Days and days pass in the underground bunker. It’s hard to tell how many when the sun doesn’t even greet you. The mental wear and tear begins to nag at you, claw at your mind. There’s very little to do down here. Everything’s so... regimented. Your food changes, only a little. Everything is on a strict schedule, the boredom begins to tear at you and slowly, you begin to feel number and number.
Maybe it’s almost a welcome sight when you spot LISE there in the front room, glowing that usual blue light.
“Good morning. Evening. Afternoon. Night. I am searching_for_mood... pleased to inform you all that your stay here might be over soon as the threats have almost been extinguished. But I will have to ask that you continue to stay down here until it is 100% Condition Green. But do not worry. It is in my programming that humans get bored easily. The underground must be weighing on you. So I have brought you an offer. Something with which to occupy your minds.“
The words appear on your devices and LISE’s soft words sound in your ears. Soon, there’s another new tab on your devices under the name: TRUTH OR ULTIMATUM.
“It should have finished downloading by now. This is entertainment I have created for you. It is split into Major and Minor. Each person will either have a Major Ultimatum and a Minor Truth or a Major Truth and Minor Ultimatum. I suppose what you choose to do with your truths is up to you. But if you do not complete the ultimatums given, you should expect a punishment in turn. This is how this game works, after all. Feel free to speak about your truths and ultimatums. But I wonder if everyone is better knowing those or not. It is your decision at the end of the day. You are the only one with the right and responsibility. Well then. There is more work to do. Process. Complete. Good morning. Evening. Afternoon. Night.”
And just like that, LISE fizzles out before your eyes once again. Your new tab on the device is bouncing. In the case of one Chuichi Genda, a replacement card has been sent to his room. It definitely looks shoddier than everyone else’s but it still works... generally speaking. It seems to cut out and stop working on occasion.
You could always not check your card at all. Perhaps that’s the safe pick. But the curiosity will always nag you...
After a lot of communiocation problems and static, Asao’s device finally fizzles back to life. It seems like Renri’s been trying to contact him for a while. Something that seems even clearer when she sighs with open relief upon seeing his face.
Though... speaking of faces... hers has seen better days. Her skin somehow seems paler, dark circles are under her eyes and a little trickle of bloodcan be seen from her noise.
“Asao-kun! Thank goodness... I kept trying to contact you but it was just static! I was so, so worried...“
“Renri-chan, your face! What happened...?“
She seems to notice too late what he’s referring to and wipes her face with an arm casually, offering him a worn smile.
“It’s okay! I’m okay, don’t worry. It’s just... been stressful.”
She pauses.
“To be honest... I’ve felt so hopeless as of late. It seems like, no matter what I do, it doesn’t help anyone. I can’t help my friends here or... you guys over there. But the way you’ve kept at it, all by yourself makes me think, it’s not so bad. And that I can try a little harder. So let’s just say I’m powering myself up!”
Renri offers a little laugh but her expression soon turns grave once again.
“... More importantly, Asao-kun, about you... you’re the one I’m worried about. See, I... did whatever I could to find out more information about the island. In the time I couldn’t reach you, I did everything I could. Searched through files, computer docs, eavesdropped and... you’re in danger. No, not just you. All of you are in really, really big trouble.”
[♫♫♫♫]
It’s probably something Asao could’ve guessed himself given the rampant AI and murders but something about Renri’s tone makes him sure that there’s something else at play.
She volunteers the information without being prompted.
“Do you... remember the technical difficulties we were having? That... wasn’t an accident. Something directly intefered with the communications. There was a panic over here for a little while. That’s when I heard it. You’re... you’re not alone on that island anymore. That island was designed originally for the eighteen of you and a handful of staff. Most of the other staff members were located elsewhere, to preserve their safety, with only the bravest staying behind... the Restoration Project was designed to rehabilitate those who’d fallen under Chiya Sakuno’s influence. In order to do that... volunteers from Hope’s Peak who were rescued from the wreckage willingly agreed to partner up with former Despairs. In order to try and reform them, several tests and challenges were devised. Ones to inspire you all to work together. It was... experimental, sure, but... that’s why it was so secret. There are a lot of people who still don’t know about it. That’s why... there was a safety measure implemented.“
She pauses after speaking for so long, that concern still visible.
“A way to destroy the whole island, all the technology, and everyone on it if a certain passcode was sent to the right system. Asao-kun... you’re... you’re on a ticking time bomb. And I... oveheard it.“
She clenches her eyes shut and releases a heavy breath.
“They’re debating whether or not to pull the plug right now. I said you weren’t alone on the island anymore, right? ... Well... according to what I heard... the people who landed on that island are members of Super High School Level Despair. They came here to reclaim their own... and kill everyone else who remains. They want nothing short of genocide. The higher-ups seem to think this is a good way to eliminate a whole bunch of them... solve the whole problem. But Midou-sensei and a couple of others are trying to convince them otherwise. It’ll be a wonderful thing if we show the public people who fall under such influence can still be saved. That there’s hope, something worth saving! But others... aren’t so sure.”
She frowns.
“... I know there’s no realistic way to do this yet but... Asao-kun, you need to get off that island. I don’t know how much time the others can buy you. I’ll... look on my end, too. For a helicopter, for a boat, for anything. I don’t... know if you want to tell everyone, but... I’ll leave that to you. Because I trust you.”
She finally offers a smile once more, even if it seems uncertain.
“I’m sorry, okay? I wish... there was more I could do. Maybe if I could somehow log myself into the data banks you have other there... I might ask... you for a few favours down the line. I know what I’m doing might be dangerous, but... I’m getting smarter. Stronger. There are things I think I can do now. So, I’ll work hard. Let’s do our best together, okay? Together we can do it. I’ll be counting on you but... you can count on me, too.”
She logs off rather hurriedly, not giving Asao much of a chance to reply to all this new information, leaving nothing but an uneasy feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. It seems like she’ll be busy for a bit but... maybe she’ll be available again later. For now, it seems like he’ll have to process this on his own.
