Your Turn To Despair

A New Day

   "Wait," Hinata demands, "So you die; what's going to happen to us?! The game can't go on  without a Mastermind, so are you prepared to let us out of here?!"

   "Hmm hm hm. . .Ibuki supposes! Kaede will let you out Ibuki guesses. Congratulations! Yep yep, Ibuki will die easily knowing you guys will never live easy lives again. Since Ibuki guessessss you beat her! Kamukura, come activate Ibuki's collar!"

   Kamukura nods and steps forward, preparing to activate the collar.

   "Wait!" Hinata calls out, "We didn't get all of the answers we need yet!"

  "Boo hoo woo! Ibuki sure hopes it keeps you up at night! Goodbye!"

   Kamukura presses the button on the side of Mioda's collar, and they beam. "Ibuki's turn to die, Ibuki's turn to die!" She chants excitedly. 

   Suddenly, their collar tightens, and a chain descends from the sky and attaches itself to Mioda's collar, yanking her up into the air.

   Mioda is dropped onto a stage; feet chained to the ground. A six-by-six platform raises from the ground, elevating Mioda above everyone and everything. The remaining bit of stage below her is suddenly set aflame. Some awful music starts blaring through some unseen speakers before the platform suddenly starts spinning, faster and faster and faster with each passing second.

   Mioda's eyes swirl with dizziness, but a grin remains painted on their face the entire time. Just when she's about to throw up, the restraints on their ankles suddenly come undone, and they're flung down thirty-five feet until she plunges into the fires below. 

   Mioda screams. 

   The curtains close.

   And suddenly, before anyone can say a word, the entire trial room fills with gas, and all of the humans lose consciousness.

-

   When Hinata and the others wake up, they're in some dark alley in the middle of nowhere.

   The brunet groans and sits up, looking around and seeing the other five survivors doing the same thing. Naegi is the first one to perk up.

   "G-Guys, we're out! We're really free!"

   "Yes, but where are we?" Pekoyama questions.

   Everyone pulls themselves to their feet, dusting themselves off and trying to orient themselves. "Okay then, first we need to figure out where we are. So we can get back home." Saihara determines. 

   "No, first we should go to the police!" Komaru insists.

   Naegi shakes his head. "They'll never believe us. And besides, Mioda Ibuki is dead. Dead for good. It would just be a waste of time."

   Hinata touches his throat. "Our collars are gone!"

   He looks over at Komaeda, who's silent once more. He slowly walks over to him and takes his hand. "We lived." He whispers.

   "We did." Komaeda agrees softly.

   "You owe me a date." The brunet reminds him.

   Komaeda nods. "I do," He agrees, "Once we all get back to our homes."

   "Where do we even start. . ?"

   Pekoyama steels herself. "We find out where we are."

-

   Nanami,

   We've been out for about three weeks now. I've made it back home, but I haven't seen my parents since that night. We survived the death game, but I'm still seeing you everywhere, taunting me. But I know that it's not really you. I'm looking into getting a therapist.

   I'm sorry I can't give you or any of the other victims of the Death Game By Majority a proper burial. Pekoyama has suggested having a memorial sometime soon, and it's probably the least we can do. So yeah, we're working on organizing something like that.

   I don't know what to tell you, but I'm sorry I couldn't prevent your death. I couldn't stop anyone's death. Komaeda tells me it's not my fault; it's not any of our faults. But we're the ones who knew the rules. We're the ones who voted.

   But I miss you. What happened wasn't fair. I'll never forget you. I hope you heard me from wherever you are up there.

   Amen

   Hinata opens his eyes and unfolds his hands with a sigh. Komaeda breezes into the room, two mugs of tea in his hands. 

   Komaeda's parents have been dead for years, and Hinata's have gone missing, so they've been staying in Komaeda's house together. Well, less of a house and more of a mansion.

   "Speaking to Nanami-san?" He asks softly, handing him one of the mugs.

   The brunet nods. "I know she's probably watching, but I still thought I should update her."

   Komaeda sits down next to him. "Of course."

   Hinata bites his lower lip. "Nagito, how are we supposed to move on after such a horrible experience? How can we stand to look at ourselves in the mirror knowing we voted our friends into their deaths. Aren't we murderers by default?"

   "We didn't have a choice," Komaeda responds. 

   "We should've all just died then."

   "No, Hajime. We didn't kill anyone. It was Mioda-san and the game."

   "I still don't know how I can move on from this. How anyone can move on from this, especially with so many questions still unanswered. Questions that will never be answered. This sadness will last forever."

   "I know it feels like that now, but we're survivors. And we will get through this."

   "But what can we do?"

   "Well. . .spend the night mourning. It will hurt for a while. And in the morning, a new day, by the way, we'll start the process of moving on. But we'll never forget what happened. And we will be okay."

   "It doesn't feel like it." Hinata leans his head on Komaeda's shoulder.

   He sighs. "I know. Healing takes time. But we'll get there. I promise you."

   Hinata sighs, feeling the familiar feeling of tears prickling in his eyes. "You really think?"

   Komaeda smiles and kisses the other's forehead.

   "I know it. Just you wait."

   Fin