Danganronpa Zero

Chapter Six (part two)

"Don't get so mad! You're ruining your absent-minded character personality!" "That's not it! I -"

"In that case, let me ask you a question. Say you're making instant ramen. You put boiling water in and then wait 3 minutes, right? But if someone comes and asks you ̳how come it's 3 minutes?', what's going to be your answer? You can't answer that, can you?"

My thoughts reached a state of unprecedented turmoil. "W...What are you talking about?! Don't change the -"

"I'm not changing the subject! It's just the same!", Enoshima-san counterattacked with a strong tone of voice. "That's just how things are, so that's why I'm doing it! There's no further explanation! Ah, but, y'know, I'm not proud of it but I am an impatient person, so I often give up before the three minutes are up. People think I have a thing for hard noodles, but it's actually because of this muuuuch deeper reason! Well, do you get it now?"

My cognition clattered and collapsed, and the inside of my brain completely turned into rubble. All that was left was a large number of question marks.

I don't understand anything. That was the one and only answer I was certain of.

Attempting to understand other people perfectly is a futile activity unless you're aiming for the Ubermensch olympics. I know that. But, nevertheless, her case was extraordinary. I shouldn't have gotten involved with her from the very beginning, after all. But, it's probably not too late yet! Before I get even more involved -

That's right, I should run away! That's right, I should run away!

Having finally arrived at this simple answer, I promptly turned the other way, kicked powerfully at the ground, and set off dashing away from danger.

Almost immediately, I found myself colliding head-on with Enoshima-san. "How - ?!"

I fell down right on my butt. It hit the ground so harshly that my entire body turned numb. When I looked up, Enoshima-san stood on the road, blocking my head. I never even saw her move, and yet she somehow appeared behind me before I even started running.

"T...Teleportation?!"

"I prefer ̳shukuchi-jutsu'. I like the pop-culture vibe."

I felt like it wasn't just my butt that hit the ground, but rather my anything and everything. It seemed I couldn't escape her after all. I may have convinced myself I have nothing to do with it, but she will not allow that.

"I think you misunderstand the situation, don't you agree?" Enoshima-san crouched down and peered into my exhausted eyes. Alarms went off everywhere inside my head - I mustn't look into her eyes. Nevertheless, I couldn't avert my gaze. "I should've let you known ahead. Your intentions are irrelevant. What's relevant is Junko Enoshima's purposes. That is all. That's why even thinking about escaping from Junko Enoshima is nonsense. The world itself is Junko Enoshima's playground, and everyone in it is merely living in it on borrowed time. I'm not talking ̳everything you own is mine' - I'm talking, ̳you yourself are mine'. The entire world and all mankind are for Junko Enoshima to do with as she pleases."

- What?

It was the most evil, extraordinary, egotistical doctrine. The kind that causes you to feel sick. If she really means all that, I have to resent my own lack of luck for meeting that girl.

"Oh, well. We should return to what we were talking about. The issue of the dead body." She stood up, recollecting herself, turned to face me and asked a question. "By the way, do you know what Hope's Peak Academy's Steering Committee is?"

"...Hope's Peak Academy's Steering Committee?" Just to make sure, I checked my notebook, but I couldn't find mention of that phrase anywhere. It seems I honestly do not know what that is. But, if she mentions that name right now, that probably means -