My Boyfriend Cheated

.....Kheh, hah...

.....

'Fuck, I almost died... I really almost died... I came right up to the brink of death... that crazy bitch Ikusaba...'

Really, if Kirigiri hadn't shown up at the right time, I would have crossed over to the afterlife and, shortly after, been executed in a class trial and become a shuttle in hell for Ikusaba.

Ha... ha... hic...

I can't help but cry. No matter how hard I try, the experience of being strangled by a human war machine that killed hundreds or thousands with complete malice is that terrifying.

.....Shut up and don't cry.

.....Hic.

.....Tsk

Now Ikusaba is controlling even my crying. It's so frustrating, and now even crying is controlled, tears still come, but the person in front of me can break my neck with their eyes closed.

I had no choice but to swallow my sobs, hiccuping, and as Ikusaba watched me, she suddenly stood up and approached me.

Again... what are you trying to do...

.....

Ikusaba is glaring at me coldly. Is she going to finish what she was about to do since Kirigiri left?

Even so... it's already too late... cough, cough...! Ugh... my throat hurts...

.....Hah.

Ikusaba's expression turned icy, and she reached for my neck. I closed my eyes and trembled in fear of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠being choked again, but what I felt was a surprisingly gentle touch.

You got injured again while trying to do something dangerous... and there's a scar on your face too...

Uh... huh...?

I told you I'd take care of the dangerous stuff, idiot...

Suddenly, Ikusaba's expression softened, and she started speaking in a gentle voice.

I... Ikusaba...?

Anyway, what the hell was that detective doing to make you like this...

Eh... um... maybe I ate something bad?

.....Huh? What are you talking about...?

Earlier, you were the one strangling my neck...?

What the... ugh...!

Ikusaba's expression twisted, and she suddenly clutched her head and fell, screaming.

Aaahaaaaaaaak!!!!

Wh-what's wrong? Why...?

Ah... it hurts...! My head hurts...!

The sudden situation left me flustered, but first I approached Ikusaba cautiously to assess the situation.

Ikusaba saw me approaching and trembled, then shouted sharply.

D-don't come...! Don't come...! Don't approach...!

G-get a hold of yourself... I don't know why you're like this, but first...

Shut up! Don't talk to me! Disappear from my sight...!

It seems Ikusaba feels pain when she sees me or regains consciousness. If that's the case, this is the perfect opportunity to end this endless hostage situation and return to Kirigiri Noona.

Ikusaba, look here.

Aaah...! Get away... Disappear...!

Look me straight in the eyes.

......!

When I quietly stared at Ikusaba's eyes while she was lying down, her rejection reaction intensified. Ikusaba, pale and trembling as if in terror, I approached stealthily towards the door.

Ah... no...

Ikusaba urgently tried to pull out a knife, but her hand was shaking too much, delaying the action. I took the opportunity and quickly ran to the door...

Uruburu...! Where do you think you're going...!

Aaah...!

Suddenly, Monokuma jumped out and tripped my leg as I ran to the door, causing me to tumble right in front of the door.

Seeing the emerging Monokuma, Ikusaba lying there started speaking in a desperate voice.

E-Enoshima... I... I...

Enoshima? I'm Monokuma.

I... I... messed up... Please...

Ah, Kei! I recorded the scene of you almost dying earlier! Thanks to that, I won't be bored for a while! Thank you!

Iiik...!

Huh? You still haven't given up? But even if a murder doesn't happen, if the hostage situation ends so pathetically, I can't show my face as the mastermind...!

If I just open the door in front of me and leave, I could end this damn hostage situation, but since Monokuma is holding my leg, I can't get up, so I started crawling while dragging Monokuma.

Give up... As long as I'm here... You can't leave this place...

Ikusaba, who had approached from behind me, was trying to get up and pinning me down while aiming a knife at me. If I went a little further, I could open the door and leave, but it seemed more important to let my neck fall than to open the door, so I had no choice but to abandon the idea of leaving.

Uruburu... Yeah, I can't let the hostage situation end yet... I remembered somewhere to use you guys...

E... Enoshima... You're forgiving me...?

I'm not Enoshima, I'm Monokuma! And... forgiveness? Why would I need to forgive?

.....Huh?

Weren't you someone I was supposed to receive forgiveness from...?

Ah... aah... a.....

Hearing that, Ikusaba's expression showed she had lost everything, she dropped the knife she was holding and collapsed limply.

Uruburu... From beginning to end, she's just 'regret'... Is she the incarnation of regret? Uruburu...

Monokuma mocked Ikusaba and then started muttering.

What... It seems detailed memory adjustment was impossible... Memories are slowly coming back... Since it's come to this... Should I kill her here...?

Ikusaba's expression was not normal. Suddenly, the image of Ikusaba pierced all over her body from the game flashed in my mind. I was now embracing Ikusaba.

.....Uruburu? What are you doing now?

You're trying to kill Ikusaba right now...?

Uruburu... You have good instincts... I was going to pierce you with Kunigami's spear...

It can't be like that...

.....You're wrapping the mastermind of a murder game that was trying to kill you sincerely? Idiot... Uruburu...

Now I understand why Ikusaba is like this.

Uruburu...?

Ikusaba betrayed you once?

.....

Monokuma closed her mouth and quietly looked at me. Anyway, I have to know that her usual noisy, talkative self becomes quiet when things get bad.

Before we lost our memories from school days... I think we were quite close... I don't know what kind of relationship, but.

Well... It's obviously a one-sided relationship where regret noona was the one who regretted it... But you don't hide it anymore?

Haa... What's the point of hiding what was already revealed... Anyway, there's only one reason to manipulate Ikusaba's memories who is on the same side as you, right? That Ikusaba betrayed you.

.....Uruburu...

Anyway, now that I know that fact, I can't just leave you to die. If I want to kill you, I'll kill you too.

Hey... Are you having delusions of grandeur? You think I can't kill just you?

Then, why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't you try killing me? Come on, do it, huh?

.....Uruburu. Seeing your courage, I'll let you live once. But... if you keep doing this, I might really kill you?

As expected, Enoshima seems to think my existence is very important. What did I do before losing my memories that made Enoshima pull such an aggro on me?

Anyway, now I have to use Enoshima's overestimation of me to the maximum. By making Enoshima focus on me with her bluster, I need to create gaps for the other kids to shine.

.....Hey, I'm not going to kill you, so stop clinging to me?

.....Ah.

I had been hugging Ikusaba for too long. When I let go a bit, my face flushed, and Monokuma hesitated for a moment, then laughed and started speaking to me.

Uruburu... Then instead of killing, how about kidnapping? Of course... You too!

What does that...

As soon as that was said, a syringe shot out from Monokuma's mouth and hit my arm.

Ayaa, what is this...

Um... It's a mild sedative...?

Wh-what...?

Uruburu... It was a joke! It's just a sleeping pill.

This... This time... what the hell are you trying to...

- Thud

No matter how hard I tried to endure, since the sleeping pill was too strong, I couldn't last even a few seconds and ended up lying next to the already unconscious Ikusaba.

Soon, the Monokumas opened the door and entered, surrounding Ikusaba and Kei and heading somewhere.

Watching that, Monokuma muttered meaningfully.

If this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠happens... It's a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit different from the original plan... but... I can have some fun... Uruburu...

With that, the hostage situation entered a new phase.

.

.

.

.

.

Haa, Kirigiri. I didn't think you'd make such a drastic proposal.

Drastic proposal?

If it were you, I thought you'd use some trick or trap to neutralize Ikusaba... but... what can I say... having 14 people charge at once...

When I checked Ikusaba's condition earlier, I already knew her state. Even though she's at her limit just standing, she's been putting on an act until now.

.....But even so, no matter how not normal, when going to get food, she always threatened Kei with a knife...

That's why I asked for help from everyone. When the door opens to receive food from Fujisaki, everyone rushes in at the same time and subdues her. Considering her condition, even if she has a knife, she can be subdued without Kei getting into danger.

Um... Honestly, it looks a bit reckless... but... since you care about Kei more than anyone... I guess I have to believe it...

.....

Kirigiri Kyoko heads to the room where everyone and Ikusaba are, lost in thought.

'Indeed, I'm not in my right mind.'

Even to herself, this plan is too reckless and dangerous. She explained that there would be no problem for the kids, but anyone can see that Kei might be in danger.

Nevertheless, the moment she saw the boy's face pushed to the brink of death before she arrived, she decided to believe in this reckless plan that she would never have chosen normally.

She will never forget the scene of the boy, who had been pushed to the brink of death by Ikusaba until she arrived, clenching his fingers even as he screamed while looking at her.

And, sinking into the anxiety that this unforgettable scene might become his last appearance, she risked it and gathered the kids to attempt a forced breakthrough before it was too late.

Then, shall I knock on the door...?

Kirigiri, having made up her mind to succeed in this operation no matter what, waited hidden for the door to open.

.....Ikusaba, I brought dinner. Open the door.

.....

But no sound came from behind the door.

.....Hey, Ikusaba? When exchanging food, we promised to face each other and confirm Kei's condition...?

.....

.....Ikusaba!

Even as Fujisaki kept knocking on the door, Kirigiri's unease grew with the unresponsive reaction.

Move aside.

.....Ah!

Kirigiri turned the doorknob roughly, and the door opened surprisingly lightly.

.....What, what's this? There's no one...?

Surprisingly, the room was empty. The kids were panicking and at a loss when Kirigiri discovered something on the desk and approached with a stern expression.

There, there was a DVD with a note attached that said Monokuma drew.

- Your boyfriend cheated?

Kirigiri Kyoko, for the first time, let go of the thread of reason.