Second Chance

Remember Every Scar: The Ultimate Singer Returns!

((AN:Thanks so much to my amazing friend, TheSaiyanJedi5 for the song and ideas for this chapter!  *gives him all the hope bagels* Thank you so much! Top song: Remember Every Scar by Escape The Fate. It describes Akemi's feelings this chapter. Enjoy! :)))

((Akemi's POV))

I groaned softly as I woke up. The last thing I remembered was seeing Chiaki and being bathed in a white light. But where am I now? I thought. Is it like Chiaki said? Am I really...in the past? I looked around and gasped as I noticed something. A picture on the side-table. The one of my older brother and I shortly after I got accepted into Hope's Peak. It was then that I realized where I was. My room. I checked the date and gasped. It was the day I went to Hope's Peak! "Whoa...This is...so weird..." I whispered to myself. Suddenly, there was a knock on my door. From the other side came a familiar voice.

"Hey, Emi! You up and ready for your first day?" I recognized that voice anywhere. It belonged to my older brother, Tio. I gasped. I really am in the past! I thought happily. I opened the door and hugged my brother tightly, sobbing. "Tio!!!!" He was caught by surprise by my sudden actions and hugged back just as tightly, if not tighter. "Akemi? What's wrong?" he asked.  I sobbed more, missing my brother's hugs and his warmth. "I...I missed you so much!!!" I said.  Tio frowned and looked at me, confused. "Emi, that's crazy...Because...it's only been a night, right?" I looked up at him. "It has, but...It feels...like longer to me." Tio frowned more. "Longer?" 

Oh that's right, I thought sadly. Since I went back in time, Tio has no idea that I've already been to Hope's Peak or that I died... "I...I can't explain," I said, dropping the subject. "But...if something is bothering you," Tio said, frowning. "You have me to talk to..."  I sighed and looked down. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. You'd tell me I was crazy." He folded his arms in his usual way.  "Try me..." he said. "You know I'm here to help you if you're hurting." I nodded. That much was true when he offered to become my bodyguard for annoying fans. I took a deep breath and let it out. I knew he needed to know. "What if I told you that...Hypothetically...I told you that I came back from...the Afterlife...in the future...to the past? And that in that future, I'm dead...Due to suicide. And that's why...I was crying earlier..." 

Tio frowned and thought about what I said a while. "Hypothetical? I would say that's nothing short of a miracle," he said. I smiled sadly. I knew this would happen. "...I see..." I said. "Emi...Is what you said not hypothetical?" Tio asked. I shook my head. As much as he needed to know, as much as I wanted to tell him, I couldn't bring myself to tell him. "No...Purely hypothetical," I replied, smiling. Judging from his look, I could tell he knew I was hiding something, but that he decided not to press on the subject. "Okay...Ready to go?" I smiled and nodded. "You bet!" Tio smiled also. "Okay then...Let's get going!" 

I nodded and followed him, climbing into the sidecar like I usually did. Tio smiled also and started the motorcycle. And then...we were off. I was heading back into the hell I'd placed myself in before. Only difference is...This time, I could change everything. But at what cost? I looked at my brother, who was still smiling. It was then that I remembered Chiaki's words to me before. Tio...doesn't know who Chiaki is...Or that he...proposed to her... I thought sadly. Will they find each other again? Or will they never meet...because of my meddling? My heart fell into my stomach. I felt guilty. Sure Chiaki said love will find a way for them, but...How? How will they if I change everything?

I pulled myself out of my reverie long enough to notice the frown on my brother's face. He was lost in thought, and it looked like something was bothering him. "Big brother? What's wrong?" I asked. Tio sighed heavily. "I...don't know why, but...something feels off about today," he replied, his voice shaking with worry. "I should be eager for you to enter those gates, but...for some reason, it's making me nervous. I'm not sure why..." I smiled. "I know...I'm scared too. But...This is something...that I have to do." Tio's next words shook me. "And what's that?"

I gasped. I'd tried telling him before, but couldn't bring myself to explain that I was dead. How would I be able to do it now. I lowered my head, crying. "I...I can't tell you. You wouldn't believe me anyway...You wouldn't understand..." I said. He frowned. "Please...Tell me what's bothering you," he begged. "I'll listen if what's hurting you is that bad...I'm your older brother. You can tell me anything. I'm here to listen." I sighed. "Remember what I told you earlier?" Tio nodded. "The hypothetical question?" I nodded. "I-it's..." I struggled to tell him the truth. I was torn. I knew he needed to know, but was scared he'd be broken if I told him. Tio knew where this was going and finished what I was going to say. "...Real?"  I nodded, crying. "I...I went to Hope's Peak Academy already and...I died there...I never made it home," I explained. 

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH! The tires on the motorcycle ground against the pavement as they skid to a stop. My brother had stopped the bike. He had his head lowered. I could tell that what I said had gotten to him greatly. But I knew I had to continue. "Tio, what are you doing?" I asked. I got close enough to him and gasped. Tears were evident down his face. He was crying. "Tio..." I said softly. "I...I don't know why,but...I believe you," he said through his sobs. "You've never lied to me before...So why start now?" I hugged him. "I'm sorry I had to tell you, but..." Tio interrupted me. "But? But what, Akemi?! If we turn back now, you can live! We can change this!" he said. I could tell by the tone of his voice. He was desperate. He didn't want me to go to Hope's Peak after hearing my words. He wanted me to live. Poor Tio, I thought. He must've harbored as much regret as I did in the future... 

Before I knew it, I was crying. "I can't..." I said. Tio cried more. "Why?" he said, the pain evident in his voice. I shouted my response. "BECAUSE IF I GO HOME NOW, MONDO WILL DIE!!!!!" I yelled. Tio gasped. "Mondo?" I nodded and told him everything about Mondo and I from the past. Including the fact that he'd promised to marry me. "...So you see? If I don't do this, they'll all die," I said. "Mondo, Chihiro, Taka, Sayaka, Mukuro (AN:Chiaki told her the truth about Junko before she faded away.), Leon, all of them!" Tio nodded. "Okay, but I'm coming with you! I'm not-!" I shook my head, interrupting him. "No...If you go with me...You'll never meet her," I said. Tio raised an eyebrow in confusion and interest. "Her? Who?" "Chiaki Nanami," I replied. "She's...someone you'll love more than anything in the world. Please...You have to trust me..." 

Tio sighed, then nodded as he started the bike up again, driving it to Hope's Peak as fast as he could. "Okay...I trust you," he said. I smiled. I knew I could count on him! I hugged him close. "Don't worry...I'll make it out alive this time," I said. "With Mondo and the rest of my friends." He nodded. "If you know what happened in the future then...What happened to me?" he asked. "You were in Monokuma's Killing Game as well. Then you met up with Makoto and the others somehow and decided to help them," I replied. He nodded and stopped the bike at the academy's gates. "Akemi...What happened to Chiaki?" he asked. I sighed. "That I don't know..." I said honestly. "She never told me." 

Tio nodded. "Okay. You need to get going if you're gonna save your friends. Good luck...Akemi!" he said as he started the bike up again. I nodded and hugged him one last time as I got out of the sidecar. "I love you, Tio..." I said, just in case I couldn't make it out alive. He smiled and hugged me back. "I love you too, Emi. Now go!" he said. I nodded and went inside the school. As I did so, I remembered Daiya and the others telling me to push forward, despite the pain I'd been through. And that they'd all be fine, and would be able to carry on. 

I'm gonna carry my heartbreak from before with me, I thought as I walked to the Gym. And use it to get through this. And no matter what...I won't let Monokuma have his way!!!!! With my hope ablaze, I charged into the Gym. It would be hard, but I knew I had to remember every scar from my past. It's what makes me who I am...And I can use it to save everyone! I have to! 

To be continued...!

Next time: Premonitions from the future! Heed Akemi's warnings!