{DISCONTINUED}༄"It takes time, my beloved Mastermind!"﹏(Oumami)

Chapter Six.

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lie
/lī/
noun
an intentionally false statement.

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Shuichi awoke with a start. The place around him was a blinding white. It took him a while to adjust to the light, but when he did, it confused him. He assumed he was in a room, but it seemed more like a box. The walls were a dull white, the ceiling was a dull white, the tiles were a dull white. It would set any claustrophobic person into a panic attack, that's for sure. He looked down to see himself in a hospital gown. He was also on a rather uncomfortable table. But then, he heard a click. He turned his head to see a door he must not have noticed opening.

In came... Kaede? And Tsumugi? And Kirumi? Wait... everyone... He watched as everyone, who he thought were dead, enter the room. Then, they came in. Maki, Kiibo, Himiko, and... Rantaro. Shuichi physically felt his heart stop. He had to place a hand over his heart to regain himself. "Aw... he's speechless..." He heard Kaede's sweet voice fill his head. The voice he never thought he'd hear again. The first friend he made in that horrid place... wasn't gone?

"Kaede...? H-How....? W-We saw you... hanging... and Tsumugi.... t-the shot put ball? A-And Korekiyo! You were boiled alive! H-How...?" He felt tears prick the corners of his eyes. He felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up to face Kiibo. "Rantaro explained everything while you were sleeping. But, I suppose he needs to speak to you now." Shuichi studied Kiibo. His face... wasn't as pale as he remembered. And his skin looked soft. Was he....? "K-Kiibo are...?" Kiibo looked away and nodded. "I am... no longer a robot. Though, I suppose I was never a robot to begin with if what Rantaro said was true..." Then, Rantaro stepped forward and sat next to Shuichi.

"Let's start from the beginning..." Rantaro took a breath. "The killing game wasn't real... it was all a simulation played out by Team Danganronpa. The team I work with. They took all of you and put you in a virtual reality helmet, much like.... Miu's creation..." his eyes then apologetically darted to Miu and Gonta, only to continue, "None of you are actually Ultimates. You're all normal High school kids who were gifted those titles in the simulation. All of what happened in that world was recorded and broadcasted throughout the entire world, for everyone's enjoyment." He paused. "Why would you put us in that simulation?" Shuichi asked, his brow furrowed. "That's the thing. You were all willingly put into the simulation. You see, Danganronpa has been going on for over 50 seasons now, 53 to be exact, and we have grown white the following. So, when we opened up auditions for fans to be in Danganronpa, you all stepped up. You 16 were chosen because of how dedicated you were to Danganronpa. And now, the fifty-third season is over. Because of my stupid ass..." He muttered the last part, only Shuichi seemed to hear it. "Then what about the meteorites and the Despair Disease?" Shuichi asked, intruiged by what Rantaro was saying. "It was all fake. Those "memories" were all fabricated lies that we told you so you wouldn't get suspicious of the outside world." Rantaro sighed heavily. "Which, brings me to something I need to talk to Kokichi about." The leader's head perked up at his name. He seemed to be strangely out of it. He hasn't been energetic or loud lately. Maybe it's because this is all a lot to take in at once. But regardless, he followed Rantaro out of the room.

"Kokichi, um... I'm sorry, I don't know how to break this to you, but..." Rantaro couldn't meet Kokichi's eyes. "Just tell me. Everything already hit me like a god damn brick since I woke up, it's not like this could be much worse." Rantaro pursed his lips. "K-Kokichi um... D.I.C.E.... doesn't exist." Kokichi looked up at Rantaro, his expression turning into that of a saddened one. "It... what...?" Kokichi covered his mouth, biting his lip to keep him from crying. "It... It doesn't exist. You're technically alone... The people you raised like your brothers and sisters... are all just part of the fabricated memories...." Kokichi furrowed his brow. He looked up and shoved Rantaro, the tears flowing. "GOD DAMMIT! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! I WISH I STAYED DEAD! I DON'T EVER WANNA SEE YOUR STUPID FACE EVER AGAIN!" His voice cracked heavily. He then let out an angered breath before turning and going back into the room. Rantaro sighed and turned. He deserved this. This was his fault. He was the reason everyone's lives were going to be horrible.

It doesn't matter. Everyone was okay. They don't need him anymore.

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Kokichi sat in the room and sobbed. All of the things he knew... The only people he trusted... were just part of his head? He felt a gentle hand on his head. He looked up to meet Kaede and Shuichi. By now, Shuichi had changed into slightly comfortable clothes. Kokichi stood up and wrapped his arms around the two, solving into their shoulders. Surprised, they just let Kokichi get it out. Everyone just somberly watched. It was heartbreaking. They heard everything. Kokichi's whole family... The only ones he had... were all fake. That's horrible news that would break anyone, even someone with emotion masking skills like Kokichi.

A while had passed, and Kokichi had calmed down. Now everyone was just quietly murmuring to each other, everyone absorbed in their own world. Tenko was hugging Himiko tightly, Himiko not even pulling away. Angie seemed to be hugging then as well and... singing? Yeah, she was singing. Singing softly. Kiibo and Kaede were comforting Shuichi while the navy haired male examined Kiibo's human body. Korekiyo was in a corner by himself, messing with his hair. Kaito and Maki were tightly embracing each other while Maki sobbed profusely into his shirt, Miu was sitting next to Kirumi while she seemed to be talking to Ryoma. Tsumugi seemed to just be watching.

Kokichi wiped his eyes and stares at his hand. It was a lot to take in. All that happened in the simulation, discovering it was all fake, then discovering that everything he ever cared about was fake too? It was a bit much. A little bit too much. But, his mind lingered. Where had Rantaro gone?

He kept trying to push the thought away, but he couldn't. He knew he hated Rantaro, but...

Silly little school crushes don't blow off easily.

{1108 words. God DAMN. I wrote this so quick it doesn't even feel like I passed the 1000 word count. Anyway, uh. Angst. Yay. Uh. Uhhh. Here

YYeah there's that um-

Later skaters-}