Truth, Perjury, and Sacrifice

Despair's Legacy

"You can go now," Ouma cut the duct tape and rope that was wrapped around Komaru. "Your brother should be at city hall by now."

"What do you have those machines for? How did you get them?" Komaru asked.

"Don't ask dumb questions! Just go, before the Junko wannabe comes back," Kokichi pushed Komaru's belongings in her hands and pushed her towards the exit. The boy turned his back on Komaru, letting her escape.

"City hall? What's going on?" She threw her bag over her shoulders and started to run. A car pulled up along the road as the window rolled down.

"Komaru! Get in!" Hina said from the driver's side seat, pointing to the back seat.

Once her door was shut, it locked as Hina drove off at full speed. "What's going on?"

"There have been reports of an assassination," Sakura explained.

"She's squabbling up there!" Iruma pointed. "Hurry up, we don't have all night!" She nudged Keebo, who was hooking himself up to the projector as fast as possible. Iruma glanced around, trying to spot Kaede in the crowd, who was fueling the public by asking questions about Junko. "Where's Poo-ichi?" she asked Mimota.

"Hell if I know, probably waiting this shit show out. As soon as Tsumugi started blabbing about Enoshima, he didn't want anything to do with this." Kaito checked the time on his phone, glancing up at the stage and then up at one of the nearby skyscrapers. "Any moment now. Ready?" he nudged Keebo.

Keebo gave a thumbs up, signaling Miu to start the projection. The screen lit up, featuring scenes from the first broadcasted killing game. "Okay, your turn!" Miu punched Kaito on the arm.

"Ugh, right." He rubbed his arm for a moment, then sprinted away. Within a few minutes' time, a silent bullet rang through the air and blood sent the public into chaos.

"Weren't you best friends with Junko?!" A girl yelled out.

"Uh, yes. I was." Karen felt as if her throat was shriveling up.

"How do we know that you're not just trying to replace her?" The girl asked, smiling.

Karen realized she recognized the blonde girl. "My expired relationship with miss Enoshima has not followed me to this podium. My relations with the Ultimate Despair ended when the other survivors and I escaped." Her eyes darted around the crowd members closest to her. Karen couldn't pick out anyone else who she remembered from the photos.

"Then why did you give her a proper burial?"

Karen opened her mouth to speak, but the projector's boot-up sound effects detracted her mind. Junko's laughter filled the air, the last trial from their captivity was being broadcasted once again. Her own dialogue about giving up played, then the scene switched to when she brought a knife to the library. Then when she made a deal with Monokuma. Every mistake she had made was now being sunk into her role as Future Foundation director.

Her back had been turned to the crowd when a collective gasp rang out. Karen turned back to find a flash of red running past her eyes. The red light changed directions and centered itself on Byakuya. She sprung forward, losing a shoe in the process, and launched herself into the light's path. Her arms had wrapped themselves around Byakuya's shoulders, pulling him down with her. Blood seeped onto the pavement below them. Neither Karen nor Byakuya moved as the blood pooled.

Kyoko, Makoto, Toko, Hajime, and Nagito watched the brutal scene unfold before them. The mix of screaming, Junko's laughter replaying on the loudspeaker, and blood splatter transported them back to when this all began. They ran into the chaos, pushing past civilians left and right. "Is Mikan on her way?" Nagito asked, helping Hajime to move Karen and Byakuya. "What do we do?"

Hajime took off his jacket, pressing it against Byakuya's wound. Nagito followed suit.

"What happened!?" Voices called out behind them. Komaru rushed up to Makoto and Toko, seeing the scene unfolding before them. "Oh my god!" her hands flew up to cover her mouth.

"We need to get them somewhere safe!" Kyoko announced. Sakura gently lifted Karen and Nekomaru lifted Byakuya. "Take them back to the Future Foundation office." Kyoko ran back to her car, leading the line of vehicles.