#takaku

( tw: knives, stabbing )

The time in between executions never got any easier, but knowing that yet again, an innocent party would be killed, it definitely felt worse than all the times before. It was a shame, going from quite the win streak to being wrong twice in a row…

Luckily, there wasn’t much more time to dwell on it, as Takaku is suddenly dragged away. Just like those before them, they were being sent to death because of your decision in this twisted game. 

As the monitor turns on, the first thing that catches your eye is Takaku, their bright and colourful appearance clashing with what seemed to be a wheel behind them. They seem to be strapped in by their arms and legs, unable to move anything but their neck. As for the wheel, it seems like something out of a circus act, without any sort of symbols or words that hold any meaning. 

And then, without any sort of warning, the wheel begins to spin, as if an unseen force were pushing it. The wheel spins at a dizzying pace, moving faster and faster until Takaku is nothing more than a blur. 

When the first knife hits the wheel, it narrowly misses its target, but whoever is throwing them doesn’t seem to want to give up as another dagger follows behind it. Soon, there are dozens of knives littering the wheel, and you can’t seem to tell if any of them have hit their mark or not. 

And then it all comes to a stop. 

The wheel finally halts, revealing that your suspicions were correct and that they had remained untouched. Knives and daggers surround their form, inches away from causing any physical harm. However, despite the fact that the projectiles have since ceased, the jester remained in their restraints without any sign of being able to escape. 

Moments pass by without any change, and you wonder for a moment if something unexpected will happen, just as it had in the past. Anticipation fills you, in a way, though it comes in the form of something at the bottom of your stomach. Everything is building up, staring at the jester as you wait...and wait...and--

Your only warning was the look of horror on Takaku’s face before all you could hear was the wet sound of piercing flesh, dozens more knives flying directly at their still body. 

As usual, the feed cuts during the impact shot, but when it returns, you are left with the image of the floor with Takaku’s feet dangling lifelessly, blood pooling beneath them.

Monomi returns the card back to the deck and it is at this point her companion Monokuma draws from it, repeating the process that’s been done before just now in the flesh as opposed to by being separated by a screen.

There once was a fool.

Most would kill for the life The Wheel of Fortune was born into.

Never worrying about the necessities.

Parents who pushed for success.

The perfect life to make something of yourself.

And that was the only life they knew.

They were a child their parents could be proud of.

Intelligent.

Ahead of everyone at such a young age.

But pride doesn’t win you acceptance.

Their interests lied in a subject their parents didn’t approve of.

Regardless of accomplishments, they weren’t good enough.

But, that was okay.

They didn’t mind.

That was just how things were.

...But what if there was more to life than just what they were told?

What if they weren’t who they thought they were?

And soon, everything they knew was being challenge.

Growing to despise the fate they chose for them.

Realizing that society only cared about how useful people became.

They hatched a plan.

One that would get back at everyone.

But especially their parents.

All it took was a few lies.

No matter how big they were.

Their parents agreed to send them to a prestigious school in America.

One they said had scouted them.

But it had all been a lie.

Faked.

They were given permission to attend a performance art school.

And though they learned quite a bit for that year.

Things weren’t perfect upon their return home.

Enrolled in the school of their parents’ dreams, they couldn’t keep up.

Their grades slipped.

But it didn’t matter in the end.

Not when they had smiling peers, laughing at their jokes.

A fool for all to ridicule. 

They treasured the spotlight.

Over time, they grew more and more rebellious.

Confident to a fault.

To the point where they announced they’d be running off for the night to perform.

It was a success.

They defied fate.

And perhaps, because of them, others would follow along and do the same.

But...what if it were all for nothing?

The Wheel of Fortune continues to spin.

Without any sign of where it may land.

The arcana is the means by which all is revealed...

It was early in the morning, but not too early. Early enough that they’d had time to chug a cup of coffee, but not early enough for the majority of the class to be up and active. Early enough for Takaku to hop on a train and go take a wander to the fabric area in anticipation of departing for what they assumed would be their own lab later on down the line. Why would they need it? … Oh, you know. Clown things. Mysterious chaotic acts.

What they find instead of an empty workstation is a very, very tired looking pianist. Surrounded by material, fabric flowers, the whole lot of it - and very clearly either asleep or taking a moment to rest. The jester appeared to consider this for a moment, and while perhaps they were very briefly tempted to make a ruckus to get her up and at ‘em, a second, smaller idea came to mind that seemed a whole lot more appropriate. There was plenty of fabric around, and it didn’t seem like this was the most comfortable place to sleep. While it wasn’t as if they could control the jingling, they COULD control a length of fabric.

That, then, was why as carefully as they could as to not rudely awaken the piano lady, they crept to the wall of fabric and kind of just… shoved their hands in to find the softest one they could. Takaku sure didn’t know enough about fabric to know what it was, but they figured it’d do. Snip, snip, and voila! A blanket, if you considered a sizable waste of fabric to be a blanket. Regardless, they draped it over their head in a way that meant they were carrying it Legend of Zelda style above their head with the fabric still dragging on the floor behind them a little bit. It almost looked a little ominous when they sidestepped out, adjusting their hold on the fabric and…

With how much there was to look at in the new area, it’d come as no surprise that there was plenty for Takaku to look at. Fun to have in the theme park, things to look at in the ouendan leader lab, uh… okay, there wasn’t a whole ton to really do in the bodyguard lab, but that was okay! And ultimately, their adventures had brought them to the police officer lab. There was some neat stuff in the robotics place, although it was a little much for such an anachronistic little clown to even attempt messing with!

And of course, they - like a brightly coloured magpie - snatched one of the keys off the back wall and went to investigate one of the cramped cells. And of course, for safety reasons, using their wicked amounts of flexibility, they were careful to close the door behind them. And for even more secure safety reasons, such as not releasing any prisoners that were locked in cells, they fumbled the keys and dropped them where they clattered out of reach. All in the name of security, of course. So they had plenty of time to scrutinize the condition of the cell, plop themself down on the cot for a bit, swing their legs, and hop back up already bored.

Cut to a nondescript amount of time later, where the jester was crouched on the ground wielding their sticky hand. They wound up, swung, and smacked the keys with them. They jumped in preemptive celebration, trying to reel the keys back in with the hand. Alas, even with as far as they were reaching, the keys were just barely out of reach of their fingertips. Defeated, Takaku resigned themself to just waiting until someone came along and let them out, which incredibly conveniently happened to be right now! Where she could clearly see that they were wielding their sticky hand, on the ground, arm outstretched for the key.

“Hi! Good to see you, Kita-chan! Do you wanna get that snack store meal now that we're not working with a time limit?”

Area 4 was so exciting! There was all sorts of fun stuff to do, and all manner of exciting things to look at, and a bunch of computers to play with, except Takaku didn’t really feel like playing with the computers right now. So once they’d gotten a gander at everything, noting stuff they’d come back to explore later once they got some proper food in them, they were on their way to head back on out. Except, whoa, hey, what was this? A challenger approaches?! The jester immediately perks up and bounces on their toes, bounding over to their friend who they’ve spent a shockingly minimal amount of time actually talking to.

“Ishii-chan! Hi! Good to see you!”

It’s almost like two more people didn’t just die with how enthusiastic they are. At least they aren’t carrying Ikuko’s glasses around anymore. They grin, excited to see the baseball coach in the… corridor between the two labs. A very exciting place to stop and have a chat, really.

Words would fail anything that could be said following their exchange with Kimiko. There wasn’t anything left for them to say about it. While there was a lot of vitriol being hurled around during their ever-fewer final minutes of life, they were quite okay with that. More than okay, really. Their death would forcibly wrench the spotlight away once that moment came, but until then, they were content with being a side act. Fewer eyes on them while everyone argued was fine. But they had enough left to say that eventually they would have to stop basking in the chaotic glory of the trial room and make their final statements to no one in particular, really. The time for one-on-ones were over, but it'd just be weird if they didn't get all eyes on them one last time.

“Fortune’s a fickle thing, if you can even really qualify a concept like that as being a thing. Fate, too. Any one of us could have been someone or something else. Me, you’ll probably hear about in a minute, but I could have been getting ready to work some perfectly average desk job if some of the people in my life had their way. Was it fate or fortune that led me here? I can’t say I ever really saw it that way. The world’s moved on from things like jesters and public executions as entertainment. But here I am, and here we are.”

“But that’s not fate. I made the choice to be like this. Faking those transcripts, skipping the country, lying about my age - oops, spoilers for the story of my life! - but was that fate? Was that fortune? Or was that a series of defiant choices in the face of dullness and stagnation, completely independent of anything like predetermination. And that’s another thing! Is everything predetermined? All of us being born, living our lives, slowly shaping into who we are and coming into our talents at a young age, being scouted for some illustrious academy only to be shoved in a station and forced to kill each other?”

They shake their head.

“I think the world as a whole would have given up a long time ago if anyone really believed that our paths are set in stone from the moment we come into existence. But even now, even here, has anyone just given up? We’re all fighting in our own ways, for our own reasons, and we all have something that motivates us. And that’s the real beauty of the human condition, isn’t it? Even in a place like this which limits us in a physical space and inhibits our impulses with a bunch of silly rules that put breaking a coffee machine on the same level of severity as murder, there’s so much room for growth and change and difference. It’s on a smaller scale than I dreamed it would be, but…”

“I think seeing all the different kinds of hope you guys are holding onto in the face of something this hopeless was a pretty worthwhile sight.”

“Nothing like that has ever mattered to me, personally, but it’s fun to watch!"

"Like a game I’ve got no personal stake in, but I’ll watch every moment of it rapt, waiting for something to happen. For two key players to clash head-to-head, for conflicting hopes to spar, for when the one who’s held onto theirs the longest sink into the depths of despondency when they just can’t take it anymore! Such a heart-pounding spectacle, but at the end of the day, I can walk away knowing full well that it could never be me who winds up like that because I’m watching from a position of detachment, and nothing that happens to you could ever happen to me. I’m safe. It can’t hurt me.”

They don’t look directly into the camera, but cast a glance aside at it for a fraction of a moment - just barely enough to be perceptible.

“Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

They give a light chuckle, before smiling back at the room as a whole (perhaps after a quick glance at Kimiko, which they seem pretty darn chuffed about.)

“Anyways! Final words, final words..."

"This pain will have its place. Or maybe it won’t! That’s really up to you guys now, isn’t it? Will you continue the cycle diligently like good little game pieces, or will you give the one behind it all what-for? Will everyone’s deaths have been in vain, or will the spirits of the departed find peace knowing that those who survived past us transformed it into a worthwhile experience? Nobody can change the fact that we all got roped into this situation, and that some of us are going to die, but every single one of you is someone who could fly in the face of it all and defy the expectations set out for us.”

Takaku turns their head to make it clear that they’re addressing Monokuma and Monomi.

“That goes for you two as well. You could break the cycle just as easily as any of us… or maybe you’re even more bound by the strings we’re all dancing on here? Who can say for sure? I’m going to die before I can find out, but that’s life!”

“Well, there is someone who could say for sure. Who are you? Who am I? What are you? What am I? Only you know, only I know. I have a feeling this is all going to be over soon, you know. It’s not going to end until after my death, I know.”

“... I know.”

“... Hey, you know what’s funny? Even after all that time I spent wanting this outcome, now that it’s actually here, I don’t want to die! Kukuku~! And feeling that way is how I know I’m ready! At the end of the day, no matter what my personal philosophy is, there’s one last little reminder that I’m human after all! I surprise even myself, sometimes, kukuku~”

The resident clown exhales, and their smile carries an unmistakably somber undertone. The bells on their hat toll for them. Almost like clockwork, with their thirty minutes are drawing to a close, they snap into a rhythm that anyone who’s watched the conclusion of one of their shows would be familiar with and begin gesturing freely around the room. Like they’re ending a show.

[cw: bad word in the 12th text blockquote thing]

“You can just say you don’t like me, Kurusu. It won’t hurt my feelings, I promise!”

Dropping the honorifics, huh? Either way, they don’t give her much more than a smarmy wink. They have better things to spend their last moments on than debating whether or not their death is fair with a robot who locked them in jail during the investigation.

“Yanagisawa-kun…”

“Hmm, I always thought I’d have some really cool, really life-changing last requests to hand out once my time came. But now that it’s here, I’m at a total loss! Isn’t that just the way, kukuku~!”

“It’s not like there’s anything anyone can do for me now, but I think it would be nice for you to do one thing every day that surprises you, even if it’s something small. Life’s too short to not try new things, and too long to get stuck in a rut of monotony. Does that sound okay to you?”

They sure hope so.

Atsuko’s words find them, but it doesn’t hurt them to hear that. If anything, they seem confused and perhaps even slightly concerned.

“... Atsuko-chan, what you deserve is to walk out of here. Maybe things would be different if you hadn’t, but Kurusu still did, so who can say? Not you, not me. Maybe the only people who could know won’t tell us. Or maybe they can’t tell us, or maybe they don't know either. How much here is really left to chance? How much is determined by direct manipulation? Can we really be sure that any of this is as arbitrary as it seems?"

"I know you know I don’t care about the results, really, as long as the ride was fun.”

They lean up a little bit to facilitate the hug. They’re not about to turn something like that down, especially now, even if they certainly wouldn’t admit to it.

“So do you think you can smile for me again?”

They know it’s selfish to ask something like that of her right now, but maybe a little bit of selfishness is in order. They’re about to die, after all. Although once Ryuu speaks up, they can sense that something terrible is about to go down. And go down, it does. They slowly detach themself from Atsuko as all the yelling happens, and the Chronos happens, and he starts accusing Kimiko, and Ryuu, and they are absolutely not having any of that. Maybe if they had more time, they’d care to react more, but...

“HEY!”

They can’t get the same sort of volume as the ouendan leader, but it’s clear they’ve been practicing at least a little bit, and they’re determined to be heard. Once they have the room’s attention back on them, they stand upright and puff out their chest, putting on their best condescending expression.

"Ahem,"

“My name’s Chronos and I’m so much smarter and better than all of you." Oh my god they're really doing this right now- "I solved every murder all by myself and didn’t say anything because I’m that much smarter and better than all you stupidheads! The whoooole tiiiiime I was pretending to be my brother because sure, why not, that’s a reasonable thing for a human person to do! You wouldn’t get why because I’m so smart and genius and none of you are. I’m so smart! Pbbbbt!”

They blow a raspberry in his direction with a wink.

“You know you’re not the only one who has things figured out, right? You have to understand a joke to laugh at it, after all.”

They say it with a perfectly placid neutrality, neither confirming nor denying any accusations he’s been flinging. They've definitely been thinking, though.

“Hmm, but I guess that doesn’t matter, does it. What worth is there in my words now that I’m about to die? Probably none to you. You don’t care about any of us, after all. So since you don’t care about any of us, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to shut your fucking mouth until I’m gone, right? Great!”

The stark contrast between their cheeriness and the way they slip into borderline legitimately intimidating (probably because it's the first time they've actually sworn) is jarring, but just as soon as it's happened, they're right back to normal. It’s possibly the only time they’ve shown even a glimpse of legitimate irritation with something, or someone.

“Since, y’know, caring about a silly thing like goodbyes seems like it’d be beneath you and all that. It’s not like it’s gonna prevent you from ever seeing your brother again!”

With that, they smile up at Atsuko and reach out to grab her hand for a squeeze that could be perceived as reassuring before bounding over to Kimiko and just straight up hug her. No tricks, no jokes, they just go for it with a surprising amount of strength for their frame.

“Don’t listen to that nerd, Kimiko-chan. I mean, just listen to him- or, well, not the things he’s saying, but how he’s saying them! (Seriously, he just sounds like a movie villain. Like, a B-list movie villain at best.)” The stage whisper is projected near their usual speaking volume - they want everyone to hear it, but they feel like they should be with Kimiko specifically right now. “Are you gonna let someone like that kick you around and make you feel bad? He can talk like he's above everyone all he wants, but I know you're above him, Kimiko-chan. Swear it on my jester's honour!"

That's not a thing, but whatever.

They know they’re probably not going to get anywhere being passive aggressive with Chronos, but if they can get a smile on Kimiko’s face one more time, then it’d be worth it. They look up at her with nothing short of admiration and gesture for her to lean in. There’s something they have to say, and for once it’s for a one-person audience. Whatever they had to say, they lean back, giggle, and press a finger to their lips. That was one secret that they’d be able to take to their grave, if nothing else. With a brief flash of inspiration, they reach into their pocket and grab their e-Handbook and key card, holding both out to Kimiko. Their intentions don't need to be verbalized.