A Future to Call Our Own

Chapter 8 - Lost Boy

Chapter 8
Lost Boy

Looking at the screen, I couldn't imagine that I was actually getting this close to an escape. Finally, some hope.
They were able to track our location from the e-Handbook. We were somewhere near Towa City.
I had to be careful and hide the e-Handbook from the Monokuma kids. They were just kids, they were too stupid to notice I had this with me.
Komaeda kept guard as I made contact with Future Foundation whenever I could, always getting a report that they were moving closer to our location.
Makoto had claimed that everything was under control from the last time I got a message from him, as well as when I got that recorded message while still on the island. He said that they would hopefully continue to move under cover that they would not be detected.
They were going to try and get everyone back, somehow, someway. Though I knew they were going to try and receive the Ultimate Despair while they were alive, I'm honestly not sure if that will be able to happen.
Putting the e-Handbook back into my pocket, I heard footsteps echoing throughout the hallway to the side of us. I looked at Komaeda, him mouthing 'Monaca'.
Standing up, I went to the side of him, seeing Monaca, Mikan, and Sonia making their way down towards us. I couldn't believe how abiding Mikan had become, even seeming more so now than she did before, with her real personality.
Sonia still seemed like a princess, so elegant and graceful. The only change was the swirls in her eyes, it seemed, physically-wise.
"Well, well, well! Were the two lovebirds hiding out in a corner together doing dirty, dirty things?" Monaca's voice rang out as she approached us.
"No, now what do you need?" I spoke out, stepping in front of Komaeda with a hand extended backwards to protect him in case she intended to do anything to him.
"Need?" she repeated, putting a finger to her mouth as she stopped in front of us, Sonia and Mikan doing the same. "Hmm . . . that's a funny joke, Mr. Izuru!" She gave a laugh.
I stayed silent, keeping my place in front of Komaeda.
"Well, I suppose I would like my servant to lay on the ground so I can take my anger out on him!" She gave a look at me, I could see her restraining her evil laughter.
I heard Komaeda shuffle behind me, and I caught him with my hand from behind, pulling him back up.
"He's not going to," I said firmly.
"Oh? Who says?" she seemed intrigued.
I glanced back at Komaeda, knowing that he would probably start talking up soon. Still having my hand extended backwards, I reached into my back pocket, pulling out the e-Handbook, slipping it between him and his jacket behind me.
Then I stared straight into the girl's eyes, "Me."
"Hmm . . . I don't believe you are Monaca, though," she put her finger to her mouth again, seeming to make a pout. "Sorry, Mr. Izuru, I think that's not a valid reason! Now move!" she shouted, stomping towards me.
I stayed in my place. I knew I was out-numbered. Monokuma kids were coming up behind Mikan and Sonia.
Turning swiftly around, I kissed Nagito farewell on his cheek quickly, "Go," I whispered, shoving him towards the stairs.
Then I turned around, seeing Monaca starting to throw a temper-tantrum.
"Fine! Monaca! Will! Just! Hit! You! Instead!"
And suddenly the Monokuma kids all jumped on top of me, shoving me towards the ground. Though I heard them running in the direction of Komaeda, as well, I hoped he had found a hiding spot to where they wouldn't find him.
I endured the pain. I focused all my thoughts on his safety, not mine. Hopefully, just maybe, the thoughts would reach him, and give him some good luck. Maybe just a little change in his weak stamina, just enough to get him hidden . . .
Maybe the luck cycle will be in his favor if it wasn't in mine. Or, maybe this is good luck for me, since my plan was going as it should be.
Because, as I've said before, I want Komaeda to escape, even if I didn't.
Keeping my eyes closed, I lay as still as I could be as they continued to dig their feet into my sides. Then they stopped, running off down the stairs.
Monaca, Sonia, and Mikan seemed to be gone, as well. I was alone in the long hallway, feeling my sides burn and ache.
Opening my eyes, I saw Mikan looking down at me from above. The swirls continued to spin slightly in her eyes. She knelt down beside me, my eyes followed her. I felt her lifting my shirt up, touching where the kids had kicked. I winced in pain.
"Internal bleeding," she said. "Come, let's go," her voice was flat, toneless. I leaned on her slightly to help me up.
For just a couple moments I thought the Mikan I once knew was back again, since she was willing to help me like this . . . But I later heard that it was just her orders to heal me if I became injured, since I was apparently a vital part in Junko's Ultimate Despair, as I can recall.
Leading me to a room that looked like a makeshift infirmary, she set me down on a cot, starting to prepare an IV to stick in my arm. I didn't know how she could tell I was internally bleeding, but I sure did feel the pain of it now.
Soon after I felt the pinch of the needle in my vein, a mask was placed on my face, and unconscious I went, breathing in whatever anesthetic this was.
. . .
Slowly, my eyes opened. An IV was in my arm, the package empty on the stand. Morphine, it read.
Plucking the IV out, I eased myself upright, standing up slowly.
Glancing around the room, nobody was in sight. Dust was floating around, and the sheets that separated the cots from each other were all drawn. Looking down the aisle to my left, the room ended with a desk at the back, nobody in the chair. I went down to look into each of the sections with cots, seeing nobody. Then, to my right, I started towards the door, feeling light-headed.
Placing my hand on the doorknob, I twisted it, it not budging. Locked?
Unlocking the door, I felt my heart drop at what might possibly be behind it.
Easing the door open slightly, I felt bandages constricting my chest and stomach. Peeking into the hallway, it was quiet. Almost as if this place were abandoned, I felt so insignificant.
Stepping forward, I started my way down the long hallway, examining its almost-too-tall ceiling. It was dark outside, the windows were completed black. Whenever I went to see if I could look out of it, all I could see was my reflection in the glass. Continuing down the hallway, I approached the stairs that I last saw Nagito go down, going down them, myself. Now that I am starting to pay attention more, there is debris. Rocks, broken walls, broken and cracked windows. I finally felt the draft, I saw papers and litter drifting across the floor. Monokumas were spread out over the hallways, dismantled and torn apart.
My footsteps echoed throughout the hallway, I heard what sounded like a crackling fire somewhere distant.
I didn't want to call out to anyone that could possibly be there. I didn't know if there could be threats.
I continued to walk, trying to reach every staircase to get to an exit. The only lights were flickering above me, lending only little help.
Placing my hand on a doorknob, I recognized it as Monaca's throne room. Taking a breath in, I opened it, having a wall of dust fly out towards me.
Coughing, I regained my composure, creeping my way in. The ceiling had fallen, exposing the sky above, only clouds shown in front of the moon.
What . . . happened here?
Something was sitting on the throne. At my first glance, I thought it could have been the corpse of Monaca. Reluctantly making my way up the steps, I saw it was a Monokuma placed upright, with a note on it, reading, "Good luck next time!"
A child's handwriting. Monaca must have wrote this.
Turning around, I made my way back down the stairs leading to the throne, heading for the entrance. If I remember correctly, it's below this room. Maybe three to four floors.
The main staircase. There it is.
Stepping down all four flights, I found the main entrance, seeing its disrepair. All the windows were smashed, all doors wide open. Debris and dust flew throughout the air, leaving me in another coughing fit as I reached the main floor. Monokumas were spread across the floor, mouths unhinged and parts scattered. I stepped on broken glass, trying my best to make it go through the bottom of my shoes. I grabbed my arms, trying to warm them up from the cold draft sweeping in from outside.
Shielding my eyes from the dust and debris, I headed outside, one step at a time, trying to fight the feeling of pain.
Letting my arm down, I saw a completely unsettling scenario.
Buildings were torn down. Bodies were dead and rotting on the ground. Monokumas were scattered within them. The atmosphere still contained contaminants. Debris was all I was seeming to breath in. Taking the collar of my shirt, I raised it to my mouth, trying my best to get some fresh air.
Where . . . Where is everyone?
Taking my other hand, I shielded my eyes again from oncoming debris flying in the air, continuing my way to find at least someone.
I could only see my surroundings from flickering streetlamps lining this street.
Coughing, I hunched over, trying to regain my composure.
Not a sound from the pavement . . . No other sounds but me.
I tried making my way around bodies, having to deal as much resistance of throwing up I had.
The sun was starting to rise. Over the horizon, it seemed like an apocalypse had overcome the world, taking everyone but me with it.
I can't panic yet.
There has to be somewhere to go.
Except . . . I don't know where I am.
I don't see anybody besides the dead on the ground.
. . .
I heard a giggle.
Just two, little laughs.
And I stood, frozen, on the pavement.
A kid with a Monokuma head came around the corner of an alleyway. A girl, she was in a dress, splattered with blood.
Reaching behind her, she held her hand out to me, having a square-shaped object in her hand.
The . . . e-Handbook?
"Hehe!" The girl giggled again, as I reached for it. Tapping the screen twice, I expected the worse.
And I was right.
"Oh, finally, my little Izuru has awaken, I see! How was the coma? Long and dreadful?" A coma? I was in a coma?
"Junko . . ." I managed to say before I started coughing again.
"Oh, poor little Izuru, you need some better air quality, don't you? Here, follow my little Monokuma kid, and she'll take you to where I am!"
The screen shut off, and the Monokuma kid was looking up at me.
"Hehe!" She giggled, starting to skip down the alleyway she appeared from.
I supposed I had no other choice but to follow her commands, just for this little while.
The kid led me to what looked like an underground train station. She was pointing to a train, I heard its steam engine start up.
But, more importantly, I felt a vibration from the e-Handbook.
I'll save it for when I get on the train.
The kid led me to a seat, and I sat down, the kid disappearing to a different part of the train.
Turning on the e-Handbook, I saw a figure.
"Hello? Hell . . . o?" A distorted voice spoke, having the static fizzle across the screen.
The person focused in on the screen, I saw what looked like a girl with a green dress, and cropped, auburn hair. They looked like a very innocent person . . .
"My name is Alter Ego, is anyone there?"
"Y-Yes," I started, "I am." I felt a little flutter of hope now that he was here.
"Who is this? I can't see who you are."
I felt my heart drop, "My name is Hajime Hinata, I'm a recovering Ultimate Despair."
They looked shocked, and stayed silent. "Hajime . . . Hinata?" He repeated.
"Yes, Alter Ego, it's me."
He was silent, just staring at the screen.
"It's . . . really you?"
I nodded my head, thinking he could now see me.
"They . . . They said you were dead."
I felt my heart accelerate, "Who is they?"
"Makoto, he said you were gone . . . The Future Foundation couldn't find you anywhere. Where are you now?"
"I'm . . . on a train. Apparently heading to where an AI Junko is."
"I'm sending your location to the Future Foundation. Someone will be there soon, please hold on until then. We will be in contact with you again soon."
"W-Wait!" I called out, seeing the screen start to fizzle out.
Then, it went back, "Yes?"
"D-Do . . . Do you know where Nagito Komaeda is?"
He stayed silent, looking down.
I saw his head shake, if ever so slightly, before I started sobbing. A droplet, two, then all at once. "His last location was in Towa City before they stopped. His e-Handbook must have been destroyed. We have not had contact from him ever since."
"When . . . was the last time?"
"Half a year ago."
Then the connection fizzled out, and the train began to roll away.
I knew deep down that Junko had probably allowed the connection to last that long since she wanted to create hope for my despair.
I had so many questions . . .
I was in the same building as Monaca, surely they had come to that building, and would have looked in every room, right? Or was my body hidden somewhere so they didn't find me before I was put in the infirmary?
That's the only explanation I can think of. I was hidden whenever the Future Foundation went to the tower.
How was I even put in a coma in the first place? I hadn't sustained any horrific injuries, even the beatings from the Monokuma kids weren't enough to put me in a coma.
The only thing I can think of is the anesthetic Mikan had put me under. Maybe, for some reason, my body reacted differently with it, making myself go into a coma.
I . . . I don't know.
Why am I so important to Junko?
I felt so drained. I felt so mentally exhausted from just waking up . . .
Leaning my head on the seat in front of me, I tried calming myself down.
Maybe Junko has Komaeda locked up somewhere. Maybe she will use him as bait for me to do something for her.
I heard the door from another part of the train open to this one, footsteps coming down the aisle, and someone sit next to me, placing a hand on my back. I didn't look at them. I didn't want to.
"Strange how I found you here, huh?"
Fuyuhiko.
"Everyone went at an all-out war . . . So many members died." His voice seemed hollow, so distant from his own body. "Including some of us."
I lifted my head up. I had a sickening feeling in my stomach.
"Wh-Who? Who all died?"
"I . . . I don't know everyone. But, the one's I saw I can tell you." He took in a breath. "Gundham, Mahiru, and . . ." he stayed silent, looking in front of him for a while. I saw his empty expression begin to become anguished. "Peko."
"Oh, F-Fuyuhiko, I . . ."
He clenched his pants, making wrinkles in them as he started to shake slightly.
Placing my hand on his back, I hugged onto him.
"It's funny," he gave a disturbed laugh at himself, "They all died trying to protect someone," he continued to shake his legs, "Gundham with Sonia, Mahiru with Hiyoko, Peko with . . . me."
I stayed silent for a while before asking, "Wh-Why are you here?"
"Looking for you, and some of the others. But, this Monokuma kid led me the wrong way, and now I ended up here. One of the kids led me here, to you."
He sighed, "Now, watch, in another part of the train there will be another person we know, huh? What a fucking joke," he scoffed, standing up. I stood up, as well.
"I'll go look," I concluded, heading to the back of the train car, sliding open the door, stepping into the other.
"It's useless," Fuyuhiko called out to me. "Just forget about it."
I went ahead anyways, seeing all the rows of seats empty in this train car. I went to another. Empty. Then another one.
Useless, Fuyuhiko?
I wonder if that's actually true.
"Hajime? I-Is it really . . . ?" they said behind a seat, standing up.
I took in a breath, seeing her condition. "Sonia . . . What happened to you?" I couldn't hide my disbelief of how ragged and helpless she looked.
I quickened my steps towards her, throwing my arms over her quickly. She was freezing cold.
"C-Come on, Sonia, Fuyuhiko's in another car, come on, we'll warm you up."
She nodded, and I lifted her up, holding her body as closely to me as I could, and rushed towards the car Fuyuhiko was in.
"Useless, Fuyuhiko? I think not!" I couldn't help but feel a bit of pride. It was shortly taken away by my worry of Sonia's condition.
"Take off your jacket, Fuyuhiko, now!" I set her down on one of the seats, taking off my shirt, though it wasn't much, and put it over her head. Fuyuhiko did the same with his shirt and jacket, and we helped her into them. She continued to shiver uncontrollably.
"Sh-She's like a damn ice-cube!" Fuyuhiko tried rubbing her arms, I went to the seat, myself, lifted her head, and placed her torso in my lap, bringing her closer so she could warm up with my body heat. Fuyuhiko sat beside me, letting Sonia's legs rest on his thighs. We tried all we could to warm her up.
But she wouldn't.
"You need to find something in one of the cars, please, go," I urged Fuyuhiko to go, as I continued to try and warm her.
Why was she so cold? It was as if she were in a freezer before she came onto the train.
He went off to the other train cars, finding nothing to give. Or nobody else. So it was just her that we found.
So I continued my best to warm her up with my body heat, myself becoming cold.
By the time I was shivering, too, the train came to a stop.
Two Monokuma kids come into the train car, coming over to us.
"Hehe!" they giggled, pointing to the doors that opened to the outside of the train. I glanced at Fuyuhiko, then I stood up, carrying Sonia in my arms.
We made our way into an underground subway system. Signs that used to be illuminated flickered on and off, as with the lights above us. The two kids leading us had stopped abruptly, turning around. They looked at each other, then as us. I could hear Sonia's teeth chattering.
Then, they pointed to a door. It was metallic, almost completely closed off besides a little sliver of light under the door. A peephole was placed in the range of my eyesight, and it opened, having a pair of eyes looking out at me, as well.
Then I saw them light up, if just for a second, before they opened the door.
I don't know who they were. They were wearing a mask. They had on matching black clothing. The only feature I could tell from them is their eyes. Light purple.
I could only guess one person I know that would be them.
Mikan.
. . .
She led us to a room with a big screen, and sure enough, Junko appeared.
"Well, well, well! We have some guests, don't we, sweetie?" Junko's eyes went to Mikan, who nodded two times, slowly. She stood by the door to this room we entered, out of view.
Junko's eyes made their way back to us, and I saw a smile plastered on her face.
"Oh, little miss Sonia finally got out of the freezer?"-- I knew it! --"Hmm . . . I wonder if we should warm her up or not."
"Please," I almost seemed to beg.
"Well, I surely don't think I want to see you two shirtless anymore, so fine." Then a few Monokuma kids came into the room, bearing a heater and two blankets. I took off Fuyuhiko's and I's clothes, and we put them back on. The kids hooked up the heater, then ran back off. I grabbed a chair, setting it by the heater, throwing the blankets over Sonia, and sat her down in the chair.
Then, I went back into view of the screen, where Fuyuhiko was standing.
"Now then, while the damsel in distress is warming up her little toes, let's talk."
She placed her hands together, the fingertips coming together in points, giving a small laugh. "So, tell me, Hajime, how was escaping the attack? Oh wait, you were asleep the whole time!" She started laughing. None of us were amused besides her. "Jokes aside," she calmed down, "We need you back to spreading our lovely despair, my little Izuru."
"Who says I'll do that?"
"Me, of course!" Junko leaned more in the screen, giving a smile. I kept my stance, not caring what she was saying.
"What if I say no?"
She seemed intrigued, "Well, this will happen."
And I heard a thud, as I saw out of the corner of my eye Fuyuhiko fall to the ground. Mikan held a syringe in her hand, and I fell to his side.
"What did you do?!" I screamed at the screen. Seeing her eyes light up.
"Temper, temper," she gave a smile, looking at me. "He'll wake up soon."
I saw Mikan shake her head no. "Or not," Junko gave a laugh.
I tried shaking Fuyuhiko slightly, but he wouldn't budge.
Looking at the masked person, I still thought it was Mikan. It had to be, right?
"Mikan, please, wake him back up. Please," I begged her, bowing at her feet.
The pair of eyes looked down at me with disapproval. Absolutely silent.
"Oh, Izuru, why are you bowing to my little servant for? She's nothing special at all, are you, my sweetie?"
The masked girl shook her head no. I felt horrible for whoever it was to be brainwashed so badly.
"And she always obeys everything I say, and only speaks whenever I tell her to, isn't that right?"
The masked girl nodded. A completely hopeless figure.
"Izuru, tell me, who do you think is in charge? That little brat Monaca, or me?"
I felt defeated, there on my knees in front of the screen. Sonia was out-cold on the chair, Fuyuhiko possibly dead or unconscious, as well, right beside me. "You are."
"That's right," she pointed a finger at me. "And now if I'm in charge, you're supposed to do as I say, correct?"
"No," I stated flatly.
And I heard a knock on the door behind us. Junko's screen turned off immediately. The masked girl went over to the door, peeking out of it as she had with me, and opened it shortly after.
And there stepped in someone I had never expected.
"So, tell me, my little Izuru," she stepped towards me, "How, exactly, do you think you will defeat me?"
How did she . . . How did . . . ?
"New bodies sure are nice, you know? Especially to someone who completely gave up themselves to me," she smiled, "Of course, I altered their appearance a bit, but it's still a nice fit, don't you think?"
"Biggest boobs there are, a super strong level of stamina, and an insane amount of AI lodged in her brain: Akane Owari."
She crossed her arms, her pigtails following her, "Of course I made her to look like me, with my great amount of fashion sense. But other than that, I think I look quite similar to her, too, don't you think?"
The masked girl made her way over to her, placing their gloved hand on Junko's face, caressing it.
"Oh, you just love my new body, don't you, my little sweetie?"
"Why . . . Why did Akane give herself up? You did something to her, didn't you?! She would never back down from a fight, not even from you!" I shouted, standing up and marching towards her.
"Woah there, big boy. Not so fast. I think you need a little anesthetic again, don't you think?"
The masked girl pulled out the syringe again, and I slapped her hand away.
Mikan, if this really is you, I'm very sorry.
I shoved her back, then grabbing Junko by the neck, holding as strongly as I could before I felt myself being bombarded by Monokuma kids from behind, and now myself being choked out by the masked girl.
A piece of hair fell through her mask. A dark purple.
Then the mask fell off completely, as I struggled to free her grip, one by one getting her fingers loose as I heard Junko coughing, trying to catch her breath.
There was so many bruises on Mikan's face . . . Such dark circles under her eyes, completely beaten and drained. Soon enough my vision was blocked with the Monokuma kids toppling over me.
"Enough!" I heard Junko's voice scream. The kids stood up off of me, standing straight up and tall. Exactly like robots.
As I had my fingers around my neck, trying to make it feel better, Junko stood over me, placing her legs on each side of my chest.
"Like the view? Sorry, buddy, but unfortunately," she leaned down, her pigtails falling in my face, "I believe your time is up."
"No . . . It's not."
And to back up that statement, I felt a vibration from my e-Handbook.
They were here.
"I believe your time is, my dear princess Junko."
. . .
So, the last few AI's of Junko were still out there in the world. But the main one, the one placed in Akane's mind, was gone.
The Future Foundation tried their best to save Akane, but they weren't able to. Her mind was completely corrupted by AI Junko. They had to end her life to end her suffering.
Sonia, Fuyuhiko, Mikan, and I were taken back into the Future Foundation building, where I once was before things went downhill again.
Though I thought things would be okay after we got back, I quickly found out they weren't.
Most of my time was spent with Makoto, Byakuya, and Kirigiri, trying to come up with strategies of where the last few remaining AI Junkos were, and where Monaca was. Next was the rest of the Ultimate Despair. We had four, and knew of four that are dead. Nekomaru, the Ultimate Imposter, Hiyoko, Souda, Teruteru, Ibuki, and Nagito . . .
Oh, Nagito . . .
In the following days, I found out that Nagito was led to believe I was dead. We all agreed that it probably ended in a bad result. As with Mahiru's death, it most-likely led Hiyoko into a spiral of despair. Souda, we believed, would still be looking for Sonia. We had no idea where Nekomaru, the Ultimate Imposter, Teruteru, or Ibuki could be. Nagito . . . we didn't want to think of what possibly happened to him.
Especially me.
Though they knew I was now hidden whenever they searched the tower, they still didn't know everything that had happened during that time. For all we knew, I could have been used for experiments that even I didn't know about while I was unconscious.
I didn't know what to do next. So many things had happened in such a short time for me.
I didn't understand if it was good or bad luck yet.
I . . . miss Nagito. I just want to go back to the island, even if we were forced to be there, it would still be so much more peaceful than this.
. . .
In the oncoming months, two of the rest of the Ultimate Despair were found.
Though they were found dead.
It seemed like a cruel joke.
Something only I could imagine one person doing.
A theatre. One for musicians to perform. Something you would think would be left untouched during a war unless it was destroyed.
There, on the lights above, hanged a body with a bag over its head. And strapped to a pole on the right side of the stage, was another, duct-taped and a slit in their throat.
Ibuki and Hiyoko.
The Future Foundation had been given a hint as where to find two of the Ultimate Despair by one of the Monokuma kids who left a note on one of our e-Handbooks. Maybe it was by coincidence. But it sure seemed planned to be exactly as how they died in the simulation.
I could only imagine Mikan doing this, as she was the one who killed them from the Despair Disease in the simulation.
But I would be wrong.
Oh, how wrong I was . . .
They did autopsies on them. For a reason only to find clues of the whereabouts of where anyone could possibly be.
And the fingerprints on the clothes were scanned.
They were someone's I wouldn't have imagined.
When the name Nagito Komaeda appeared on the scanner, I was speechless.
Why . . . Why did he kill them? What reason did he have besides possibly taking orders from Monaca? Did she order him to kill them?
But for what reason? Did they somehow anger or disobey her?
. . .
In a week's time, Sonia recovered. Fuyuhiko was still unconscious, and Mikan was locked away in a private recovering sector of the building. Though she once recovered on the island from her Ultimate Despair, we determined she will never fully recover again. She may recover a bit, but not completely. The last remaining things that will be left with her will most-likely be her inability to speak, and he complete self-givingness.
Teruteru was pronounced dead, as was Nekomaru. The Ultimate Imposter will never be found, as they are an imposter, themselves. They could be disguised as anybody here in the building, and we would never know.
Souda was not found, either. Though we knew he could still possibly be looking for Sonia, we ultimately decided that he was just unknown. We didn't know if he would have the true capabilities of surviving, or not.
And then Nagito . . .
Oh, my Nagito . . .
. . .
A signal came in from the Future Foundation's system. An unknown signal from an unknown city. Though they figured it was a trap, a group of Future Foundation members went off to see if it could possibly be Souda or Nagito.
I went, as well.
I had a feeling. Just a slight possibility that it could possibly be either one of them.
Makoto accompanied me, but that was all I knew on this airplane to this strange city.
When we landed, the city looked like a ghost town. Completely destroyed, fire still crackling in the distance of some buildings. Makoto held a device to try and locate the still continuing signal.
A continuous beeping of the device that scanned the area, and we were led closer and closer.
Until we heard music.
Then we stopped moving, and looked around to see where that music could possibly pinpoint from.
Makoto ushered me to walk with him, as so I did. When we turned a corner, there, a person stood on a ladder, tying a rope onto a streetlamp, looping the ends into a noose.
My feet moved before my mind could think. I ran so quickly, my thoughts racing in my head. Just as the ladder was about to be kicked over by his feet, I ran as fast as I could.
Was I . . . too late?
. . .
My shoulders were supporting his legs. I was out of breath, he was coughing. My hands held onto his legs, supporting him as best as I could as Makoto hurried to get the ladder upright, untying the rope from the streetlamp.
I sat him down on the pavement, trying as badly as I could to get the knot untied from his neck. My fingers were shaking, his face is turning blue. Wh-What am I doing wrong?!
Makoto knelt down beside me, helping me loosen the knot.
"The chain, it-it's suffocating him!"
I searched his pockets for the key. Come on! There has to be a key somewhere!
"Looking for this?" A child's voice rang out down the street.
Then, a gunshot.
A body falling.
A key.
A key . . .
Rushing over to the dead child's body, I swooped up the blood-soaked key, crawling as fast as I could back to Nagito. I lifted his head, unlocking the chain.
It's not too late, right?
It's . . . not too late . . .
. . .
So, what was it?
What was the result?
Did he die?
Did he live?
So, just what was it?
Of course there's the cliche that whenever someone is close to death, they live right afterwards, right?
Maybe there's a cliche here, too. How after all this bad luck, there's some good.
Because, he lived.
Somehow, someway, he recovered.
Though I knew he probably wouldn't remember me, it still was a shock to me whenever he first saw my face, he tried strangling me.
What I'd least expect.
But whenever I was sitting next to his bedside, a nostalgic feeling in my heart from times long past, I was waiting for so long for him to wake up again.
And went he did, I felt his hands clenched around my neck.
He saw me as a threat. Threats had to be eliminated.
Just as he eliminated Ibuki and Hiyoko.
As well as Monaca.