Chapter Text
The story lives on.
I'm sure, even now...
Even on the other side...
It lives on there, as well
And thus, the story lives on
Was this lie able to change something?
Was this lie able to change someone?
Was this lie... able to change the world?
If it was able to change even the smallest thing...
...Then the story isn't over.
"Hey..."
"Can you hear me...?"
Saihara's eyes fly open at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. His eyes take a moment to adjust, and when they do he can make out a figure standing over him. There's a man with untamed white hair, pale green eyes, and a worried look on his face leaning over him. "Are you okay? I was worried you might never wake up..."
Saihara sits up and rubs his head. He looks around and realizes that the two of them are in a dead-end alleyway at nighttime no less. The opening leads to a road but it's blocked by the white-haired man. He's wearing a green jacket with red patterns, a white shirt with a different red pattern, and black jeans. Do...do his shoes have zippers on them...? But more importantly, why does he look so familiar...? The situation puts Saihara on edge and he looks up at the man, "Where am I? And who are you?"
"Oh my apologies, how rude of me. My name is Nagito Komaeda."
Truth.
The word echoes in Saihara's mind.
Huh? What was that just now?
"As for where we are, I'm not sure. I just woke up a few minutes ago."
Truth.
There it is again! What is that? Something... feels wrong here. What could it be though? I wonder...
Saihara's thoughts are interrupted by the man, Komaeda, clearing his throat. "May I ask what your name is?"
Saihara sputters in embarrassment, "O-oh, sorry. Um my name is Shuichi Saihara. It's nice to meet you Komaeda-san."
Komaeda smiles at him, "No need to be so formal. It's a pleasure to meet you too."
He holds out a hand that Saihara reaches to grasp before stopping. "I'm sorry... um... not to be rude... but how come only one of your hands has fake nails...?"
Komaeda looks down at said hand, sighs in what seems to be disappointment, and then he looks back to Saihara, "Well, to put it simply, it's not my hand."
Truth.
Saihara stares, shocked, and waits for him to explain but it soon becomes clear he isn't going to say anything else on the matter. Too polite to refuse the offer, he reluctantly grasps the hand and allows himself to be pulled up. He notices Komaeda quickly slip the hand into his pocket.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question Saihara-kun?" His voice was relaxed but his expression turned serious. Saihara nods and watches him carefully. "Are you by chance an Ultimate?"
Saihara raises his eyebrows in surprise and nods once more, "Um yeah. I'm the Ultimate Detective."
A smile forms on Komaeda's face, "Ah I knew it. You have an Ultimate aura about you. It may be surprising but I'm an Ultimate as well. I'm known as the Ultimate Lucky Student. Though I suppose I'm not really a student anymore," he chuckles.
Saihara hums, "Ultimate Lucky Student? What kind of talent does that entail?" A strange look appears on Komaeda's smiling face, "Ah well, I can't blame you for wondering. It's quite a worthless talent. I'm plagued by luck, that's all there is to it."
Truth.
Saihara takes note of his use of the word plagued. Like... it's a bad thing then? Before he can ask Komaeda starts speaking again, "I have one more question if that's alright Saihara-kun. What's the last thing you remember?"
Saihara thinks for a moment, his mind flashing back to the crumbling academy, "W-well. It might be sort of hard to believe but I was about to escape a killing game..."
Komaeda perks up at this, "Oh? So you were in one as well? What a coincidence! Did it happen to be run by Monokuma?"
Saihara stares at him in shock before exclaiming, "Y-yeah it was! You were in one too? How is that even possible..."
Komaeda simply shrugs, "I don't know. It's quite strange though."
Saihara takes a moment to ponder this before shooting another question at Komaeda, "It was revealed at the end that our killing game and by extension all of us were fiction and our killings were broadcasted for entertainment... What about you Komaeda-kun?"
Komaeda lets out a wheezy chuckle, "Ah well. In truth, I should be dead right now. The last thing I remember is... succumbing to poisonous gas? Or perhaps it was the spear first? I apologize I can't seem to recall!" Komaeda says in a cheery voice while Saihara looks on with horror. "Well anyway, I didn't make it long it enough to know how my killing game ended."
Truth.
He states this far too casually like it's no big deal and to that, Saihara really isn't sure how to respond. Saihara stays quiet for a long time before realizing that he should've probably responded by now, "O-oh. Um... I'm sorry to hear that...? How are you here now though?"
Komaeda hums and brings his right hand up to his chin while the other still firmly remains in his pocket, "I wonder... perhaps I didn't actually die?" Komaeda looks lost in thought for a moment before addressing Saihara again, "Does something feel strange to you?"
Saihara quickly nods, relieved that Komaeda could feel it too and it wasn't just him, "Yes! I was thinking that earlier. Something... is off. I think... I can tell when people are lying...?"
Komaeda looks at him in awe, "That's amazing! I'd expect nothing less from the Ultimate Detective. You must truly be gifted!"
Saihara feels heat rush to his face at the sudden compliment and sputters, "W-well, not exactly. I can actually hear a voice confirming in my head now. Like when I asked for your name and you answered, a voice confirmed you were telling the truth. That probably sounds crazy..."
He mutters that last part but Komaeda seems unbothered and hums, lost in thought, "I see... This world may be more different than I thought. I wonder if my luck has somehow changed...? Well... regardless, it might be a good idea to get some more information on this world... and if our talents have been affected." This world? What does that mean? Before Saihara is able to ask, Komaeda starts speaking again, "Perhaps we should start by exploring this location then."
And with that Komaeda walks out of the alleyway, leaving Saihara to chase after him. The two make their way out of the alley and into what seems to be the center of a bustling city. There are large skyscrapers above them and the streets are busy with traffic and people despite the fact that it's nighttime. Lots of shops and restaurants are lined up and lit up by streetlights.
After taking a quick look around, Komaeda turns his gaze toward Saihara, "Well, it looks like this is probably around a similar time period as our world. Right?" Saihara hums absentmindedly. Komaeda looks at him curiously, "Something on your mind?"
Saihara startles, "O-oh. Well... why do you think this is a different world? It's just sort of... a strange assumption..."
Komaeda laughs lightly, "It's just like the Ultimate Detective to want all the facts. Hmm... Well, let's just call it a hunch then. It wouldn't be the strangest thing to happen to me. Or to you either I suppose. We were trapped in killing games by a robotic bear after all." There's no voice of confirmation this time, which confuses Saihara greatly. How come I can't hear it now?
Saihara stares at him, not very satisfied with the answer he received, "I mean I guess it wouldn't be the strangest thing... but is it really just a hunch?" Komaeda just shrugs with a smile and Saihara takes that as his cue to stop asking and drops the conversation. It doesn't seem like he'd give me a straight answer anyway...
The two continue walking toward a more secluded area before Saihara stops Komaeda with his arm. "Hey... do you see that?" Saihara points a finger at a man skulking in the darkness.
"Hm well, that certainly is suspicious," Komaeda says clearly not alarmed.
"Komaeda-kun let's see what he's up to," Saihara says.
"How come?" Asks Komaeda curiously.
"Call it detectives intuition but I feel like it's important we talk to him."
Komaeda looks at him with clear admiration, "Fascinating! I'm honored to be in the presence of such a talented Ultimate."
Saihara feels his face flush in embarrassment once again and stammers, "U-um it's nothing really. U-uh, let's just see what he's doing." Komaeda hums in agreement, eyes still sparkling and the two stealthily follow the man for a while until he suddenly ducks into an alleyway.
They follow him in as the man faces the dead-end of the alleyway he starts speaking, voice cold, "I recommend you explain why you're following me," He turns towards them with a steely glare, "Before I kill you." Saihara freezes under his harsh gaze but Komaeda seems unaffected as he steps toward the man with a smile.
He raises his right hand in greeting while the other still hasn't left his pocket, "Looks like we've been caught! Well, we were hoping you could give us some information-" Komaeda is cut off as a large black tendril rushes toward him. Before it can strike what would surely be a fatal blow, a TV falls from seemingly nowhere and crushes the tendril. Muffled arguing can be heard from a window above them.
'Why the hell did you push the TV out the window?!'
'It was an accident!'
'Literally how?!'
Both Saihara and the man stare in shock while Komaeda just sighs, "Well it seems my luck is still here after all. Now if you don't mind could you tell us where we are." The man takes a step closer to them and out of the shadows, revealing his appearance. He has a guarded expression on his face and black hair that frames his face on each side with white tips. He wears a black cloak, pants, and shoes.
His gray eyes study them before responding, "You're in Yokohama. Are you an ability user?"
Komaeda shrugs with a smile, "Maybe. It seems that you are though. What's your name?"
The man glares at them before shooting multiple tendrils at them, "That's not something I have to answer."
Before they can strike a voice from behind interrupts, "Okay~ I think that's quite enough!" A hand reaches out and the moment they touch one of the tendrils, there’s a bright flash of light and they all vanish. Another hand reaches toward Komaeda, it lightly taps him on the shoulder causing another bright flash of light. Everyone turns towards the newcomer. The man is wearing a tan overcoat, a black shirt, and white pants. He has messy brown hair and his brown eyes dance in amusement.
Before Komaeda or Saihara can react the other man speaks, "Dazai-san. What are you doing here?"
The man, Dazai, smiles and exclaims, "Stopping you from killing these two of course!" His voice turns icy, "Now why don't you back off Akutagawa. You know you can't win against me."
The other man, Akutagawa, scowls and responds, "Fine. I'll be leaving then. But this isn't the end." He practically spits out his words before pushing past the three and disappearing into the shadowy night.
Dazai turns to the two who are staring in awe, "Are you two alright? I couldn't help but notice you tailing Akutagawa so I came to see what you were doing. Though I have to say that TV falling was quite lucky. You would have died otherwise!"
Komaeda is the first to snap out of his bewilderment, "That was simply amazing! You stopped his attack with a single touch! This is such good luck, first the TV and then you! Ah... but I wonder what bad luck will balance it out?"
Saihara finally recovers from his shock and stutters, "T-thank you! You saved our lives! How can we ever repay you... Dazai-san was it?"
The man smiles, "Yep, Dazai Osamu, but please call me Dazai."
Truth.
Saihara nods vigorously, "Dazai-san, Is there anything we can do to repay you?"
Dazai hums, "Well I'm curious... why were you following Akutagawa?"
Komaeda, eyes shining, answers him this time, "We were following Saihara-kun's amazing detective intuition!" Saihara stammers in embarrassment at Komaeda's enthusiastic praise.
Dazai turns his curious gaze at Saihara, "A detective huh? You look a little young... is it that you perhaps have an ability to help you?"
Before Saihara can answer Komaeda butts in, "Dazai-san, you have an ability, right? What did it do?"
Dazai grins, "I can cancel other abilities with mine, it's known as No Longer Human."
Komaeda looks at him in what almost looks like excitement, "So you canceled my... 'ability' earlier then?" At Dazai's nod of confirmation Komaeda's eyes sparkle with hope, "How long does it last? Is it perhaps... permanent?"
Dazai shakes his head, "No it only lasts a few minutes actually."
Disappoint flickers in Komaeda's eyes and he sighs with a smile, "Oh I see... That's quite a shame."
Dazai studies him curiously before asking, "What exactly do your abilities do?" Komaeda lets out a humorless laugh, "I'm plagued by luck. Any good luck that I get is balanced out by bad luck later down the line and vice versa. I can barely even control it... How worthless." He sounds so... apathetic.
Saihara looks toward his companion in concern, "...Komaeda-kun? Are you okay?"
Komaeda turns toward Saihara with a strange look in his eyes, "Ah. Sorry, to worry you Saihara-kun. I'm perfectly fine."
Strangely enough, once again there's no voice to confirm if Komaeda was telling the truth this time.
Saihara is about to state how he doesn't seem very fine when Dazai interrupts by clearing his throat, "Saihara-kun. What is your ability?" Dazai asks tactfully ignoring Komaeda's tangent.
"O-oh right... Um... I can tell if people are lying but it seems to only work when I ask them a question and they answer. But sometimes it doesn't work..."
Dazai hums in acknowledgment. "One more question. You two aren't from here are you?"
Saihara nervously rubs the back of his head, "Y-yeah we just got to this city..."
Dazai eyes him before responding, "I'm guessing you have no place to stay then?" Saihara shakes his head in response. Dazai grins, "Well, I may be able to offer you a place to stay for the night if you're interested."
Komaeda seemingly more collected than before responds, "No we can't ask you to do anymore for us than you already have."
Saihara nods in agreement but Dazai just waves a hand, "Nonsense! In fact, I insist. Allow me to help you." The two open their mouths to protest again but Dazai cuts them off, "If you don't want to burden me then just accept." The two share a glance with each other before nodding. Dazai smiles wider, "Perfect! Then follow me, boys, I'll show you to your new room. I hope you don't mind sharing."
Not wanting to cause Dazai any more trouble than they already have, the two follow him to the location. As they walk, Saihara can't help but notice that Komaeda hasn't taken his left hand out of his pocket since Saihara had mentioned it. Why does he have someone else's hand...? No matter how hard he tried there was really no logical explanation he could think of. He glances at his companion who is walking next to him with a relaxed smile as Dazai leads the way. He's really secretive... there's just something off about him. Why does he look so familiar too? I don't really understand him at all... I just hope this doesn't lead to anything dangerous... He then looks toward Dazai who is enthusiastically talking about something Saihara has long tuned out of. And what about him? He said something about us having abilities and he has one too apparently... I had to improvise when he asked but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense that we have abilities of some kind. Perhaps something to do with our talents? If that's true, then it's just another reason to believe we're in a different world. Just like Komaeda said. How did he know though? Saihara lets out a sigh and runs a hand through his hair. I doubt he'd tell me anyway. What did I get into this time?