It was all too simple. It should have been, all too simple.
Tsumugi Shirogane was on her way, to the secret entrance to her hideout. Taking a hidden path, she entered and smiled to herself happily, as the Cosplayer walked downstairs. Humming the Danganronpa melody to herself, she eventually approached the door to the secret room. Now, all she needed to do, was wait until Rantaro would kill Kaede and then the Killing Game would finally begin.
After all this time, it would-
“Nice place, you got here.”
Tsumugi stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes nearly popping out of her skull, when she noticed someone standing in the middle of her own secret room.
It was Himiko, giving the cosplayer a very angry glare. It was full of anger and Tsumugi was a bit frightened, by this expression.
Why did she look so mad? And more importantly, how did she get in here?
“H..Himiko?”, Tsumugi asked bewildered, feigning surprised. “Wh…what are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”, the mage pointed out with a glare. “What are YOU doing here?”
“I…I asked first!”
“Hm…fair.”
Something about Himiko seemed…odd. Where was all the tiredness and laziness? Where was that apathetic demeanor? Where was her “magic talk”?
Himiko approached the screen and glanced at it.
“Nice view, you got here.”, she stated, trying to sound calm but failing at every second. “Must be nice, to watch everything from here. Telling Korekiyo that you’d need to go the girl’s bathroom, so you wanted to make sure that the first murder would happen.”
“F..First murder?”
“Yeah.”
Himiko turned to her, her look cold and venomous.
“Kaede is going to set the trap, for the Mastermind. For you.”, she began and before Tsumugi could defend herself, the mage kept on going. “The shot-put-ball is supposed to hit Rantaro’s head and kill him instantly, labeling Kaede as the blackened and to make sure this game starts. And you are here to not only ensure that this will happen, but in an emergency step in and do the deed yourself. All to start your stupid game.”
“I…..Huh.”
Tsumugi momentarily dropped the act, focusing on the mage carefully. That was indeed her plan. So…why….?
How did she….know?
Himiko….couldn’t know about all of this, right? No…she is just a stupid mage…..An idiot….
Keep playing the act.
“H…Himiko, what’s gotten into you? This is all a big plain misunderstanding!”, she exclaimed, faking tears dwelling up inside her eyes. “I….I just found this place yesterday and….tried to investigate it a bit, before…telling the rest. I mean….this room belongs to the Mastermind, right? So…if I stay here, I may find-“
“The only thing you are doing here, is spending time here relaxing, while the rest of us is in danger.”, Himiko interrupted her sternly. “After all, you are the Mastermind behind this game!”
“Himiko that’s not-“
“That’s not true? Are you going to tell me that ‘That’s wrong’ or what?”, the mage asked enraged and approached the cosplayer slowly. “Hosting this Killing Game for Team Danganronpa…brainwashing us and removing our old lives and treating us like toys! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
“Wh…What?!”, Tsumugi asked in disbelief, this time in shock for real. She…she just mentioned Team Danganronpa…..
Did Rantaro….No, that’s not possible. He shouldn’t have remembered…….so…..how….
PUSH!
Suddenly, Tsumugi was pushed onto the floor and with a slight yelp, fell on the ground. Staring at the mage puzzled, Himiko crossed her arms and gave her a tight glare.
“Just drop the act, Tsumugi.”, she told her, her voice sounding almost tired by saying so. “I know everything.”
And just like that.
Tsumugi did drop the act.
Her facial features relaxed and her eyes lost their color. Himiko stepped back a bit frightened, when the cosplayer slowly got up, her movements almost sluggish and inhuman-like.
“Hmm…..so this is how it’s going to be.”
Tsumugi mused interested, her eyes darting
“Well….color me surprised.”, Tsumugi said emptily. “I never told any of you about any of that. And yet…you know. How….did you know, Himiko Yumeno?”
“If you want to blame somebody, blame your future self. You all laid it out, in a very long monologue.”
“The….future?”, Tsumugi asked with a raised eyebrow. “Wow…..Are you absolutely insane?”
“Says the person, who asked for this Killing Game.”, Himiko exclaimed angrily. But Tsumugi was just smiling emptily.
“I gave all of you blank nobodies a new identity and this is the Thanks, I get? Rude.”
“We are not nobodies!”, Himiko shot back angrily, tears dwelling up inside her. “D…Do you not regret anything?!”
“How can I regret something, I haven’t even done yet? And even if I did do it…I would not feel a single thing of guilt. As the ‘Big Bad Mastermind’.”
She chuckled emptily and then approached the mage herself, giggling. Himiko stepped back.
“I have to say…this is a big disappointment.”, she stated with a sigh. “This is not part of the script. But oh well. Let’s just enjoy the show.”
Himiko followed Tsumugi’s look and turned around, facing the monitors.
Rantaro was following the flash….He was approaching the bookcase, where the shot-put ball was rolling from.
Tsumugi smiled victoriously. Himiko shivered a bit, in spite of knowing that the plan would fail.
It had to…right?
And indeed, the ball fell next to Rantaro. Confused, the amnesiac picked it up and musterd it confused. Tsumugi’s smile quickly dropped.
“…………Huh.”
“S..See?”, Himiko exclaimed to her in defiance. “Y..your script failed!”
“……That it did.”, Tsumugi agreed disappointed, yet her voice remaining empty. “Well…..”
She gave the mage a creepy look.
“Guess I will have to kill you, next then.”
Himiko yelped surprised, when Tsumugi placed her palm on the wall near her and pressed on it a bit. It showed some dents and the mage walked back terrified. The cosplayer adjusted her glasses.
“Well……I think I’ll beat you to a pulp and then place a shot-put ball, near it. That way, Kaede will still be suspected and voted off.”, she explained calmly. “Sure, I’d need to rewrite Chapter 3, but that one was the weakest entry anway.”
“Y..you wouldn’t….”
“I am the Mastermind.”, Tsumugi shot back, with an almost manic expression. Her voice still empty. “Well… Any last words, before I kill you?”
Tsumugi approached her, further and further. But Himiko stood her ground and tried her best, to remain calm herself. She was failing of course, sweating profusely.
Yet she did not back down.
Something the cosplayer noticed.
“Hmm…..you are not walking back...?”
“I am not. Because your plan will fail.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
“Because, this is not part of the script.”, Himiko answered defiantly. “Right now….Tenko and Angie will wonder…where I am at….And same with Korekiyo, wondering where you went..If you kill me now, it will immediately make you suspicious….There is no way you can frame Kaede properly, in such a short amount of time. Not without making yourself, suspicious that is…The game will end. After just one death.”
Himiko glared at the cosplayer.
“So…d..do it. I…I’m..w..waiting.”
It was obviously to Tsumugi that Himiko was still terrified. Even so, she could tell that the mage was brave enough, to defy her.
…………………….
“Hm…..I have a different idea.”
“H..huh?”
The cosplayer stepped back a bit and took off her blazer, showing off her white blouse and rather large chest. Himiko found herself blushing, yet quickly shook off the feeling.
“I…want to make…a deal with you.”, Tsumugi began.
“A…A deal?”
“Yes.”, Tsumugi confirmed, still facing the monitor. Right now, Kaede and Shuichi were confronting Rantaro and were asking him questions. “You will keep quiet, about me being the one behind this.”
“Wh..why would I-”
“Because…”
Tsumugi turned to her and gave her a cold smile.
“Because otherwise, I will murder all of the other participants.”, Tsumugi stated nonchalantly. “I just need to activate the Monokumas and boom. Dead.”
She pushed her glasses up, her eyes disappearing completely.
“If you came from the future…then that could mean that you are not the only survivor. Given that you are alone here, it is very easy to deduce that you are the only one, who remebered the past…shall we say Loop. It would be a shame, if I were to murder them.”
“Y..you wouldn't-”
Himiko stopped herself. There was no denying that Tsumugi could and would do all of that. She was a complete and utter psychopath. Instead, Himiko asked something else.
“You said you wanted to make a deal…d..does that mean, I get something out of this too?”
“Naturally.”, Tsumugi answered calmly. “If you do what I say…I will make sure that Tenko and Angie will be spared from harm.”
“Huh?”
Tenko and Angie…could both be saved?
“A..Are you bluffing?!”
“I am not. I simply need to tweak the Flashback lights and to make sure that it affects the right people.”, the Mastermind replied. “I will make sure, they will survive. You just need to, do as I say.”
“….And if I refuse?”
Tsumugi punched the wall next to her lightly. Some cracks started to form. Himiko gulped.
Right……
…………….She awoke again, on this day. To save everyone…..and maybe figure out, what was really going on.
Shuichi did say that Tsumugi may have been lying, about things. But….could she really trust Tsumugi?
“And…how do I know that you won't betray me?”
“Hmm….there is no guarantee.”, Tsumugi admitted surprisingly. “But….and you can trust my words or not…but..”
Tsumugi smiled.
“I kind of like you, Himiko.”
“N..nyeh?!”
What was Tsumugi doing? W…was she trying to seduce her?
“I….Huh? Is this a joke?! Or a lie?!”
“Do I look like Kokichi, to you?”, Tsumugi wondered aloud and chuckled. “I am impressed, I really am. You developed so much already…you are afraid of me and you know I could easily kill you…but you are standing your ground regardless. And to be honest…I kind of like you for that.”
Tsumugi stroked Himiko's cheek slowly.
“Hmm…how did I overlook you? I feel like such a fool..”
“L..let go off me!”, Himiko exclaimed furious and backed off quickly. Tsumugi let out a disappointing sigh.
“Party pooper…But anyways…..What do you say? Do you accept….or reject my offer?”
Tsumugi struck out her hand. Himiko hesitated briefly.
Could she really trust, Tsumugi? On one hand, there was no doubt that this woman was insane and pure evil.
But on the other one, Tsumugi was an actress. She lived and breathed for this Killing Game. If she were to kill off Himiko right now, the game would be a lot less interesting.
Plus…if there even was a slightest bit of a chance, to save Tenko and Angie..and maybe the rest…
Himiko shook her hand. It felt cold and her skin felt like fabric too. Tsumugi grinned.
“A wise choice.”, she stated with a sigh. “By the way…from this point on, you are going to sleep in my room with me.”
“Nyeh?! Why?!”
“Just to make sure, you won't suddenly change your mind and tell your friends.”, Tsumugi replied calmly, grabbing her blazer from the monitor and slowly putting it on. “Plus, it does feel good to sleep with someone together. Whether it be SFW or NSFW.”
She chuckled to herself, as she buttoned up her blazer.
“Don't worry though, I won't touch you.”
“…..Fine.”, Himiko finally said with a glare. “But know this, Tsumugi..Even I can't speak out..I will stop you. And I will make sure that your plan will fail. Mark my words.”
“Hm….”
Tsumugi giggled girlishly, the laugh sounding surprisingly sincere for a split second.
“Good. I wish you the best of luck. Now….”
Tsumugi turned to her and she suddenly seemed normal again. As if she just turned into a different person again.
It was so frightening, how easily Tsumugi could switch between personas.
The dorky cosplayer.
And the Dark Mastermind.
“Shall we go?”, she asked gently, her smile sending shivers down Himiko's spine. The mage nodded.
“Yeah. Let's.”
She was playing this game again. To find the answers behind this Killing Game and to make sure that she could save, as many people as possible.
And if she had to work with Tsumugi to achieve that, so be it.
She…needed to live life, facing forward. Forward and with no hesitation.
Bit specific but this idea just started from spinning a wheel and has now been lingering in my brain for a while, MM Pianist!Kirumi with the final survivors being Detective!Korekiyo, Child-Caregiver/Assassin!Kokichi, Entomologist!Himiko and Artist!Tsumugi (perhaps with a little kirukiyo and tsumeno? mainly cause im a sucker for both)
A very interesting one! And yeah, I sprinkled those ships in for ya ;)
Kirumi had led them all on the entire game. Nobody suspected a pianist to be capable of anything like being the mastermind, but that was the truth that Kiyo had uncovered in the end.
Which…hurt him. He had thought he and Kirumi were close, but to find out that he had been deceived all along was a huge blow to his emotions and his credibility as a detective.
But Kokichi, Himiko and Tsumugi were all on his side, ready to take down Kirumi however they could. Kokichi especially, as he offered to use his talent to take her out.
Kirumi wasn’t going to make it easy for them, especially not with another couple in their midst with Himiko and Tsumugi. Imagine how despairing would it be to split them up somehow!
All of them would have to work together if they wanted to see the outside world for themselves, to figure out for themselves what the truth was. With any luck, they’d be able to make it.
“How do I look?”, Tsumugi asked Himiko, having taken off her hair extensions and thus facing the mage in her room with much shorter dark blue hair, the remainder of the extensions lying nearby on a stool. Himiko smiled a bit.
“You’re looking...good.”, she stated content. “I didn’t know that this long hair you had, were full of extensions.”
“It makes things easier, you know.”, Tsumugi answered dryly, adjusting her orange ribbon. “If I do feel more masculine than usual, I don’t need to go through all the trouble of cutting off my entire hair.”
“I guess so....Though, I gotta say, I never seen you with a pair of long dark jeans.”
The cosplayer flashed a flustered, yet teasing smirk at the mage. She stroked her own curves with a giggle.
“Well, I do wear them sometimes, when I am feeling in a rather masculine mood.”
“Masculine mood?”
“Yeah.”, Tsumugi replied with a nod. “I have outfits tailored, for all my gender experiences. The usual attire is when I am feeling female, this one is for male and I also some other outfits in the wardrobe. Dresses, shorts, jackets, you name it.”
“That’s...a lot of variety.”, Himiko mused in awe. “Isn’t that a bit...expensive?”
“Well I am a cosplayer, so I have enough money from my sponsors to make my own costumes and to tailor to my own experiences.”, Tsumugi explained nonchalantly, fiddling with a bit of their hair. “Cosplaying really makes you question your own gender sometimes. You discover so much about you and all the like...that’s why you gotta cosplay with love, don’t you see?”
“Love....huh.”
Himiko peeked closer into the wardrobe and stared at all the variety in clothing. She even saw a fake mustache, hanging from an outfit. The redhead playfully put it on and smiled. “I am Mr Meno and I think that Himiko’s magic is lovely.”
“Hehe...I will take your word for it, Mr.Meno.”, Tsumugi noted amused. “Now, how bout we go outside and drink some bubble tea?”
“Sure. But please order the right one next time. I don’t want to get a false drink, just because you ordered while scrolling through your phone.”
“I won’t do that...”, Tsumugi pouted annoyed, her cheeks lightening up. “Well...unless I see a good cosplay idea.”
Himiko rolled her eyes, but ended up giggling herself.
