Danganronpa Midnight: Lantern Lament (Fanganronpa)

Chapter 4 - Post Trial and Execution

We all stood still in anticipation, waiting for Monokuma to tally up all five of our votes. Nerves just welled up inside me and I bit my nails in fear, hands trembling slightly.

I doubt that we're wrong...we had a confession and everything.

But...even the smallest chance that we might be wrong is enough to make me panic. I just...can't help but think about the worst outcome.

I...doubt want to disappoint anyone. Especially not Chiyo if she wakes up.

I mean...No...When she wakes up. Chiyo is way stronger than me. She has to wake up!

She has to...

"Alright. And that's five!" Monokuma spoke up, interrupting my thoughts with roaring laughter. "Someone is going to be disappointed! But nevertheless...As always, please take a gander at the screen to my left for the votes!"

What does he mean by someone being disappointed? Crap...I was just thinking about that!

What if...we were wrong after all?

We did as we were told and looked up towards the screen which flickered to life, all sixteen of us appearing on it. One by one, a vote appeared by Kokoro's portrait every few seconds, the heartwarming smile on the screen completely juxtaposing the tear-stained face she had now.

One vote...Then another...

Three...then four.

I expected one more but nothing.

Only...four of us voted for Kokoro?!?

But...Kokoro and I both wanted it to be unanimous, so...what happened?

As if the screen read my mind; the final vote appeared...

Besides my face?

"W-What?!?" I exclaimed.

I mean, it doesn't really change anything. Kokoro still has the majority after all but...

Why would someone vote for me?!?

"No...!" Kokoro covered her mouth once she saw the one out-of-place vote. "W-Who...Who voted for Satoshi?!?"

Unlike all the other mysteries around this place, this one was solvable straight away judging by the obnoxious cackling coming from the other side of the trial room where one girl stood, bent over and gripping her stomach in an attempt to catch her breath.

"Oh...Oh my god!" Ryoko wiped her tears, a large grin plastered on her face. "You guys are too much! You should have seen your faces...Priceless, I tell you. Priceless!"

"Ryoko...!" Shouko called out to the girl. "Why...vote for Satoshi? He was never even a suspect, so-"

"That's the point." The chess grandmaster smirked, finally catching her breath and standing up straight, approaching us all. "One of Satoshi's demands was his wish for the votes to be unanimous, right? So why not take that wish away from him just by messing about? Voting for him too...despite him not even being suspected just to see the confusion and disappointment on his face...It was worth it!" She quickly slapped a hand over her mouth to not burst out laughing once again, yet it was very evident through her facial expression.

"Are...you kidding me?" Kenjiro widened his eyes. "You voted for an innocent man...J-Just to get a laugh?"

"Duh. I just said that. Keep up." She then rolled her eyes, yet her smirk remained. "Although, let's face it. Satoshi is far from innocent just like me. Actually, we're both murderers aren't we...so doesn't that make us just two peas in a pod!"

"N-No, it doesn't," I mumbled, already sick of being compared to her. "But...That could have been reckless!"

"Oh please. Seriously, Satoshi?" She scoffed. "It was just one vote out of five. Kokoro still has the majority and is therefore the blackened! So in actuality, my vote was wasted and meant nothing. But it still was a laugh! So get over it!"