Stories to Change

Story #3: The Demo Game's Truth

When Akamatsu Kaede woke up in a classroom with a cute brown-haired senpai, she didn't expect to be dragged into a killing game. And for her room to be the very first crime scene, where another senpai named Hagakure Yasuhiro was killed, stabbed in the bathroom with a knife.

Of course, it didn't seem good when all three occupants of the bedroom, Kaede, Makoto (the cute senpai from earlier) and Hajime (she was introduced to him later on), were accused of killing him. It was a bad thing, and it definitely didn't mean anything good for them.

Well, that was until a girl who looked around their age spoke up, "I don't think that they're the killers. None of them are."

Kaede had not met her before, so consider her shell-shocked when she heard those words. So were Makoto and Hajime too, since it was clear that they didn't know this girl either.

It was surprising, yet she also felt a bit warm. This girl was defending her despite not knowing her. It was a nice feeling.

So when it was time to investigate, she went up to this girl and offered to team up.

At first, she had seemed mildly surprised. But then, the smile was obvious. As they moved around, they got to know the other better. Apparently, the other girl preferred to be called Ficmata or Fam or Fic, and she was the SHSL Unstable Person. When asked why, she could only sigh and reply that Kaede would know in time. But she had divulged that she loved anime and was part of a lot of fandoms. In fact, she had promised to show Kaede some amazing ones when they got out of here.
Kaede couldn't help but notice the "when" that Ficmata had used, but she didn't feel the need to point it out. After all, it was a sign of optimism and hope beyond their cage.

The investigation didn't change much. She did what she had to do, and then it was time for their very first class trial.

She had to admit that she was nervous, but she knew that she had to do it for their sake. When they got to the trial room, Rantaro, Gonta and Maki sat it out after the avocado-haired male threatened Monokuma with it. Safe to say, she didn't want to see that guy's dark side ever again.

It started off real hot. She had to refute, fight, and keep up her beliefs in everyone so they could get out of this trial alive. She had to save them all.

But then Monokuma announced that this was the end because it was a demo game, which surprised everyone. What was he talking about? He wasn't making any sense at all.

Suddenly, though, a small voice, one she knew very well, called out, "You messed up, Monokuma. You showed who your mastermind was."

All heads swivelled over to the girl who was even shorter than Makoto. She gripped the railings, her grey shirt and black jacket leaning forward. Sweat fell down her head, yet it didn't seem to faze her.

Instead, she looked up, eyes burning in determination, "You make it sound like this is fiction, but I don't believe so. Even in fiction, there is a speck of truth. Of reality."

Her next words would take them all by surprise, even Kokichi.

"After all, I'm not from this world. And by seeing your answer, I know that you're just trying to hide the true mastermind. Am I right..."

Her eyes moved slowly, before they landed on someone, her blue hair nearly reaching the ground.

"Shirogane Tsumugi."

The other's eyes widened, and she began stammering, "W-What are you talking about-"

"In the Original Dimension, you worked with Enoshima Junko to bring the world to despair. I know that for sure. And now, here you are, pretending to be someone you're not. You know more than anyone that you're not plain, and yet you maliciously stay in the shadows, cackling at all their efforts to beat you. I've had enough of that. Why do you think I came down here in the first place? Why do you think I came back to the fictional world even though I had promised my friends that I would only come back once I was mature enough to handle it again? To beat you. I won't let another world fall into the depths of despair. No way."