- SHSL PUNMASTER - DECEASED

There was a lot that Bendy had revealed when it was discovered he was the one to kill Uta and Justin.

From the fact that everything’s being broadcasted.

To the fact that he did this– became the traitor because he wanted to know that feeling of fame again. He explained his actions through tears, making it clear that he didn’t want to be doing this. That he regretted his actions, but, it was too late for that. Wasn’t it?

He had killed two people had grew fond of. 

There was no turning back from that, was there? He listens as the others tell him that they’re not mad at him - and breaks down on the spot when he discovers he’s the most hated person in the fucking world. 

He did this for nothing.

And he– the ultimate actor…

No.

The ultimate despair had to pay for it.

It’s EXECUTION TIME!

TW: Explosions

It was pretty early in the day, was it not? It was hard to tell if that feeling in the pit of your stomach was because the talk of a traitor was throwing you off, or if there had actually been another body discovered. Well, despite your feeling, maybe it’d be better go up and check around. 

Just to see if there’s something off– right?

She didn’t remember passing out, hell she didn’t even bother to check how long she’s been out.

All she had been doing since she woke up was mixing the herbs she had on her during the trial, with added ingredients to make a suitable paste with as she applied it all over the small cuts on her hands, flinching from the cool feeling on her skin before wrapping her hands in gauze and making sure they were secure enough, but also allow her some movement on her hands.

A knock sounded on her door, causing her to turn towards it once she finished making sure the wrappings were secured. This also brought attention to the felines turning their heads at the sound before going back to sleep in the mound of soft blankets on the floor near the bed.

Celica made her way over, questioning who would be knocking to visit her. Like she had anyone come in here besides the first investigation when she wasn’t even in the room.

Her question was answered upon opening the door and revealing the familiar figure of the teacher she had been cuffed with up till the night before.

“Hello, sir. What brings you here to see me?” it was clear that her expression was unreadable once again just like in the trial, acting as if nothing had even happened with her before she passed out earlier. Despite her lack of tone, she was rather curious to what he was doing here.

Justin noticed that the other had finally bandaged her hands, at least - that was one positive in all this - but...she was acting like nothing wrong had happened at all, which seemed unnaturally reserved. Perhaps, then, he had been right to worry: but the concern faded for now, at being called a title that really didn’t fit him at all.

“I used to be the Ultimate Punmaster when I attended: knowing this, could a jokester as I truly be called ‘Sir’? Goodness me. What a solemn sir-menony.” Justin and his bad dad puns, everyone. However, he shook off such jokes, instead answering honestly her question. “I came to see how you were going. After...pushing yourself so hard in the investigation and trial in general. Granted...I know I’m not one to talk. Goodness knows I pushed myself to the brink of exhaustion enough before learning better. Yet: you looked about ready to collapse there at the investigation, and it worried me.”

Everything still felt like a blur to Tougou. He wasn’t sure what was all dream-like and what wasn’t, but a lot of it certainly got on his nerves the more he remembered now that he finally got himself proper rest. He figures to take a stroll around the hotel and try to recollect what he dreamt up and what was real, though the frustrated scowl on his face wasn’t leaving even as he heard Justin speak up.

However, unlike the previous nights, he actually responds properly and turns around with a look of mild concern spread across his face.

“Oh.” Tougou pauses, narrowing his eyes. “Justin, yes..? I did sleep well, thank you. I’m glad to know I’m not a disheveled mess either.” a bitter chuckle, and he offers at least a small attempt at a grin. “I’m assuming you got some sleep too. I don’t think I can recall everything that happened, but I’m glad that bothersome week is over with. I almost lost it.”

Judging by how fast the other is to turn and face him, it is indeed evident to the ginger punster that Tougou has most certainly recovered well from...well, the state he was, which is reassuring. A look of gladness is on the teacher’s face for it, but the fact is he finds it exceedingly hard to be as openly cheery and optimistic, despite Clive’s words.

It seems like...it would be disrespectful to Daiki and Wataru, to smile and laugh like nothing happened...but he keeps that to himself. “Yes, I am indeed Justin. It is good Thyme-ing that we met again.” He’ll ALWAYS take the chance to make jokes of his own last name. That will never change. “I should very well hope I look somewhat less tired, but I always look tired a lot, sadly. That being said, yes, I did get some sleep - at very least, everyone is more coherent now.”

At what cost, though? He wishes that was a cost nobody had to pay. That being said, he’s pretty sure Tougou DID lose it in the trial...but is too nice to say so, and he muses instead:

As someone who had likely encountered more death than someone his age should have, Clive couldn’t feel the sliver of remorse for Justin’s self-pity. For Justin to think this was his problem alone was selfish at best, disrespectful at worst. Coddling the man would surely do no good, as clearly it hadn’t last time. This time, Clive was more direct. “Just who exactly do you think you are?”

Clive snaps, his eyes narrowed at the teacher. His tone is as accusatory as his expression, and it doesn’t falter with even the smallest flicker of pity. “You don’t have any control over anyone here, and you’re a fool to think that you could have stopped Goro, or Wataru, or Monokuma, or the next person, from doing any of this; and to think that you’re to blame is even more foolish.”

Clive finally breaks from his harsh tone, quietly finishing his thoughts behind a steaming cup of tea. “None of them would have wanted to see you shirking your responsibilities and giving up on the little hope we have of surviving. That, I’m sure of.”

Justin’s distant, faded look remained on the background: even when the student demanded who he thought he was. “I am a teacher...did I not have a responsibility, for their sake, to look over them? To...to try to hold them back from such things, or protect them with my life?” 

Somehow, that phrase rings strangely, despite his tone of resigned giving up. Almost like he has held someone back from such things before...but his head hurts too much when he tries to think of it, and so he does not. Yet the other’s words next hit the ginger teacher like a cold slap in the face: not just that musing of no control over anyone, but shirking responsibility.

“I....I wish I could have stopped them, despite the fact you are right in saying I am a fool to think I could have. I wish that so much...”

The pain and distress at so many students falling is evident on his face. In the end, though...if he simply gives up and refuses to step forward at all, he’d be even more of a disappointment of a teacher than he already is, by letting them down once again - not to mention ignoring duties. He....as a teacher, even if a failure of one, owes them that much.

“I don’t even know if there is any hope...how is anyone going to find us out in the ocean and save us like this? - but you’re right. I...I owe it to them, and to you, to at least try...”

It was a shame, the way things had escalated so quickly, and the reality of their situation had set in. Though Clive wasn’t completely exhausted anymore, he still didn’t have quite as much energy as he’d hoped. He takes the time to make two cups of tea, one for himself and one in front of the distant teacher. His eyes were red, but he was there, as vacant as his expression was. 

The young man gives no hesitation when he sits down beside Justin, taking a sip of his own tea before pointing out the obvious. 

“You’re wasting your time, sitting around crying like this,” he says coldly. “Surely you have something better to do.”

The teacher’s eyes remained unfocused, distant - distraught. Not even the placing of a tea cup directly in front of him caught his eye or attention: it took until the other actually spoke for the teacher to respond to his presence, head slowly turning in a slow, regretful manner. The movements of one who had given up.

“Why bother? I’m nothing but a burden who fails all my students every time I wish to act, anyway.” A low, self-mocking laugh with no joy in it, there. “I...I couldn’t do anything. Just as my side affect from not sleeping was, I couldn’t...be there to listen, to protect...it would have been better for all the students if it were me punished instead, instead of three folk who’ve done nothing but good.” Daiki had kept them alert to danger, Wataru the optimist. Bendy, too...but that was ruined.

The concerns Justin had didn’t even cross Tougou’s mind, let alone the idea of having to kill someone to put an end to his lack of sleep. His loopy behavior only has him giggling more, nodding at the handshake before giving a firm squeeze in return. 

“Nice to meet you too… thank you for the coffee.” he chuckles, taking the coffee in both hands and pressing the cup to his lips and sounding as if he were taking a sip, but…nothing. He wasn’t tilting the cup back enough to actually take a sip.

He stared at it in a daze, before looking back to Justin. 

“It’s good. Not liquid, but warm.”

The handshake doesn’t seem to have woken up the other one bit: the fact he didn’t even tip the cup he was holding back all the way to drink the coffee properly was enough indication that the poor fellow was still rather out of it, as was the dazed look he gave at not getting any liquid.

“It might help if you tipped the cup far back enough to take a sip, Tougou - but here, allow me to be of assistance.”