Danganronpa: Song Of Despair

Chapter 6: Class Trial - Part 3

"You mean the teenage fashion model?" Katashi asked, a confused look on his face. "Why would she be important?"

"I found one of her magazines in the restaurant. I don't think it would be there for no reason." I explained. "So I think she has to be important."

"Wasn't she also the ultimate fashionista?" Jikkō said thoughtfully. "A year ahead of us at Hope's Peak if I remember correctly."

I nodded. "Yeah, she was. Katashi, didn't you say Satchiko wrote something about a fashionista?"

Katashi's eyes widened a bit. "Oh yeah, right! But how's she involved?"

Satchiko looked up at him. "Despair... ultimate despair...."

"Shut up Satchiko." Michio snapped. "Don't just give everything away! Do I need to stitch up your mouth?"

Satchiko looked at the mastermind with fear in her eyes. "No... sorry...."

"Don't threaten her!" Katashi yelled at the mastermind. "I won't let you touch her again!"

Michio rolled his eyes. "Whatever, just continue."

"Could Junko have been involved with the tragedy and us being here?" I suggested. "I mean, ultimate despair can't be anything good."

Jikkō nodded. "That could be possible... I looked over those notes again myself and came to the same conclusion. To add to that, there were a few talking about her changing him, so maybe Junko's the real mastermind."

I thought for a moment, then slowly shook my head. "I don't know... she's definitely part of the bigger picture, but I don't think she was ever in the city. I mean, we know for a fact she wasn't controlling Monokuma or anything."

"We haven't seen traces of another person either." Katashi pointed out.

"Maybe..." Mai hesitantly spoke up. "She helped plan it or something?"

"Something like that." Michio said casually.

I looked up at him, confused. "Didn't you say you didn't want to just tell us?"

He shrugged. "Changed my mind. If you don't figure it out this whole thing would be pointless. I'm always carrying the trials anyways so I can't expect you to do it on your own."

I was about to object, but I soon realized he was right. He always was pushing the trial forward- well, him and Jikkō. I guessed he probably didn't want us all executed in one shot.

"So? Explain." Jikkō demanded.

"So pushy." Michio sighed, then straightened up. "Well, long story short, Miss Enoshima's the ultimate despair, she showed me despair, and..." He trailed off, his eyes growing glossy. "Oh, she was so terrible... so evil, so manipulative... I hate her, I hate her for doing this but love her all the same!"

Great, he's going into crazy mode again.

"She had her own killing game with her classmates, she showed me the corpses of the first three victims. They died so brutally, it was wonderful! She lent me resources to make my own game, and convincing Mika was no problem..." Michio laughed a bit. "Mika didn't even get enjoyment from despair, she just wanted to marry me! She was so, so stupid."

Mai stared at him wide-eyed. "Wait, your sister wanted to marry you?! And you agreed?!"

Michio nodded. "I didn't want to, but I needed someone to watch the security cameras and control the bear. I wanted a front row seat to all the despair. This game started after the first class trial of the original game... it should be over by now." He paused for a moment. "Now, I'm going to give you a choice. Execute me and stay here forever, or leave and I get to live."

"Are you serious?" Jikkō asked after a moment. "Of course we're leaving. That's been the objective all along."

"You sure?" Michio said with a smirk. "The world's in ruins you know. It's your stereotypical movie apocalypse. Do you really want to go live in a world like that?"

"Wait... what are you saying?" I asked, "I know you said it was bad, but it can't be that bad."

Michio laughed. "Oh it's terrible alright. It's a world of despair. People are killed everyday. Nowhere is safe... except for here. Do you really want to leave?"

Everyone was silent. I didn't know what to say myself. It may be dangerous, but we couldn't just stay here forever.

After a while, Michio spoke again. "Stay here forever and be safe, or leave into a world of despair. So, what will it be?"