as plain as plain can be.

✂ — If there was something she’d learnt from her previous encounters with Danganronpa characters, it was that she might benefit from a more... tactful approach. Even so, seeing Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer, in front of her... This seriously was like a dream come true!

Determined to make a more favourable first impression this time, she allowed herself a moment to turn away and squeal before casually walking up to the other.

✂ — “J-J-Junko-sama?!” 

Without as much as a warning, Tsumugi rushed up to the fashionista, making no attempt to hide her fanatic reaction. Was it really Junko Enoshima?! No, there was no doubt about it. This was definitely Junko Enoshima! She was right here, in front of Tsumugi’s very own eyes! This was no mere imitation or cosplay!

     Of course she’s not happy to see her, especially considering everything she’s done to them. While she might want the cosplayer dead for all that she’s done, she’s not so much of an idiot to act in board daylight. She’s not even sure of why she’s bothering to listen to her, but then again, she asked her first. It would be rude of her not to, even if she can see through the lies of her. Maki’s not even surprised that she’s acting the way she is now, even if she’s aware of the true nature of the other girl.

     “Why would I want to be friends with someone like you? Someone that we thought we could trust but was really the one manipulating us all.” If she’s trying to be funny, it’s a poor attempt at humor for sure. “It doesn’t matter how I’m alive, you have your suspicions anyways, so you probably have an idea of why I’m alive.” Kiibo purposely sparred her, Saihara and Yumeno, but she doesn’t need to tell her that. “True, there might be no way of knowing, but you’re not in control here like with the killing game. You’re just a resident here like the rest of us.”

✂ — Although the former part of Harukawa’s words seemed to be the most biting, it was the latter that actually got to her a bit. Not that she would admit that. To show weakness to an assassin— no, even to show weakness to herself... She wouldn’t allow that to happen. She'd continue to lie to herself, grasping at every possible lie to fake some sort of control over this situation, almost as if it were a survival instinct formed over the years. Displaying vulnerability was not an option.

There were very few people left in Monaka’s old world, that would be happy to see Monaka again. Actually, there mostly likely wasn’t any. It was a feeling Monaka was used too, so it didn’t bother her. So some plain-looking loser acting so friendly and fan-like was extremely perplexing. Addressing her with such respect, was she some despair fanatic? Being approached by someone like that would be so embarrassing…

“….Haa? Who are you supposed to be? Monaka’s done with all that hope and despair crap, y’know?” Monaka doesn’t even bother with keeping up her usual act. Clearly this lady already knows something. 

✂ — This blunt response didn’t faze Tsumugi in the slightest, since she’d naturally assumed that a diehard fan like herself would elicit such a reaction. After all, Monaka didn’t know anything about Danganronpa, let alone her love for the series. It wouldn’t be wise to immediately explain that either, so she mumbled her next words off to the side before answering the question thrown her way.

✝ : those words felt like ice. it was hypocritical. it was terribly hypocritical. but the reason he killed was because he genuinely believed this was what would make his loved one happy. he killed because it was all he knew how to do. never did he want those feelings to be compared to someone who did it out of a childish obsession to a fictional series. everything he knew was simply a lie, fabricated by the one standing right before him. he could’ve lived an average life, one without the amount of trauma and pain he had to suffer through, but because of one tiny speck, he was miserable. this was all her fault. and nothing could fix it now. but killing her would certainly satiate that hatred. 

eyes would shoot wide open, his grip on the handle of the scissor becoming impossibly tight as the words he spoke were shouted. 

“we are nothing alike! we will never be anything alike! everything that i know, everything that has become routine, everything that has become important to me is nothing more than a fabrication. all while you hold onto your true self. i do what i do because of you, and you only! do not ever compare me to the likes of you again or so help me god, i will have no qualms in ending your pathetic life.”

it seems the volume in which he spoke finally caught the attention of the people who were in the back, the person who owned the salon rushing forward and grabbing onto the folklorist, and honestly? if she didn’t, he would’ve killed her right there. yet, he couldn’t. not yet. not now. the woman holding him back was yelling something, but it was not heard. everything turned to tv static as he dropped the scissor. this wasn’t over.

✂ — Jackpot... was what she probably should be thinking as it became evident her words had struck him, yet she didn’t feel as though she’d won anything. The only satisfaction she felt from the reaction was knowing that she had somewhat predicted his response, but even then she hadn’t expected him to resort to such pitiful words. Such loud words too, fortunately, as the owner of the salon intervened, preventing Shinguuji from acting on his blatant threat.

Taking a step back both physically and metaphorically now that she had a brief moment of peace, Tsumugi reflected on those words that had been yelled at her with the utmost scorn. He was wrong. She hadn’t the liberty of remembering who she really was; not in the slightest. ‘Tsumugi Shirogane’... Everything about her was a lie, par a few exceptions such as her love for Danganronpa and cosplay. Would she admit that? Of course not. For everything she was, she wasn’t a fool. No, instead she’d continue to hide behind this lie, dancing around the truth as if it were of no concern to her.

Turning to reassure the owner (and now onlooking staff, as they had seemed to have caused quite the scene) of the salon that she was fine, that sickeningly sweet fake smile of hers adorned her features.

“I’m fine. Shinguuji-kun is an old friend. We wanted to pull a little prank to celebrate my first day working here, but it seems we just plain worried you all... I’m terribly sorry.”

They seemed to buy the excuse, although she had an inkling that they might be questioned further later on, especially if they both continued working here and conflicts became commonplace. Why was she bothering to cover for Shinguuji, anyway? Well, it did give her the advantage of being able to control the situation here for once.

✝ : oh, and she thought he was naive. blind to the truth of the matters just because he chose to ignore it. seems like he has the upper hand here. with knowledge far surpassing what he should know, all thanks to a certain assassin. he was grateful. if it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t of been prepared to face the monster like this. he wouldn’t of even known of the truth. disgusting. the blade of the scissor would begin to lightly press against her neck, being pushed further and further as he spoke through bitterness.

“i am well aware. this ‘danganronpa’ monstrosity is long over with. it does not exist here. this is not the afterlife, rather than a separate world. a place unlike what we know. a clean slate. you see no reason to exist? i am glad. i won’t kill you, but i will make sure every single day you here, you are within living hell. the laws say one cannot kill, but that does not mean i cannot slowly torture you for the rest of your duration in this pathetic city, understand?” 

a voice that typically remained dry of much emotion was dripping with malice. the metal would advance just far enough to break the skin, but nothing further. as if to give a taste as to what’s to come. he couldn’t do anything rash.

✂ — Before she’d even gotten the chance to properly revel in feeling any terror she’d had dissipate, the blade was pressed against her neck, yet it didn’t cut nearly as much as his words did. She was back to having the disadvantage again; back to feeling so utterly at a loss. No. She wasn’t supposed to experience emotions like this. This taste of... despair. Eventually, her hope would outshine this despair, right? Right. A change of tactics was in order as she became increasingly desperate to get rid of these unnecessary feelings. So, she’d resort to what she did know, after finding her composure. (Had she been quivering?)

“...Do as you wish. I won’t stop you.” I can’t stop you, she went to say, but decided against. She still didn’t want to admit that part. “But, you know... we’re more alike than you think. Or than you’d like to think. We both kill for the sake of love... Could it be that you hate me even more because somewhere deep down, you’ve realised that? Yet you choose to ignore it in favour of your own self-righteousness... Hm, I suppose that’s my fault for writing you that way.” 

     How…was this even possible? Then again, if her dead classmates had shown up, she shouldn’t be surprised that she would be alive. It doesn’t mean that she’s happy, on the contrary she’s…not sure how to feel. Yes, she had put them all through so much pain and suffering all for the sake of entertainment, but how much of what she said was true? Then again, others have suffered because of Team Danganronpa’s actions, so she has no feelings of sympathy for her or for what she’s helped do.

     Still, it doesn’t mean she can’t help but glare at the cosplayer, trying to contain her anger. “You…how are you even alive? You should’ve died when Kiibo destroyed the academy…so how?” Even now, she’s still going on about Danganronpa, when it should’ve ended. “Who knows, but this sure isn’t something straight from fiction. At least this isn’t something you can lie about, it’s reality for us now.”

✂ — Ohoho. Now that was a classic Harukawa glare. She must be holding in her murderous intent too, huh? It seemed that none of the killing game participants wanted her around so far. How sad. After everything she’d done for the Danganronpa that they all loved... Well, it couldn’t be helped. Unsure of how to act when the other was already well-aware of her true nature, she settled for something in-between her act and honest thoughts. Any outright lies would probably be seen through now, anyway.

✂ — Could it be...?! Although common sense would have her question if the other’s appearance was cosplay, she knew in her heart that it was more than that. This person... It really was...!

✝ : his patience was wearing thin, and her act of not knowing what he was talking about has pushed him to his limit. from behind his back he flipped open a metal scissor, spreading it apart and holding one of the blades to her neck. no pressure was applied, it just lightly ghosted over pale skin. anger was never something that blinded him like this, rather than made him panic. that’s when nee-san came in. but, in a moment like this, his brain simply focused on the issue at hand. he wouldn’t press forward unless she kept acting unsavory. was this going to get him fired from this job? probably. 

“and if they are? what do you intend on doing? wiping them out because they inconvenience you, much like you did to amami-kun? i will not allow you.  you aren’t even worth killing. your disgusting spirit shouldn’t be anywhere near nee-san, but if i have to, i absolutely will.”

his last words were spat out with a heavy amount of venom lacing them. it’s all so hypocritical, but he couldn’t even see it as such. he wouldn’t put himself on the same level as her.

✂ — Panic and fear suddenly sparked in Tsumugi, her hands instinctively moving to grab his arm before thinking better of it and falling to her sides once more. If she made one wrong move, her neck would be sliced. It wasn’t worth the risk. Not while there was still the possibility that this was a world where Danganronpa did still exist. That in its own twisted way was her own form of hope and the only thing keeping her going. It was with these thoughts that she came to a realisation.

“Oh. They didn’t tell you that part then. How convenient.” Pausing for a brief second to consider her next words, she felt her confidence slowly return. Finally, she knew something that he didn’t. She could work with this. “Don’t speak as if you know my motivations. You clearly don’t. If you want to kill me in a place that may very well be the afterlife or a world without Danganronpa then go ahead. I accepted my death before— welcomed it even, so why would I falter now? As long as Danganronpa doesn’t exist, I see no reason to exist.”

✝ : as she stepped forward, every inch of his body tensed, his guard on high alert. once fingers touched cold metal, they wrapped around the object and brought it behind his back. he’d take a step forward of his own, eyes focused on every single movement of hers as if he’d miss something if he didn’t. the act she was putting up was the only shirogane he knew. the one who blatantly deceived them all, causing the death of thirteen students if he included himself. who was he to harbor such hatred towards a killer? he was one of his own, was he not? but to him, he was doing so for a justifiable cause. he was doing it for love. he had no room for people who kill just for entertainment. 

without giving it much thought, an arm darted forward and grabbed a fistful of her shirt, bringing her closer to his face. it wouldn’t do any good speaking loudly of the matters. 

“enough. you can play childish games all you want, but i am well aware of your true nature. did you think the ‘plain’ act could save you forever? you are sorely mistaken. you are one person who should have stayed gone.” 

✂ — Once again, she’d been taken by surprise; this time by his swift movement instead of his biting words. Not being blessed with the constant knowledge of knowing what would happen due to it all being written by her own hand... That fact was beginning to frighten her a bit, as desperately as she tried to adjust to this city. More than anything though, it irked her. Yes, whilst she was obviously at a major disadvantage in this situation, she had the gall to feel more annoyed at it all than terrified of whatever might happen. However, what vexed her the most was the way Shinguuji was speaking to her— as if he were of any higher moral ground than her. In fact, he’d killed more than she had if you were to disregard that backstory being one of his many falsified memories.

✂ — She could tell at just a glance. This guy was a NEET, wasn’t he? Tsumugi was accustomed to the otaku culture, what with being one herself, so it was only natural that she’d recognise a fellow connoisseur of the fine arts. Admittedly, the tracksuit sort of gave it away too. Perhaps he was only a shut-in with no particular interest in the otaku lifestyle, but either way it was enough to catch her eye. A sense of something familiar in a place so much to the contrast.