... you all are just idiots with no sense. Isn't the important thing right now something else?"
"Huhu, really? You guys seem to have already forgotten what Kei said just now?"
Just as the atmosphere was heating up, Togami and Celeste poured cold water on it.
Only then did the kids remember how much power Kei's secret had, and their expressions turned complex.
"Kei, you know the secret of the killing game and even deliberately hid that fact?"
"...I also want to tell you the secret right now, but I can't say it here. But if you give me time to explain..."
"No, no explanation needed. After all, the important thing is that you know the fact."
Togami coldly rebuked, looking at the fainted Fukawa.
"You, suppress that guy."
Then Fukawa flinched and suddenly widened her eyes, transforming into Genocider Syo state.
"Ne~!!! So, suppressing this non-moe Kei is it? That's too easy!"
As soon as Genocider finished speaking, she rushed at me.
I was about to be attacked by Genocider without dodging, but someone pulled me back fiercely from the side.
"Hey, what the hell is this?"
Oowada, who saved me, pushed me back and glared at Togami with burning eyes. Togami smirked as if it was ridiculous and retorted.
"Friendship between society's trash and the black villain, how amusing."
"What the fuck did you just say?!?!"
"Everyone, please calm down first...!"
Just as the atmosphere was turning bad, Naegi tried to intervene to calm the situation, but it wasn't easy.
Just before Oowada, who had been spinning scissors from his pocket, and the angry Oowada were about to cause a scene, a new person intervened.
"Wait! Knowing the secret of the killing game doesn't mean you're necessarily the black villain, right? You can't just assume without listening to my words!"
Maizono stood next to Naegi and shouted to everyone. The kids nodded as if they agreed with Maizono, but Togami continued without backing down.
"If you're not the black villain, how can you know the truth of this killing game? If you say you found it by investigating the school, forget it. I already searched thoroughly, but there was no information about the truth of the killing game."
"But... if Kei is the black villain, Monokuma wouldn't reveal it, right?"
"It's simple. Kei is either a accomplice or an ally. Probably betrayed by another black villain for some reason, or this whole situation is part of a plan. And no matter how I think, the latter is more likely."
"What does that mean..."
"First, acting heroically by befriending the kids and building trust, betraying the black villain and joining them. Then, after everyone trusts him and he doesn't get suspected, he'll secretly manipulate the killing game."
"That's just your speculation..."
"Then, just because it's speculation, are you going to leave that guy alone?"
Togami pointed at me and said to everyone.
"You should lock that guy in the room. Of course, after smashing some places so he can't do anything stupid. If you understand my words, do it."
For a while, the kids were silent. Damn, the situation is really bad.
"Deciding on your own without giving an explanation opportunity or listening to others' opinions and forcing it on others, how arrogant?"
"Shut up. You too, Kirigiri. If it's really that kind of relationship with that guy, you must have some connection with the black villain too. Do you want to be locked in the room with your whole body smashed?"
Suddenly, my rational thread snapped.
"Shut the fuck up, you prince-like glasses freak."
"What... what did you say?"
"Yeah, go ahead and do as you want. Smash everywhere and throw me into solitary confinement. I won't resist."
I can tolerate being insulted, but I can't stand Kirigiri being insulted. I approached Togami and continued.
"In exchange, if you do that, you won't be able to know any truth or escape while we all die here. If you're okay with that, go ahead."
I went right in front of Togami and glared at him as I finished.
"By the way, is this a lie? Even if I look like this, I know the secret of the killing game."
"....!"
Togami glared at me without backing down. At the moment when the atmosphere was heading to a dead end, Celeste suddenly threw out a suggestion.
"Then, how about deciding what to do with Kei here using the old democratic method of voting?"
"Vote... vote?"
"Yes, conduct an anonymous vote on whether you can trust Kei or not, and choose the opinion with more votes. If more people say you can't trust him, lock him up, and if more say you can, don't lock him up."
"Um... rather... that might be better..."
As the kids agreed, Celeste smiled elegantly at me and continued.
"The vote will be held in the evening when everyone gathers in the dining hall. Of course, until then, Kei will stay in his room."
"What? What do you mean stay in the room?"
"Hah, so even though you're being suspected, you were planning to go around brazenly?"
Damn... did Celeste plan this from the beginning? If I'm locked in the room, Celeste can freely sabotage to make the other kids distrust me.
Looking at the other kids' expressions, they all seemed to agree with Celeste's words. Oh no, completely defeated. But I can't give up like this.
"...But I also want to make a self-defense speech before the vote. If you're going to lock me up until the vote because you don't trust me, at least let me appoint a spokesperson."
"What? A spokesperson?"
"...Yeah, a spokesperson. Instead of me in the room, a spokesperson to persuade the kids."
"What... you should consider that much? Then who will be the spokesperson? Huhu, as expected, your girlfriend?"
It would be good if I could make Kirigiri the spokesperson, but Kirigiri is also suspected because of our relationship. Then, among the other characters excluding Kirigiri, who should I appoint as spokesperson...
"Naegi, when you're ready, can you come to my room for a moment...?"
"Eh... me? Uh, yeah, okay..."
The only one besides Kirigiri who can persuade everyone at this point is Naegi. So, I have to somehow persuade Naegi to join my side now.
Leaving the complicated atmosphere, heading to my room, Kirigiri passed by my side and whispered softly.
"After the vote ends safely, see me in the bathroom at night."
I probably have to win the vote no matter what.
.
.
.
.
I am sitting in my room now, waiting for Naegi to come. Honestly, a bit anxious. Will Naegi really believe me? Can I persuade Naegi?
- Creak
The door opened and Naegi came in. To avoid my throat drying up while talking, I brought mineral water. Now that I think about it, Naegi always brought gifts when talking to me. Are the gifts still there?
"Naegi, I'm grateful that you always give a lot of gifts, but isn't it too generous? You should give to the other kids too..."
"Ahaha, that's what I mean... I didn't use a few medals, but the gacha machine kept spitting out gifts... Since there are so many piled up, I'm giving them to the kids, but I still don't know what they like..."
As expected, Ultimate Luck is Ultimate Luck, right? Actually, Naegi's talent shines more as Ultimate Hope than Ultimate Luck. Well, it's not like it's described as having no luck talent, so maybe it's fine? By the way, there are a lot of gifts piled up...
"Hey... are you okay? You have a troubled expression."
"Ah, yeah! Sorry... I was thinking about something else for a moment... Hoo... yeah, Naegi. Honestly, it feels shameless to ask for this favor, but there's a reason for my doing this..."
"So, what should I do?"
"Uh... huh...?"
Persuasion of Naegi successful...? No, what did I do...?
"Eh... um... thank you... but you didn't listen to my words..."
"Because I trust you."
"...Eh?"
"Up until now, you've always stepped forward for the kids? For kids with worries, you stood up and talked, volunteered for night watch, tried to stop Monokuma's motives."
"Ah..."
"And I'm grateful that you saved Maizono... In this situation, even if you got hurt, you persuaded Maizono to the end. There's no way you're the black villain, right? So, I decided to trust you."
Oh, honestly, a bit moved. In a situation where suspicion is natural, someone believes in me, so my heart feels at ease.
"What can I do to help? Tell me anything."
I'm not a Superman who can solve everything alone. The current situation is quite different from the original. The game's knowledge is no longer omnipotent.
Therefore, to end this killing game, from now on, I will have to rely on not only Kirigiri but also the help of other kids. And I have just taken the first step in that process.
"Thank you for believing in me. Then, from now on, I'll tell you what you have to do. First..."
Naegi, who heard all my words, vowed to try his best since he decided to believe, and encouraged me not to give up until the end. As expected, the protagonist class of the original work hasn't disappeared.
.
.
"But Kei, it's a bit embarrassing to ask in this situation... um... do you really... date Kirigiri...?"
"Eh? Yeah, something like that...?"
"Then, can I get some advice before starting the work...?"
"What kind of advice?"
"Um... about Maizono... I still don't know how far we've gone..."
Naegi asked me secretly with a red face.
Damn, I've never dated anyone, but now I'm supposed to give relationship advice.