#dv end

The man shudders to himself, remembering every brutal death he’s witnessed on the big screens everywhere. He had no time to think about this, however. The mastermind could be watching and could kill him at any given moment. He had to be quick, though he wasn’t sure of what could happen. When the team had managed to find the island, he could clearly recall the final trial of the vacation starting to take place.

But he had to act fast. He wasn’t sure what would happen to him if he didn’t find those remaining before the mastermind could find him, first.

The man hears the sounds of the hotel’s doors opening, and he can’t help but to look towards it curiously. He sees the silhouette of four people stumbling out, and it’s only when he sees that they look very familiar - he gasps quietly to himself. Cupping his hands around his lips, he takes in a deep breath and shouts to the group.

“HEY! GUYS!”

His call catches the attention of those alive, as they all stumble towards him rather confusedly. He couldn’t blame them, he can admit. This was the first time all of them were seeing somebody who wasn’t in their messed up game, but he still can’t help but to feel… remorse for them. They had started off as such a big group, and now, here he is - looking to the Ultimate Boxer, Idol, Test Taker, and Hikkikomori who seem to look completely and utterly defeated after their last trial.

“...’s this really all’ve ya?” He questions them, and they all look at him rather confusedly.

“...Who are you?” Tohru is the first to speak up between the group.

“...Oh, right.” The man pulls his hair out of his face, giving a nervous laugh to the group. He probably should’ve introduced himself first before anything else, right? Well, considering he’s being asked - it’s better late than never. He holds out a hand to those alive for any one of them to grab and shake, before he continues on with his introduction.

“I actually-- I actually went t’the same school as all’ve ‘ya. Name’s Oswald, an’ I’m the Ultimate Mechanic. It’s a real pleasure meetin’ya.”

As he’s doing his introduction, he notices that two of the students wander off from him. He doesn’t bother to stop them, however - they’ve been through so much, they probably need a moment. He pulls his hand back after Tohru gives his hand a firm shake and shoves his hands into his pockets, as he turns his attention to look at the boat  resting idly against the dock.

“I’ve been part’ve a team who’s been tryin’ t’find y’all since the game started. I really do wish we could’a found traces to this island sooner, but it’s better late than never. The minute the mastermind went an’ said that the boat pieces are scattered ‘round and’ya had t’find ‘em, the team thought it’d be a good idea to send me.” Turning his attention back to the group, Oswald gives them a small - but an assuring smile.

“So I’m here t’get ‘ya outta here and back to civilization.”

Although Tohru had given a lighthearted response to Oswald showing up extremely late, the group had eventually split up. Suki, Akihiko, and Totoko had wandered off someplace else to talk, while Tohru ventured into the hotel to get the parts for the boat for Oswald to fix. Oswald had quite a bit of time to think to himself, wandering onto the boat to get a look at what he had to fix up.

He wondered if he should bring up the fact that he was supposed to be on this vacation to the survivors. He hadn’t even mentioned it to the team back in civilization that he had received an invitation from the mastermind herself to join their vacation - but had ultimately turned it down because he was in an entirely different class. Maybe it was a good decision on him to not accept it-? Oswald couldn’t help but to think of what would’ve happened had he decided to join more often than not.

He wasn’t sure if he should mention to the others that things back at home weren’t as normal as they could’ve been.

Ever since the broadcast went up - it felt like the world split into a heavy debate between hope and despair. He had met so many people who would go out of their way to torment those who wished they could get those shown in the broadcast out and back at home - and had met so many people who despised the broadcast and wanted nothing more than to prove to be of some help. Everything was divided- and he hated having to witness everything with his own eyes. Most of the time, even he didn’t share which side he was sided with. Though, he knew he would stick with hope thick and through.

Eventually, Tohru would come out of the hotel, bringing parts of the boat one by one. Oswald would waste no time repairing the boat as quickly as he could, and within the hour, Oswald had managed to fix it up and restore the boat back to its former self.

“...How do you do that so quickly?” Tohru would ask, peeking over Oswald’s shoulder curiously when he noticed he was done.

Should he mention that he’s a toon, giving him the ability to fix things quicker than others? Oswald thinks on it for a few seconds, but ultimately decides not to.

Besides, considering the fact they had just survived a killing game operated by two toons themselves, Oswald was nervous about what their reaction might be. So he opts to shrug his shoulders instead, giving a sly smile towards Tohru. “I’m the ultimate mechanic fer a reason.”

“You make a point there, I guess…” Tohru’s voice is quiet, but he shrugs his shoulders and makes his way into the boat, taking the furthest seat away from the others.

It doesn’t take longer for the rest to get inside of the boat as well, though. Even though Oswald DID have to go out and find the rest of them, and literally haul Suki over his shoulders so they could all get on, Oswald doesn’t waste any time starting the boat up and sailing away from the island.

The survivor’s can’t help but to look over the boat’s sides, watching as the island they had grown so used to--the island they all spent their lives on for the past few months on, fade off in the distance. They had been waiting for this day for so long, and while they’re glad they were able to get away… They can’t help but to feel a bit melancholy at the thought of leaving. It’s weird.

Oswald takes notice to the tension in the air rather quickly. His hands on the wheel of the boat, he turns to look over his shoulder to the survivors. He notices they’re quiet, still looking over the edge of the boat until the island is no longer in sight.

“...Y’guys are real strong, y’know that?” Oswald breaks the silence.

Although none of them respond back to him, he can feel their eyes looking in on him when he speaks up.

Oswald taps a few fingers against the wheel, taking in a deep breath.

“...’n I won’t lie t’ya, It’s gonna be real hard adjusting to everythin’ again. Nothin’s like how it used t’be before the broadcast started.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, Oswald-kun…” Totoko speaks up, putting a finger to her cheek curiously. “How big was the broadcast? Is it really true that it was real big?”

Oswald takes in a deep breath. He realizes now that he’s never actually talked about this with anyone who wasn’t in the immediate group setting out to find the survivors, he’s not even sure where to start. But he nods, looking over his shoulder to look towards Totoko. “It was. It was on every television screen y’looked at, an’ even if y’tried t’ignore it, it’s all everyone talked about.”

“I see…” Totoko’s voice is quiet, but Oswald can tell there’s still a hint of curiosity in her voice.

“Then, who was your favorite?”

Oswald can hear Akihiko ask under his breath if that’s something Totoko should really be asking, and he can’t help but to chuckle.. “Well, I don’t like thinkin’ of all’ve ‘ya as just...characters in a show, ‘cuz none’ve ‘ya deserved t’go through that. But if y’really wanted t’know who I enjoyed watchin’ the most, it was Peacock.”

He makes sure to put emphasis on the word was.

and it’s quiet between him and the survivors all over again.

But it’s fine. He doesn’t mind - he can hear them talk under their breath about everything that had happened until it was completely silent again. He could only assume that they had dozed off, and he didn’t want to bother them. They deserved that rest, anyhow. He had to focus on getting them back home.

There was a lot for Oswald to process.

From the fact that he had managed to find the survivors with his team, to the fact that someone he had enjoyed watching whenever she was on screen ended up being the puppet master behind the entire killing game-- from knowing that he had at the very least recognized these people back in school… He didn’t even know where to start. But he had gotten so lost in his thoughts, he had gone into an auto-pilot of sorts.

While getting lost in his thoughts, Oswald had noticed that the shape of an upcoming land just ahead.

Home.

He takes in a deep breath. Now was the time to tell them - the survivors, that things wouldn’t be the same. He had just vaguely mentioned that things would be harder, but he had no idea how to tell them that everything was as divided as it was. He clears his throat, hoping to wake the survivors up. He hears stirring behind him, and knows that now-- this is the time to mention it.

“...I ain’t gonna lie t’ya guys. It’s goin’ t’be hard adjusting to life again.” He speaks up, keeping his focus on the land that’s ever so slowly getting larger as he approaches it. 

“...You’ve said this already.” Akihiko speaks up, raising a brow towards Oswald. 

“I know I have. But I--” Oswald pauses. “... I should tell y’all. Before I left, everythin’ was divided. I met people who wanted t’save ‘ya, and I met just as many people who watched the broadcast with a smile on their faces. I watched those people torment those who found the broadcast disgustin’. I’ve even met people who thought all’ve it was fictional and relished in comin’ up with theories.” 

It’s silent between the survivors.

“...So things ain’t gonna be how y’remember it, an’ I’m warning ‘ya now to be on your toes. I don’t know what’s goin’ t’happen when people see yer back. There might be people who will be relieved t’see ‘ya, and others who will torment ya to hell an’ back.” Oswald lets out a sigh. The land they’re approaching gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger, until-- 

They reach the dock, reuniting them with the place they had once called home. Oswald stands up from where he sat, looking over his shoulder to the survivors before he steps off the boat. 

Everything looked trashed. There was no doubt that everything had turned to ruins since he left-- especially with the reveal of the mastermind. He gives a smile to the survivors as they all step off the boat, shoving his hands into his pockets before speaking up again.

“...Welcome home.” He says, locking eyes with everyone. “An’ stay safe.”