Our Hope

Chapter 21

Monitoring the group left a sour taste in everyone's mouth; it felt as if they were the mastermind behind the cameras. Kyoko and Makoto made sure that the AI programming ran smoothly while Byakuya continuously turned around to glance at Karen. Hours had passed at this point with no sign of improvement in her condition. He knew that calling headquarters for a doctor wasn't an option, making watching over her more infuriating. 'I wouldn't want to interfere with his work'; the relayed message replayed through his thoughts. "Idiot," Byakuya muttered, catching the attention of Naegi.

"Who is?" Naegi turned back to where Karen lay still. Byakuya didn't answer him; the usual response. "She saved your life. She pulled herself out of Enoshima's grip and lived," Hesitant, Naegi rested a hand on Byakuya's shoulder.

A rasping cough pulled the group away from the controls and to Karen's side. Tears had been trickling down her face, but her eyes weren't open. Byakuya knelt beside her, "Karen, can you hear me?" Thinking she had woken up, it pained him to see no response. The coughing persisted, more tears fell, and her body twitched occasionally.

"She must be having a traumatic nightmare," Kyoko leaned closer to Karen's mouth, listening. "She isn't speaking but her movements suggest fear". She turned back to the control panel and monitors.

Byakuya left Naegi and Kirigiri to monitor while he stayed by Karen's side. He kissed her forehead, held her hands, and spoke to her in hopes that it would bring her back. He only turned back to the two when Makoto muttered profanity followed by furious typing. "What's going on?" Unmistakable laughter filled the air; Monokuma sat before the 77th class, gathered in the central park. A fearful grip around his hand tore Byakuya's eyes from the screen; Karen's eyes were wide open, staring at the monitor.

I looked frantically around the room; monitors covered every wall, a large glass panel separated this room from the neighboring one, and I was surrounded by Byakuya, Makoto, and Kyoko. "What the hell is going on? Where are we?" I pushed hands away, pushing myself up. My eyes burned from the scorching pain engulfing my body. My arms were covered in cuts and dried blood. Then it clicked; the explosion, the Monokumas, and Byakuya yelling at me to open the door. I closed my eyes, "I'm sorry". Arms wrapped around me, pulling me tightly against his body.

"You're an idiot," His voice was weak. "I started to doubt your intelligence from how recklessly you handled the situation". Something wet dripped down my shoulder; Byakuya buried a hand into my hair. When he hesitantly pulled away, he removed his glasses to wipe the lenses; I caught the gleam of tear streaks along his cheeks. "How are you feeling?"

'Back to business,' I thought. "Sore, bruised, a bit uneasy from the explosion, but I'm capable of helping," No pain could stop me from smiling at him. "What's the situation, Naegi?"

I stared at the bedchambers, "So you're telling me that Nagito saved me?" I remember what he turned into, how Junko had destroyed the boy I knew before. It didn't make sense; if he had fallen to despair, why save me?

"There must have remained a piece of your hope in him," Byakuya seemed disgusted by those words. I tried to contain my amused grin as he narrowed his eyes. "Why do you find that amusing?"

"I don't find his intentions amusing. I find your obvious jealousy amusing".

"I would never by 'jealous' of someone who fell into the hands of..." He stopped abruptly, glancing towards me. "I didn't intend to sound..." The room fell into uncomfortable silence.

"Of course, you wouldn't. I knew Nagito before Enoshima's reign and I fell into her hands just like they did," I crossed my arms, leaning against the wall. "She was a virus and I'm thankful to be rid of her". Virus. I looked up at the monitors. Virus. "Naegi, a virus. Enoshima created a program and hacked into the simulation". Yelling resounded over the speakers; the building the group was in had gone dark. When the lights came back on, screaming soon ensued as the Ultimate Imposter's body was discovered.