Split in two (Danagronpa AU -Editing)

Motive

⸻

Makoto jolted awake.

Gym. Explosion. Kidnapping.

He sat up fast, breath tight in his chest. A shaky hand ran through his hair, trying to soothe the pounding in his skull.

"Well... that was anticlimactic."

The words left his mouth flat, automatic—then he paused.
It had been a while since he was the one using a physical voice.

The room was unfamiliar. A blood-red wall loomed beside him, pressing in like a warning—or maybe a reminder. There was a desk. A locked drawer. And a single key placed neatly on the nightstand, like a gift from the devil himself.

"Real subtle, Monokuma."

He picked up the key. Cold. Metal. But surprisingly light, like it might snap if he squeezed too hard. There was something unsettling about the way the room tried to mimic privacy—like a prison cell trying to be a dorm.

"Might as well open it," he muttered. He tried to laugh. It came out hollow.

The drawer creaked open. Inside sat a small notepad in his handwriting.

But... he'd never been here before. How could he have written anything?

He reached for it—

bInG bOnG

Monokuma's pixelated face filled the screen. "Everyone, report to the gymnasium! Don't dilly-dally now, or I'll start deducting survival points! Upupupu~!"

Makoto stared at the screen. Any emotion beyond irritation drained from his face.

"Right. Strange murder cult. Kidnapping. All that."

He slammed the drawer shut.

"Let's see how long I can play along."

⸻

The prisoners gathered again. Fifteen students, all varying shades of fear and denial. Makoto stood among them like a chameleon, just another scared freshman. Monokuma perched on stage, stubby legs swinging like this was some kind of school play.

"Upupupu!! Check out the AV room for a special motive! Trust me—it's to die for~!"

Makoto's arm twitched as someone tugged his sleeve. Sayaka.

"We should probably go check that out, right?" she asked, her voice careful.

He forced the smile onto his face. It didn't come naturally anymore.

"Yeah... probably for the best."
His voice sounded off—flat, maybe. But Sayaka didn't seem to notice.

The AV room was cold. Dim. Everything here felt just a bit too empty.

A cardboard box sat in the center of the room. A minefield disguised as office supplies.

Sayaka reached in and held up a tape. "Hey, this one has your name on it."

Scribbled in black marker:

Naegi.

He nodded stiffly, then caught sight of something else in the box. A second tape. One that hadn't been noticed yet.

Labeled in the same hand:

Makoto.

His chest locked up. His stomach twisted. But the smile stayed.

"Oh! Wow, you found it so quickly," he said, voice a notch too high. "We should, uh, tell the others."

He beamed at her until she turned to go.

The smile fell the second her back was turned.

Face blank, eyes narrowed, he grabbed both tapes with trembling fingers—like they were ticking bombs.

He played the first tape.
Home footage.

His mother's soft laughter. Komaru waving excitedly at the camera.
Everything seemed normal. Too normal. That's what was wrong.

He ejected the tape, movements calm. But inside, his thoughts raced.

The second tape—

The door opened. Light from the hallway spilled in. The rest of the class had arrived.