The End of the Rainbow

"You made it this far. Those who still walk are deserving of great praise, and you have done as you were told. But there are new secrets that this town holds. So, continue to explore, you're nearly there."

[bdb-niji-blog]

Curtain Call

And…. cut!

So wraps up BDB2, and what an adventure it’s been. The mod team extends its gratitude to all of the players, artists, and followers that made it possible. First, a bit regarding the game itself.

You may continue to interact on the Niji blog for as long as you would like, and you may do as much postgame content as you’d like as well. Threads, reactions, what your oc would do following the events of the game - all of those are a-okay.

Thank you again to the players and artists that made it possible. It’s no secret that there were some rough patches and issues that cropped up, but we appreciate that you stuck with us and hopefully brought the game to a satisfying conclusion. And to the mods, to Dia and Lissa and Liam, thank you so much for offering your help to run the game, and for doing a great job with Midori and other duties.

Now, onto the next announcement. As previously stated, there will be a BDB3! Currently, it is planned to have one class, codename BDB3:C, and the class size will be anywhere from 20-30 students including mod characters. The mod talents are Adoptables Maker, AI Programmer, and Tarot Card Reader, though variations on these talents are more than welcome. The list of inapplicable talents can be found here, though aside from the mod character talents, any others are fair game including from past BDB games and canon.

As for where BDB3:C is located, well… Information about it is kept under-wraps, so look to the future for details.

And regarding the start of the application period, the mods still have work to do to prepare, so keep posted for announcements on the main blog. The application form is complete and up to date, so feel free to begin working on your applications. We can’t wait to see them :3c

Also, the link to deadblog, a haunting experience to be certain...

Thanks once again for your participation and interest in our game, and we hope to see you in Beyond Despair’s Bounds 3!

[bdb-niji-blog]

Buncha TOOLs || Endgame Epilogue

A few months later, back in TOOL headquarters, one Lydinyk Nox was pacing around in front of a row of teenagers.

“In the past, our groups within TOOL have worked individually of each other, the unit you’ve been assigned was particularly affected by this. Of course, this was done in order to keep the secrecy of our groups in case our field agent got captured.”

Lydinyk paused and sighed, knowing it much better not to bring that topic up with this group.

“... However I’ve decided to change this policy. While Long will remain the strategist behind your cell, you will now be a three man group rather than two, and you’ll be operating closely with our communications team.”

He looked at the members. Two new, one old.

“From now on, you won’t be relying on deception to gain information. Instead, we’ll be making full use of your talents. You two will be our field operative, one focusing on stealth and the other will be your spotter. I think that fits your particular talents nicely~”

The two males stand at attention, affirming their new boss’s suggestion with a firm “Yes, sir.” It was obvious by their female companion’s more relaxed demeanor that they were the newbies.

“Also in the past, I had you act independently. While you’ll still have times in which I will ask you to do that, right now though, I have a specific task in mind for you for your first job as a group.”

He pauses, taking his place behind his desk and picking up a manilla folder.

“Rumors have begun spreading about suspicious activity in the Hida Mountains area. I know that it’s a large area, and i don’t expect you to tackle this job quickly, but we need information. I’ve secured a living space for you in a nearby city. It’s a tourist town, so you should fit right in. Use this time to get to know each other and learn to work together. I’ve pulled out all the stops for you three. As you gather info, report it to comms. No need to wait for the full story, I’ll update your tasks as you go, is that understood?”

A sudden response.

“Yes Sir!”

Lydinyk smiled, handing the file over to the female.

“Good, you’re dismissed.”

[bdb-niji-blog]

Interdimensional Journey || Epilogue

Meanwhile….

A small teenager clad in a black robe slowly opened his eyes. Over the course of the past day, he had observed a turmoil of emotions - a group of students around his own age discovering the masterminds in their midst, said masterminds being executed, the dead students in the forms of data being given another chance, and them all returning back to their homes. And, with that all was peaceful.

But not quite, as he was still stranded back in Japan with a mirror he enchanted as his only companion. So, the adolescent had once more called on his powers, and here he was in a bizarre dark realm filled with several teal portals with glowing light swirling in and out of them, interdimensional wormholes.

As many times as I do it, I’ll never get used to it… It’s gorgeous though, I’ll say it’s something I appreciate.

Hair swirling about his face, he moved towards one of them, before abruptly blinking. A flash had drawn his focus to another one of the wormholes, and he changed direction to examine its source.

Mmmh? Wh~?

Once he drew close, he blinked and tilted his head to the side, before speaking, voice loud and clear even to the other.

“Hello there! Ah.... you’re a long way from where you originated, I wager.”

He cut himself off before long, noticing the sorry state the other was in. Shaking his head from side to side, he offered another remark.

“Ah, I’ll… I’ll get you home. Please relax as best as you can.”

I can do this. They struggled enough…

Reaching a hand out, he brushed his fingers against the other’s right shoulder, before guiding them back down to the wormhole he was about to pass through.

“And we’ll be back to safety soon. But, ah… sorry, may I ask what your name is?

The stranger could do nothing but stare in disbelief as the other spoke. Eventually straining a smile. A lot had gone through his mind in that moment, but finally, he responded.

“I don’t have a name or a home to return to, but if you want to save me, then so be it.”

And the robe-clad person and the nameless stranger entered. They, too, would return home.

{sprite credit: chell! thank you!}

[bdb-niji-blog]

Home Again || Endgame

After what feels like days but is likely only hours, you arrive back at what’s hopefully a safe location. Though anything’s likely safer than the hellish situation you were previously in. Stepping into TOOL headquarters, several of the people you’re with simply leave you be, telling you that you’re able to explore around. It feels like an office building with sprawling hallways, but no matter where you look, you can't find any windows. You can't tell if you're underground or 20 stories up, perhaps that helps lend itself to TOOL'S secrecy, but strangely enough, it doesn't feel too much like confinement. Some people in suits scurry around, paying you no mind, allowing you to mostly roam the facility.

Quickly, you're given temporary rooms within the facility with any luxury you could imagine. The strangest thing, however, are the other groups of people who appear to be teenagers as well running around like they own the place. Any explanation about them is that they're similarly talented students, personally scouted by the boss- but to you they just seem like groups of misfits and delinquents. Nobody seems to be able to explain Lyd's criteria except that it works.

Over the next week, multiple officials come to pull you out for questioning. What happened back in the other dimension, what your experiences were, etcetera. It is all a bit of a blur. Nevertheless, you are well-tended to, and between the interrogating you aren’t short of activities to do including talking with the others in the company.

However, after about a week or so, you’re summoned to a meeting room of some sort. Lydinyk informs you all that you’re free, and that TOOL workers will be with you shortly to escort you to wherever you wish. Finally, the hell of mutual killing is over, it seems.

Meanwhile, the deceased had indeed been brought back to life, as Hanzo promised. To you, wishes for your memories had been obeyed, and they had either been kept or had the time in Ryuuko-jou and Niji erased from your mind before you, too, were set free to return where you wished.

Indeed, you were finally free after all the hell you endured. Free, to go wherever you pleased without fearing for your life. Despite the unease you heard talk of occurring in Japan, you also heard people were working to restore harmony once more.

Harmony, and hope.

[bdb-niji-blog]

I Have Known the Man for Ages… || Endgame

And just like that, it was over. The masterminds had given their ultimatum, the students from both sides had responded, and they both had been dragged away and executed. Silence ensued in the courtroom afterwards, not even the newcomers speaking for a good minute or so afterwards. Finally, a voice comes from one side of the courtroom, and you turn to look.

“Now then, arms please.”

Lyd spoke to Fuu after walking over to her, holding out a pair of handcuffs. The elevator was still on ground level, so even if she wanted to escape, she’d have to wait around. Surrendering she turned around and placed her arms behind her, no longer saying a word, but the expression on her face had changed at some point, from one of disbelief to one of anger and dissatisfaction.

“I’m going to go survey damages, if someone could please assist Onowai-kun over there, I think you’ll find he has no reason to harm you without a payor. I’m going to lock this one up and then survey the damages. I can trust someone else will make the portal preparations, no?”

Just like that, the interdimensional traveller and the one affiliated with the group responsible had left the room, once more leaving it in silence. An awkward shuffling from over to the side alerted you to the fact that Midoritarou had gone over to Oyesu and was attempting to tend to his injuries, pulling out a medical box. He bandaged the other’s injuries while muttering to himself, face tinting a bright red and sweat pooling down his cheeks to the wooden floor.

“Please….. S s stay calm… Things will be ok k k kay as long as you stay safe.”

Midoritarou’s attitude was surprisingly very confident by his standards, and the groundskeeper had moved on to his attempts to stitch up the other’s clothing and was trying to inspect Oyesu’s legs.

“I thank you for your assistance, friend but,” Oyesu grunts in pain, reacting to the disinfectant. “... I have had worse.”

Upon removing Oyesu’s other boot, Midoritarou would likely be shocked to see that inside was a wooden peg, protruding from the end of his leg where his foot should have been. Well. That explained the limp and the cane… sword.

Midoritarou only glances briefly at his other leg, rolling down the pant leg and shaking his head from side to side. He was shocked for sure, but to the groundskeeper that wasn’t something that required his attention as of now. After all, you couldn’t bleed from a wooden leg, could you? Nevertheless, he stood up and bowed deeply at Oyesu before responding.

“S s sir, you should be good to go. Please d d don’t strain yourself, alright? Here, yeah…”

He offered a bony hand to the man, waiting patiently. Hopefully he could support the other, with his scrawny frame and all.

[bdb-niji-blog]

Return Journey || Endgame

“And there you have it! We all have a way home, and you can’t leave here without accompanying us. It’s almost like you’ll be under arrest! … Oh wait.”

“Tch. Like it matters. Even if I end up in Prison, the power of connections goes a long way.”

“What connections?”

Lydinyk’s expression was stern, as though there was something that Fuu Takaguchi, and everyone else in the room didn’t realize. The silence that followed his implication lasted only a couple of seconds, but it felt like minutes had passed. He knew something that nobody else did.

“Hanzo did not activate the EMP Bomb on this side of the portal- He activated it from within the dimensional space between the two portals. And you saw the effects of what happened on this end, right? The Takaguchi Corporation’s power grid was all connected to the energy you were siphoning from here, and with that cut off, it sure would be a shame if my police force were to have been stationed outside your building and infiltrated while the power was down.”

The man chuckled.

“Hmm… I’d say right about now my men would be placing your father under arrest. Sorry to break this to you, but you have no connections. The Takaguchi Corporation did, but not anymore.”

You didn’t have to see the look on her face to know what was going through her mind. It was all finally over, and you, the survivors, would be going home

[bdb-niji-blog]

Falcon in the Dive || Endgame

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Fuu Takaguchi chimed in from her position against the wall.

“Oh, and what might that be?”

“Your ‘Spy’ just destroyed our portal, and you just sent off that kid with your means of getting out of here, and our resident dimensional slider is apparently dead! There is no way back home!”

“You. Really didn’t do your research on this place, did you? Seriously. This is why we at TOOL don’t act without a full grasp on the situation. Kumi wasn’t the only one capable of using dimensional magic. According to my information ‘That Cat should also be capable of using dimensional magic.’ I assume that ‘That Cat’ refers to you. Miss… I don’t believe I caught your name?”

Lydinyk rotated himself, turning to face Maru. In response, the cat-woman flicked her ear at the new arrival, appearing completely nonplussed by this turn of events. She responded cooly and calmly, glancing away as she did.

“Yes, I know how to operate the dimensional portal. Kai also knows how to operate it, but, well…”

As opposed to the teary expression the exorcist wore before, at this point she simply stared at what was happening and the strangers who had gotten inside the courtroom with red, puffy eyes. At Maru’s comment, though, she abruptly stood up and responded sharply.

“I can do it too. Don’t think I can’t. If it means this whole thing will just get over and done with, I’ll do it.”

[bdb-niji-blog]

Bird’s Song || Endgame

“Well. That was certainly… something.”

“Something” was one word for it. It’s not every day you watch a kid get dragged literally into hell from the same room as you.

“Is this the hell you’ve all been going through these past months? I knew it was bad but this is something else entirely.”

The blonde haired man rubs his temples, contemplating things.

“Well, whatever. It’s fine, you’ll all be free to go on with your lives once we get you all back to Earth.”

[bdb-niji-blog]

Hanzexit || Execution

It was almost time. Hanzo had been sitting in the portal room, watching the timer. He didn’t know what was going on in the courtroom now. What kind of uproar he had… or hadn’t caused with the class. And for what it mattered, he didn’t care. All that mattered now was the timer on the bomb in front of him. The countdown to the end of all of this, and if everything went according to plan… It would be his end too. For real this time. No dopplegangers. No convenient distractions. Just him, his earpiece, and his bomb.

He had seen better days. Those Takaguchi soldiers sure had done a number on him… His body had seen better days, and not just from the bullet wound in his shoulder. His clothing had been torn in the scuffle getting the bomb from point A to point B, leaving cuts and bruises all over. But this was nothing.

“... Hey, do me a favor, would ya?”

Hanzo spoke into the earpiece as the timer ticked into the last minute. His fake accent remaining in his voice.

“If you ever meet my brother, tell him I’m gone. Not sayin’ yous have to look for him but… The kid deserves t’ know the truth.”

Presumably he was speaking to the same woman you heard on the PA before.

“Thanks.”

The countdown began beeping audibly as it slowly got lower and lower.

“Well then, looks like it’s time for me t’ go…”

Standing up, he positioned himself behind the bomb and began pushing it towards the portal. Just before entering, he smiled, reaching up to his earpiece he spoke one last time.

“See you on the other side.”

Before pulling it off of his ear, dropping it to the ground, and entering the dimensional subspace between portals.

At first you couldn’t hear it, but you could see the energy of the portal beginning to glow, then the sparks began flying and finally a loud explosion. The portal short circuited first, and very soon after, the camera view went static, it's white noise filling the trial room until you felt it there too and the screen went black.

As for the Spy? This was his hell now.

Hanzo Onowai, Super High School Level Agent Spy and mastermind, has been executed

{art by: mai}

[bdb-niji-blog]

Wicked Witch of The Forest || Execution

Even in the end Aoi remained as unaffected as usual, after revealing her whole master plan once she had been found out, Aoi's sickening sweet smile never faltered. It was almost unnerving in a way. Giving the rest of her classmates one last smug condescending look as the cold collar clamped around her neck and dragged her out of the trial room. Aoi didn't even seem worried or scared in the slightest. Instead she looked almost confident in a way...?

Afterwards there was darkness, no one could see anything and for a moment it seemed as if nothing was going to happen. Then all of a sudden there's a sound. A soft distant sound of a bird chirping that seems to be getting louder with each second. Before anyone can questions what's going on there's a sudden brightness, almost blindingly so, that gradually grows softer as it's revealed Aoi standing in the middle of a rather serene forest. Leaves rustle and flowers are gently waving in the breeze as the sun is shining down on her. Small forest critters scutter about peacefully as a small bird flutters down next to the Mori Girl herself. Squinting at the bird for a brief moment, Aoi's gaze darts around the forest suspiciously. Huh... Was this really it? This was pretty relaxed for an execution, wasn't it?

The scene looked almost peaceful in a way.

Almost.

Just as soon as it arrived everything started to turn south real fast. Dark grey storm clouds were suddenly shrouding the once sunny clear sky above and the entire forest grew dark and ominous. The songbird that had been sitting next to her just moments before quickly flew off. Various birds starting flying away as various forest critters began to scurry away in fear. They all seemed to be running away from something.

What was once a serene moment was suddenly taking a turn for the worse. Thunder echoed throughout the forest as the earth below her shook violently. Trees around her started to fall and crash around her from the sheer force of the tremendous shaking. While Aoi's demeanor remained unchanged, but she began. started to loose balance. Stumbling and wobbling, she quickly struggled to grasp and hold on to the branches of a nearby fallen tree in order to keep herself upright.

Suddenly, the earth in front of her began to crack open. Splintering apart as a bright purple light filtered out into the chaotic scene above. Along with the light came a faint sound of something... Inhuman, coming out from the fissure itself. Demonic sounding whispers and murmurs echoing out from the depths below. As it began to crack open even more, thunder boomed out and the wind blew around her furiously.

She should be afraid, look nervous, or at least have that condescending smirk wiped off her face for once. Instead Aoi actually looks...Surprisingly quite amused as she glances at the cracked ground in front of her.

As the crack got wide enough, the tremors suddenly stopped. Looking almost mystified, Aoi looked around bewildered. Just then, something moved. While hard to make out at first, Aoi had realized that dozens of eerie pitch black claws began to emerge from the crack. Their movements were unruly as the dark tendrils snaked about and slowly approaching the bemused student. Aoi made no effort to back up. Standing her ground as she stared at the appendages with a wicked grin.

Without warning, one of the shot out at her with great speed. Piercing right through her shoulder in a clean cut.

Suddenly screeching out in pain, Aoi staggered back with a pained gasp as the tendril pulled back and more started to creepy closer. Clutching her now bleeding shoulder in pain, Aoi's once condescending looked replaced one of pain and shock. From the horrified look on her face it was clear to say she wasn't expecting... The Pain? Being attacked? It was hard to tell, but something wasn't quite right.

This wasn't what she expected at all.

She started to panic, gazing at the now bloodied claws with wide eyes as her breathing became ragged. It seems her fight or flight instincts had finally kicked in as she backed up and tried to frantically look for an exit or a place to hide. Much to her dismay, it seemed in her moments of arrogance earlier she had failed to notice the fallen trees that had blocked her in from all sides. Leaving her trapped.

Growing nervous, she notices the tendrils shoot out at her once more a bit too late. While she attempts to dive out of the way she’s unfortunately too slow, the claws pierce into and tightly grab onto her ankle. Hissing out in pain, blood starts to pool from her leg as the claws tighten its grip. Slowly it begins to drag her back towards the fissure.

It doesn't take her long to realize what's going on her eyes fly wide open. Aoi starts thrashing about and kicking wildly, grabbing on to whatever rock or branch she can to try and pull herself free herself from the claws piercing tight grip. No no no, this wasn't suppose to happen. She can't die! She's way too powerful and important to die!

Others seems to grab on to her as well, reinforcing their grip. Aoi starts to wheeze and grow more panicked as she's dragged closer and closer to the edge. She barely manages to grab hold of the ledge as the claws drag her downwards. Struggling to keep herself from falling with a panicked wheeze, her fingers dig into the ground tightly. Unfortunately it seemed all of her previous thrashing about had tired her out and her grip seems to be faltering. No no no not like this not like-!!

With loud crack of thunder, Aoi loses her grip and is ultimately dragged down with a screech.

Then suddenly, it all stops. The thunder stops, the wind grows silent, and the murmurs coming from the fissure go quiet. Even Aoi’s screams eventually grow silent. For a couple of minutes there's nothing but an eerie silence.

Finally, after a long wait, everyone can just barely make out the faint sound of a sickening thud.

Aoi Kobayashi, SHSL Mori Girl and mastermind, has been executed.

{art by: mai}

[bdb-niji-blog]

Catgirls Just Wanna Have Fun || Endgame

After the discussions ended, a small cough came from over near the podiums, and you turned to see Maru with eyes closed and hand in front of her mouth, ineffectively concealing a grin. She seemed to be invested in the proceedings, a far cry from the stern authoritarian image she presented before

“Ah…. pardon. I don’t mean to cut in, but if we’re done…”

She turned and glanced to both Aoi and Hanzo.

“I have executions to attend to… and a fugitive to cap-. Oh perhaps... Ah, either way!”

With that confusing statement, she pressed the lever next to Kumi’s former throne.

[bdb-niji-blog]

until the earth is free || jo

Terrorists? Government organizations? Spies? It was like Jo was already home.

They were quiet as they listened, as they had been quiet the past few days or weeks or whatever. Time didn’t really matter here, did it? They were dead, that’s what mattered. Dead, dead, dead. And it was their own fault, too, their own careless decisions, their own recklessness.

But they didn’t regret it. As much as they knew they should, they didn’t. They’d learned from what they’d experienced here, and they didn’t want to forget it.

“Uh... hey there.”

Who was left that they had even talked to before? Most of their friends had been here, with them. Not that that mattered much, they had been in a bit of a daze since... events happened.

“So, uh, guess dyin’ ain’t exactly th’ short end a the stick here. Weird, I always expected it ta be different. Instead, it’s just m’ life but I’m dead. We even got all th’ shady government stuff, an’ the investigations, and th’ cool technology. Nothin’s different ‘cept I’m not at center stage fer once. It’s a weird feelin’, an’ I ain’t sure I like it.”

There’s that smile, the one that had been gone for so long.

“I know I didn’t talk to a lot a ya, or most a ya, since I, well, died before I could meet ya, but I’ll tell ya this - helpin’ people is what I do. Takin’ down corrupt organizations is what I do. I dunno how what happened here slipped by me, but somehow it did, and we all suffered ‘cause a it. I don’t want this shit ta happen again, and I don’t want y’all ta suffer anymore.

Break.

“I dunno what I can do, ‘m just a hacker after all, but whatever I can do to help ya, I will. Hell, bein’ a hacker might make me more fit fer this job. Anyways, just... just don’t give up hope, ya hear? I’m fightin’ for ya, we’re fightin’ for ya. Yer not alone, and ya won’t be forgotten, ‘cause I ain’t ‘bout ta forget any of ya, or any of what happened here.”

And with that, they press the button.

[bdb-niji-blog]

Bring Me to Life || Kumi + Sora

Kumi’s experience in the realm of the dead had been filled with fear and hurt. Those had come to comfort them, those they longed to thank, but their entire experience up until the trial had been miserable. Then it turned out that the person believed to have been guilty was actually innocent, and the fact stood that their killer was still roaming free. They didn’t even get the dignity of knowing who offed them, and in such painful a method. But there they were, standing with their shoulders heaving from the exertion of the pain and usage of their magic reserves, before they glanced to the side. A form had flickered at the edge of their vision, and they turned to the side with their eyes wide as a familiar face appeared.

“...You?”

Approaching cautiously, Kumi glanced at the stranger, realizing just who they were. They weren’t a stranger after all, even years of being apart couldn’t scratch the image of the other from their mind. For the first time since their demise, the fox-person found a smile touching upon their features, and their eyes lit up.

“Kum-san!”

The other had recognized Kumi, and was the first to make a move - racing up to the smiling fox-person and throwing her arms around them. Despite her translucency, the other was still solid to them, and the two embraced for a good minute before Kumi spoke, their voice barely audible to anyone not close to the individual.

“Sora-nee-san… I missed you so much.”

Pearly tears had begun welling up in the corners of Kumi’s eyes, and they removed their mask, wiping at them with their sleeve. Turning to the side to see what was unfolding, they returned their gaze back to their sister, then gently took her hand.

“Don’t worry, I’m okay. We’ll be fine. Just listen to what Hanzo-san has to say.”

At this, Sora looked to the side.

“Hanzo-san? But he’s… Oh… Alright.”

Then back to Kumi.

“Alright, Kumkum, I trust you. I think we have a lot to catch up on!”

She spun around in a circle, nearly tripping over her robes, with Kumi catching her before she fell. The two walked over to one of the podiums with Kumi themself speaking next, their voice becoming audible to all at this point.

“Hello, everyone. I’m sure you missed me so much.”

Bitterness oozed from their words, but they glanced to the side as Sora bumped their arm with her elbow and frowned at them. Sighing, the fox-person continued to talk, though in a more happy tone.

“Anyways, to whoever killed me, I hate you. I hope you make the wrong choice and spend the rest of your life with my-”

Another bump, and an audible “mh MHM” was heard, followed by an exasperated “please”. However Kumi continued speaking, tone steady.

“So… You are all faced by a choice. When I am faced by a choice, I tend to run away from my problems, as I have my whole life. I will not run away from them now, rest assured, and I will try my hardest to help you.”

They hesitated, tapping their finger against the wood of their podium.

“The fact that I am not one for motivational speeches does not deter me - after all, I motivated you enough to kill one another. Perhaps I can push you to bring yourselves back to life? Go, go, you can do it. You’re all number one, despite most of you, you know, dying. Whatever, this is out of my hands right now. I did my part to revive you all so I hope that shows how much I care.”

A scuffling ensued, before halting, and Kumi spoke again.

“Soon, you will get out of here, I assume? I know what Sora and I are going to do, but before then, some last words.”

The individual paused, and spoke precisely.

“To Aoi. Boy, your plan failed, didn’t it! And you brought back someone I didn’t ever want to see again.”

A hesitation.

“To Hanzo-san. Thank you, you’re doing us all a solid. I enjoyed spending time with you.”

Another.

“To Mitsuki-san. You’re doing your best, and I believe in you.”

Another.

“To Sonozaki. I’m sorry you could never see where I came from. Maybe you’ll understand, eventually someday. Also, fuck you.”

Another.

“To Aoiko-san and Midoritarou-san. Thank you. You’re some of the best friends I could ask for, and I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully here.”

Another, with a slight element of sorrow.

“To Maru. I….  don’t try finding me. Please just leave me alone. I’m not going to try anything, I just want to live out my life freed.”

Another, longer.

“And to Shiroi…”

They took in a long breath and exhaled, cheeks turning pink.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, for everything. I lo…. Mm… I’ll see you sometime, okay?”

The fox-person turned to their sister, and nodded firmly.

“Ready?”

And the courtroom fell quiet, free from them again.

[bdb-niji-blog]

stop pretending, take a chance to build a brand new day || sosuke || endgame

In the end, Sosuke Hatagami remained mostly silent. Listening, observing, his head low as he absorbed every word, every revelation. His game’s mastermind… someone he liked, someone he grew to care about, someone he trusted…

She was the one who saw him at his lowest, investigated alongside him for most of the investigation regarding Artie’s passing.

And all this time, all of that, she had been lying to him.

(was this some sort of sick joke? some twisted payback for how he’d lied about his identity for all of four years?)

But his feelings couldn’t, wouldn’t, change anything, when did they ever. Aoi was still the mastermind, he didn’t have a choice in that matter.

But he did have a choice elsewhere. Regarding the game, what would happen to him after all was said and done, how much he remembered… he could forget… all of it, if he so chose.

...he’d already made his decision, hadn’t he?

Sosuke pondered in the late nights more than he’d like to admit, if he’d be better off forgetting the existence of Misuzu Hatagami entirely.

It had been her passing that made him the way he is now, wasn’t it? The reason for all the emotional pain behind that cheery, goofy, ultimately ineffectual villain wannabe act? He threw on a mask to avoid having to accept that loss, something that ultimately proved no good when he was thrust into a situation that ended in the passing of a close friend, not long before his own death.

What if he could just… forget. Forget why passing by the spare room just across from his made that ache in his chest come back. Forget why every instance of siblings he’d see, in person or in media or what have you, filled him with a biting nostalgia. Forget why he pursued an interest in machinery that left him wistful when he really thought back on it.

Forget why “Arashi Fukui” ever existed. Forget why he ever stopped being “Sosuke Hatagami”.

But he never would.

Because for all the sadness her death may have brought, he still had the memories. She wasn’t alive anymore, but she used to be. Him being alive, able to remember those memories, remember her, it made her life… mean something, to someone.

It was the very same for this scenario.

If everyone forgot about the Mutual Killing scenario in the horrid castle he’d spent god knows how long in - someone he evidently wouldn’t have to worry about, thanks to Kayo and An at least, by the looks of it - then it all would have meant nothing in the end. Even if he had to remain under watch for the rest of his life, even if he couldn’t do much with the information he held onto…

...in the end, Misuzu Hatagami was still dead. Sosuke slipping into a different persona and denying the memories of her didn’t chance that, it never did. Doing so after this was said and done… wouldn’t either. His memories of his sister made her death mean something, even if it left him sad…

In the end, the Mutual Killing games still happened, and no amount of forgetting would change that. What it would change was whether or not he could make it, make the lives and deaths and suffering of the victims of such a horrid circumstance, mean something, even if only to him.

Perhaps in the beginning, Sosuke would’ve asked ‘what would Arashi do?’, clinging desperately to a persona that slipped away with each passing week in the castle. Sosuke would’ve asked ‘what would Misuzu do?’, in the hopes that his deceased sibling knew the right answer, the right answer that didn’t exist, because nothing about this was right but it couldn’t be helped, could it?

But in the end... he was Sosuke Hatagami, and the decision was his and his alone.

(and he was terrified of making that decision, but he didn’t have a choice in that, did he?)

...And with that in mind, waited it out, listening, observing… before pressing the button just near the end of it all.

[bdb-niji-blog]

Red, the Dawn of a New Day || Akemi

Akemi al-Amari had seen quite a few things in her life. Made her residence in two countries, dealt with the fact that she never quite fit in a social circle at school, finally finding friends, and dying. Though the last part was something she tried her best to shove out of her mind as of late, she couldn’t help but glance over to the very person who murdered her, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. Still, the girl paid close attention to the others in the room; one of the skills she had meticulously trained her entire life was her ability to observe her environment and listen closely to what the others were saying, so she did that and waited to see what would unfold. The speechwriter’s heart pounded inside her chest, turning from a dull thump to a forceful throbbing, adrenaline coursing through her body. A grin involuntarily made its way onto her features, and she leaned forward on her podium as she fixed her gaze on the others.

“Well, I don’t really have much to say. No long last messages, no sappy speeches, no begging and pleading.”

The girl yawned, and despite her cheerful tone and the smile on her face, she quickly felt melancholy clasp its grip around her chest. Trying her best to ignore this, she instead focused on trying to use the time she had as best as she could.

“But I will try giving you encouragement. Even when things look bad, there’s frequently workarounds. We’re nearly outta here. Sorry for… you know, not being the most helpful person in the world.”

She paused, and swallowed the lump building in her throat.

“This isn’t the time to be sentimental, but… you know, I care about a lot of you. I made some really good friends here, one of whom just happened to be the mastermind, so before you go and accuse me of being in cahoots, let me be the first to tell you…”

You could almost hear the wink in her voice, before she finished up.

“You’re completely right.”

Seems even now, she got a kick out of messing with the other students. Akemi’s tone dropped to that of melancholy, and as she did she found herself unable to stop the tears that welled up, mere droplets in the corners of her eyes.

“Sorry. I’m sorry for not being more honest with all of you, but you can hear my apologies later. For now, I just… gotta say. Do what you feel is right. Do what you have to do to make sure you’re happy, think ahead to where you’ll be.”

A pause ensued, and she then continued, thinking all the while about what the outcome of this would be. If she could start a new life. If she could become someone better than who she was before this entire situation.

“Anyways, I’ll leave you all to it. And to the new people, I guess I should say enjoy the mess you’re going to make!”

Her voice brightened.

“See you on the other side!”

And she pressed the button.

[bdb-niji-blog]

And Sweet || An

An felt slightly better after speaking with Kayo.  At least he knew that the two of them would be getting out together.  It was confusing out there, certainly, what with Hanzo and Fuu’s contradicting words, and all the chaos that was going on.  It seemed like in these final few minutes, everything had lost all sense.

That all certainly made the choice harder...for the living.  They could choose who to trust, who to believe, who to follow.  The dead didn't have that luxury.  An looked up from the chaos of the living few to gaze around the circle of dead kids in the trial room.  It really hit him, then, just how many had died here; they vastly outnumbered the kids who were alive.  But hopefully, with any luck, they'd all be coming back to life.  With even more luck, they might even be able to get back to normal lives!

Of course, that only worked if they could come back at all.  He had to trust Hanzo on that front, he couldn't influence Hanzo from here.  But the others?  As Kayo had shown, he could send a message to the others…

“Uh, hey everyone.  Hope this is reaching you.”

Well, at least he wasn’t doing an awful fake accent.

“So, uh, seems like you all have a choice to make here.  It must be nice, to have a choice.  Decide who you’re gonna trust, and you know you’re probably gonna come out of it alive, so, good on you.”  Had he been putting venom into his voice, this might’ve sounded bitter, even accusatory, but right now, it just seemed matter of fact.  “Anyway, you all have that choice, so you all can do what’s best for you.  Don’t waste it.  Do what you think would be right for you, and just follow that.  Yeah.  Follow your intuition, I guess.

...

“I do want you all to keep this in mind, though,” he added.  “You all have a choice.  All of us, the people who died?  We don’t have that choice.  We just have to decide to be revived, choose to keep or erase our memories, and hope that we actually wake up on the other end.  So, please, be kind.  Don’t leave us out to dry, here.  Some of us have done bad things, sure, but some of us are completely innocent.  Don’t condemn all of us, please.”

There was a pause, then he began to talk again, his tone drastically changed.

“And to the person who killed Kumi-san -- once we all get out of here, I have every intention of keeping my memories. I’ll still remember that one of you killed them and got away with it. I will find out who you are.  And I will make you pay. Make no mistake about that.”

An went quiet again, but faint shouting from behind him could be heard.  “Hm?” he said, leaning back to listen.

“Okay, one more thing.  Kato-san, if you could please return Kayo-san’s glasses to him when he wakes up and we’re all out of here?  It’d be much appreciated.  Thanks.”

And thus the con man was finally silent.  Looking over at Kayo, he waited until the child had hit the button and disappeared, then hit the button himself.  Time to see everyone on the flipside.

[bdb-niji-blog]

Bitter || Kayo

“Hello, everyone.”

That-

That is the single most terrifying voice you’ve ever heard. As if someone is trying to fake a Southern accent (or is it supposed to be a New York one? It’s bad enough that you sincerely have to ask yourself this). A droning, lifeless quality to it that sucks even the slightest realism out of it.

“Yes, hello. Though you”, a very strained “you” comes out, as if the person is struggling to pronounce it more than any word,” can’t see me, I am really admiring my new suit, identical to the last. It keeps me looking the way I want to- Evil. Secretive. Stylish, or so I think. But the suit comes with a price, a terrible price in fact. i sacrifice both common sense and politeness in order to reach my goals of doing something. I’m not going to tell you what, but I can assure you that it’s sketchy. Instead of stabbing like, one person, I gotta pretend i killed someone for some reason and then blow up everyone's shit. As always, I know this is a great plan. Thanks me. Great job me. Boy, do I love to be rude and have no eyes. I’m Hanzo Onowai and I wear a suit.”

The claims of being Hanzo Onowai are…. dubious at best, seriously whoever this is should not consider taking up a career in acting, but still they sound extremely familiar.

Guess who?

“Yeah. Hi. It’s me.”

It’s bad.

(Well, not so bad anymore since you hopefully don’t have to suffer through another terrible Hanzo impression).

Even with his usual poking fun at people, Kayo’s voice was clearly strained, definitely more than his usual. He’d barely stopped crying, but it was still embarrassing, still going to tarnish his image.

The following words ended up much more muffled than usual,

“So, uh, yeah. Hey. Sticking around to see as much drama as I possibly can, I’ll say that, but, eh, make the right choice I guess. None of these options seem all that great, but I’d advise staying away from any furries claiming that magic is real in the future. Magic isn’t real.”

If Kayo Nagase was going to get heated over one thing, it was going to be the existence of “magic”, and the fact that magic was apparently the equivalent to some really intense programming skills, then Kayo was a wizard.

The words weren’t serious, but Kayo himself was. He wanted people to make the right choice, even with the looming possibility of he himself not having that option in the first place. Even if he didn’t know half the living people in the courtroom, and even if he knew one of them was a killer, he didn’t want them stuck in a dead end.

“Uh, anyways, I’ve already made my decision. Can’t exactly go home as normal at this point, and even if I did trust these people not to tamper with  our memories, like, I ain’t sacrificing my knowledge of being here over TOOTy McSuity’s apparent offer.”

With hitched breath, Kayo’s words had become little more than a whisper,

“Yeah. I’m going to leave soon, gotta wait up for someone, but ya can’t be forgetting me”, going quiet for a second, Kayo inhaled sharply, before bowing his head in resignation, “Yeah… So this is where I’m saying goodbye. See you all all.”

He sounded like he was saying goodbye to friends after an evening of hanging out, ones that he’d see tomorrow for definite, not people he wasn’t sure if he’d ever see again, not being in a state where he didn’t know if he’d even wake up again, but Kayo had no idea what else he could say.

Kayo wanted to say so much more, but he resigned himself to silence, slowly making his way back to his own podium.