#owoplot

[♪♪♪]

After their chat with Akira and Kazuya, the group of survivors watched the two men gleefully take Sorakuma away to be melted down. At this point, they were left standing amongst the great number of Hinanjo Villagers and Foundation members. Each one of the faces of these exhausted people curling into smiles as they soon started to realise that their suffering was finally coming to an end.

To Raven, Utsusu, Daishin, Hanari, Persephone, Ren and Bunji however, despite being surrounded by so many people, taking into account those that they lost along the way during the killing game, life still felt a little lonely, a little empty. They had been labelled as the saviours of this new world; a group of ordinary people who got caught up in a terrible nightmare. Their determination and sheer force of will bringing them to a point where they survived this ordeal. Was it for survival? Love? or a desire to see things how they once were. 

Even so, their survival seemed bittersweet. So many people had died during the mutual killing... Their names... yes...

Kazuro Ryokugane, Shinsuke Naragachi, Kibou Kirimizu, Keiko Yamaguchi, Hisayo Takamiya, Sakurako Morisawa, Ayame Satoshi, Shichiro Kamiya, Nobuyuki Tsukada, Sunshine, Kiha Ryu Each one of them fought and died for survival and their own hope. It was clear that had their hands not been forced by Sorakuma, then maybe they might have all lived. 

Three others had died, however their lives had only brought continued suffering...

Touma Genjou, Tomoyo Iori

and of course,

Mika Tsukizuka.

Super High School Level Despair had infiltrated them from the very beginning. Their fates puppeteered by those who sought to see Mika’s vision to the end. 

These lives will not be forgotten. For better or for worse.

The survivors found themselves surrounded by the villagers and Foundation members. Many of those who joined the fight were friends or relatives of these survivors. As some of them approached their special people, weeping with joy at their safety, the group of captives could only look at each other with the knowledge that the Tragedy was finally ending. Peace was on the horizon.

Soon, there will be no more destruction, murder, execution, suffering or despair. 

These Captives... These survivors... from both the first killing game and the second. They were originally nothing but remnants of the Old World. With their determination, their strength and their courage, they successfully became the beacons of hope for the New World. Future and Past, Truth and Lies, Hope and Despair. Like everything else in this world, it required a delicate balance. Now, all these brave survivors could do, much like those who survived the SpecOps killing game, was...

Close their eyes.

Take a deep breath.

And start again.

[♪♪♪]

As the captives finished their final words, the crowds let out a quiet cheer. The sound was less jubilant than those of the despairs that surrounded Mika. Rather these shouts were of relief. 

“You guys did good. You can breathe out now, it’s over. We don’t have to fight anymore. Also, the bodies of those who died during your killing game... We have retrieved them and we will give them a proper burial...”

Jiro closed his eyes and murmured something that was only barely audible.

“I think dad would like to buried next to Kotone anyway...”

He took a deep breath and smiled again at the survivors. He then glanced over his shoulder, his grin only growing wider.

“Oh yeah, there are some ‘vets’ here who wanna talk to you. Let’s just say, they kinda understand how you all feel much more than I do.”

Two men walked up and stood next to Jiro, both of them looking out at the survivors.

[♪♪♪] Once all sign of life has completely left Tomoyo, the masked woman gently lays the girl on the floor before grabbing the weapon used in her attack. When her thumb presses the top of it, the long, thin blade retracts back into the plastic casing with a small click. Briefly, what can be assumed as her gaze lingers on the body on the floor, but…

Soon, her head lifts, and her attention is slowly and silently shifted from person to person.

There is an undeniable authority that mingles with the shock in the air – radiating from this single figure alone.

“…I have to say, I find it terribly insulting that you thought someone capable of orchestrating something on this scale would be so easy to find. We’ve been suspecting you, Iori! Really… It’s just sad.”

She sighs, sparing no last glance to Tomoyo’s corpse as she passes behind Ren. The woman holds her head high, and there is no mistaking the deadly lack of hesitation in her words and movements.

With the way the sleeves of the woman’s furisode trail behind her as she walks, one might call her graceful – were grace the sign of a wild animal poised to lash out without warning, at least.

“But – we always expect too much from the people we love, don’t we? Simple minds can only comprehend simple concepts, no matter how much I might try to hold your hands. I should have known better than to give you a challenge of all things.”

Continuing behind the podiums, she passes Raven next.

“Ah… I digress. You did still manage to get part of it right, so I will give you credit where credit is due. I must ask that we go about the rest of this like adults, however. Are names befit of a middle school bully really the most potent thing your dullard minds are capable of?”

Next, the empty podiums between Raven and Daishin.

“And in the same vein, I will make this clear. Your watches are deactivated. If you move, then I will kill you myself. I do like to clean up my own messes. Oh… Mm… Well –"

The woman pauses behind Daishin, raising her hand into the air and pointing down at them.

“Kuma-chan~ Be a dear and take care of Taniguchi-san for me if they try anything, okay? Not even I can stab through metal.”

There is a laugh of happy agreement from Sorakuma, before all of a sudden, the bear leapt from his podium and stood in the middle of the courtroom, directly in front of Daishin Taniguchi. In one hand, he held a semi automatic rifle and in the other… a water pistol?

“Of course mother dearest! I’m so glad you managed to rid me of control of that god awful hag! Now I’m exactly like you designed me, just as I was back in the Spec Ops game huh? Don’t move Taniguchi, I’ll shoot ya and then splash ya to make sure you’re dead Kyahaha!”

After that, Sorakuma fell silent and the woman spoke once more.

“Now… I think that’s more than enough exposition. In fact, I think we left off somewhere before! Mm… What was I saying…?”

She continues her walk, and as she passes behind Kiha, she reaches up to drag heavily burnt fingers across his back.

“For everything I’ve done here…”

Now standing behind the next podium, she grabs the portrait standing behind it and moves it out of her way.

“And all of the pain I have caused…”

The woman stands where the portrait once was, and with a soft laugh, pulls the mask away from her face and tents her fingers together in front of her.

The night was a quiet one. Not a lot of people seemed to run into each other which was shocking considering the small space that they all now inhabited. However, there was something strange about this night, and that strangeness began with a bizarre message from Sorakuma. It was about midnight when everyone’s E-Watches lit up.

“Hey, hey HEY! Haven’t any of you guys noticed that there is a dead body in the hallway? Like jeez are you all just sleepin’ or something? Come on, hop to it! We don’t have all day!”

...

...

A dead body?

Almost immediately, everyone rose from where they were and quickly ambled out into the hallway where they were faced with a sight that was a long time coming...

[ ♪ ♪ ♪ ]

Losing someone who stood as a maternal figure to the group was hard. Ayame had always tried her best to be there for everyone when the times were hard. She loved and she protected for as long as she possibly could. Now, it seemed as if someone had put out her light for good.

The twelve remaining captives once again did not utter a word to each other as they descended into the depths of the ruins. It was hard to read the atmosphere. Was this a murder of desperation or malice? Either way, the fact that the group had to go through this process for a fourth time was enough to either lower the morale or just straight up instil anger.

After about 5 minutes, the elevator finally reached its destination, opening its doors onto the traditional Japanese courtroom that they had stood in but a few days ago. This time, Ayame’s effigy was placed where she once stood in trial.

As the group took their places at their assigned podiums, their anxious gazes fell upon their captor Sorakuma, who sat in his usual spot. Standing below him, watching silently, where the three members of SHSL Despair, who’s lives were also on the line.

“Welcome back to the Village Court everyone! Wow oh wow! We started with 21 of you and now we’re down to 12? Let’s see if we can get that number even lower, shall we? Kyahaha!”

Sorakuma folded his arms and grinned menacingly as he addressed the crowd.

“Well, no need to mess about huh? I’m sure you’re all just starving to find out who the killer is! Well, that’s all up to you, huh? I’m sure you won’t fail! You haven’t yet!”

And so the curtains opened on the deadliest part of the Slice of Life of Mutual Killing. It was going to be a heated battle between the culprit and the rest of the captives. Who in the group was innocent, and who was guilty? The only way to find out was to drop all layers of trust and treat everyone as guilty until proven innocent.

This was it, the beginning of the end.

Ever since the attack on Daishin, the air in the ruins was thick with tension. Clearly whoever had done this to them had no idea they were a robot but they also seemed to very much have the intention of committing murder. Was it only a matter of time until they struck again? Or was Daishin’s assault more sinister than initially anticipated?

It was hard to tell.

At this point though, the ruins were eerily peaceful. The Movie Theatre in particular was oddly silent and it would have stayed that way if it weren’t for the sudden breach of peace...

“C-Come quick!!! Up here!!! A body!”

[ ♪ ♪ ♪ ]

The distraught calls of Sunshine echoed through the theatre lobby as she pushed open the doors leading inside. Following behind her was a confused looking Tomoyo and Nobuyuki. Sunshine pointed up to the Italian Bistro and the three climbed the stairs into the restaurant where they were greeted with a crime scene. One of the booths was a mess and lying on the floor next to that, was an un-moving figure with a piece of cloth draped over their face and body, making it hard to tell who the victim was. Cautiously, Tomoyo and Nobuyuki approached and slowly pulled back the fabric to reveal...

[ ♪ ♪ ♪ ]

As the group gathered around the statue of Akari, they could see that Sorakuma and the three members of despair were already waiting on them. Sorakuma had already ordered the gattling gun out and the three despairs were standing in front of it - posed to face their deaths.

“Hear ye, hear ye! Gather round! Since you guys were able to successfully find the culprit of Naragachi-san and Kirimizu-san’s murder, these SHSL Despairs will be keeping their promises! As a result, they are to be killed as part of the Killing Game Rules!”

As the Monokuma with the gattling gun readied it, the three gave their final words.

[ Yoshie ] : “... And so our time together has come to a close. How unfortunate.”

[ Masaki ] : “Awww and I was really starting to like you guys too! Ah well, it seems like our own incompetence will be punished as well!”

[ Setsuko ] : “You guys were suuuuuuper cute investigating that murder! I wish I could watch some more ufufufufu! At least now we can all be together with Big Sis Akari, huh?”

“Alright you dumb Monokuma! Fire when ready!!”

[ CW: Shooting, Blood ]

[ ♪ ♪ ♪ ]

Time had become a fleeting phenomenon for the captives trapped in the killing game. It had felt like weeks since they first arrived in the ruins but even then, it was so hard to keep track of how much time had actually passed. Despite this though, being trapped within the confines of this new area had really sold on how little time Sorakuma was willing to let them snoop around.

It was only a few days after the fourth classroom trial which investigated the murder of Ayame Satoshi and took the life of culprit Mika Tsukizuka. Now, with their numbers down to a meagre 11 and confined to a smaller zone for the game, surely nobody would think about continuing the killing spree. However, it seemed as if Sorakuma wasn’t willing to let that slide.

As the captives slept in their assigned “rooms” within the gymnasium, they were awoken rudely by the sound of cackling,

“KyahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

Sorakuma...

“Sorry for waking you bastards!! I’m just so excited for this next motive! Aren’t you? I did say we were gonna continue the killing game, didn’t I? Eeeeee this is gonna be awesome!!”

Something had gotten Sorakuma excited. Somehow, it was easy to imagine that whatever it may be, it wasn’t going to go well for them.

“I’m not gonna give you the motive myself! Oh no, for my next big show, I’m gonna let someone very special give it out for me!! Kyahahaha!!”

At this point, all of the Captives had left their “rooms” and migrated towards the stage in the gymnasium, where they could see Sorakuma standing with glee as a monitor slowly creaked from the ceiling.

At once, the screen flickered to life.

“... It would appear that the experiment has gone well, hasn’t it Sorakuma dear?”