Chapter Text
“How’s it going?”
“Right on schedule. Looks like the program has selected Sayaka Maizono to make the first attempt.”
“Makes sense. Think he’ll survive?”
“Nah, he’s too trusting. I’d put it at ten-to-one against. He’ll be done in time to join the other students for lunch.”
“…I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Take a look at their movement.”
“Hmm? …She didn’t attack him. What happened? Where is he going?”
“Hold on, I’m checking the logs… It looks like they’re switching rooms for the night. What?”
“According to the persona box, she’s planning to kill Leon Kuwata instead… Interesting. He managed to get close enough to her to keep her from killing him directly.”
“He’ll still die in the trial, though, right?”
“No. Not with this cast of characters and this difficulty level. As long as he puts up even a token defense, Kirigiri will carry him through the rest. Looks like I was wrong. He’ll be in there a while longer after all. Better send a memo to the teachers, just in case.”
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“…He did a lot better than I expected.”
“Agreed. Look at the log. Pretty interesting, that he’s keeping focused that well.”
P1: The only one who’s evil here is that thing what we should be fighting isn’t one another it’s that guy the single person who planned all of this
“Heh. Not bad. By the way, I was looking at the backlog earlier. Apparently, he told Oowada that he likes bears?”
“…I’m turning up the difficulty for the next round. Let’s see what this Luckster can do.”
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“Hey, I brought you lunch. The chef made this really good beef stir fry stuff. What’d I miss?”
“Thanks. I dialed down Kirigiri’s helpfulness, made her more of a mentor, but it looks like he’s still gonna pass the second round easily. He didn’t even pass out when he saw the body this time, even though it was… pretty gruesome.”
“You sound almost proud of him.”
“Maybe a little. He’s pretty likable, you know? More than a lot of these super-geniuses. I guess I’m starting to root for him to win.”
“…But this is a D-course simulation. There is no winning in these.”
“Then why am I having to increase the difficulty settings again? Here, help me brainstorm ways to test these bonds of trust he keeps forming with the characters. I’ve already set up a mole plot line to be introduced in the next round.”
“How about…”
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“…Well. So much for the double murder angle. He didn’t get misled for a second, even as convoluted as it was.”
“Too convoluted. I wonder if the simulation is becoming unstable? Or maybe it’s him.”
“Him?”
“He’s too friendly, with everyone. It’s distorting the intended narrative.”
“Hmm. Too bad the ones he starts focusing on keep getting picked as victims or murderers. Hope it won’t have a permanent effect on him.”
“That’s happening on purpose, but I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Look.”
P1: I’m worried about you during most of the investigation this morning you were gone and no one knew where you were an then you refused to give an explanation I don’t know what to think
SKiKi: So you suspect me of being a mole don’t you
P1: Never I believe in you Kirigiri san
“…He’s enduring it. Gotta say, I’m starting to like him too. Wish my kid was that strong. How many more rounds until the endgame?”
“At the rate people are dying, just one. Not sure what’s going to happen, but the system’s narrative forecast says that Alter Ego thing is gonna bite it too.”
“So, their only hope for taking over the system will be gone. Rough.”
“Has to happen. Having a Super Duper High School Programmer in the cast isn’t part of the base scenario. Besides, there’s no winning these things, remember?”
“Yeah, sure. Gonna turn up the difficulty again?”
“Of course. As high as it’ll go.”
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“So, a locked room murder with multiple red herrings, massive inter-personal conflict, that gut-wrenching suicide note, and their AI buddy got mooshed, and he still manages to bring them all together. Mentally, he’s going stronger than ever. Who would have guessed?”
“This simulation was meant to strengthen him through difficult trials. Well, it succeeded. Here, take a look. I’ve altered some things for the endgame.”
“…You’re going to make him sick… And you changed the identity of the mastermind?”
“The Mercenary is too obvious, but this alternative? He’ll never see it coming.”
“Because you’re breaking continuity.”
“It’s all seamless. Look, see? I’ve explained how it all works. And the kid never really talked to her, so he won’t have any background to notice the switch.”
“…You made them into twin sisters. The mastermind killed her, right? That’s pretty twisted.”
“If it weren’t, it wouldn’t fit. The simulation is running with all settings maxed out. You know how the D-sims get under those circumstances.”
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“Give me a report, NOW!”
“Headmaster! Uh, excuse the food we have in here. The simulation’s taking a lot longer than expected, but-“
“You’re putting a first year through a Despair-course simulation! Are you insane!?”
“Sir, the board gave approval. It’s to strengthen-“
“You alone are responsible for the exercises performed by this lab. I don’t care if he is this year’s Luckster, if he’s permanently damaged by this-“
“Sir, he’s winning.”
“He’s… D-course simulations don’t have victory conditions. The mastermind is guaranteed to crush the player in the end.”
“Nonetheless, sir, take a look at the narrative forecast.”
“…Give me a report, what’s his mental status?”
“His stress levels are extremely high, but he’s managed to single-handedly hold his peers together and maintained his composure better than anyone we’ve put through this simulation. Even better than… the candidate. Sir, I think we need to continue.”
“…I want updates every half hour, and two people in here watching him at all times.”
“Yes, sir.”
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“That was close.”
“Ugh, tell me about it. Still, it’s almost over. He’ll raise doubts about Kirigiri, the mastermind will cut the trial short, the frame-up will be complete, and the simulation will go into a holding pattern. The end.”
“Anti-climactic. Same outcome that the candidate got. Well, at least he didn’t kill anyone like the others who tried this simulation. You don’t think the headmaster will give this kid… Wait, something’s happening.”
“What? He’s… been declared guilty!?”
“This can’t be right! The script says he never even gave the evidence against Kirigiri! Check the mastermind’s persona box!”
“…Inconceivable. His faith drove the mastermind to panic. She turned it around on him instead. Now he’s going to be executed.”
“No, look at the narrative forecast.”
“What? It… How!? The Alter Ego program survived, and hacked the execution device to save him!?”
“…The simulation just made a request that addition system resources be allocated for its narrative kernel. What should we do?”
“…Do it, and call the headmaster. This is going to be a long night.”
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“What’s happening now?”
“Headmaster, sir, we’re seeing emergent behavior in the simulation. The mastermind has deprioritized its original agenda, and fixated on breaking the player. According to the narrative forecast, she’s been driven to become so desperate that the program has spontaneously generated a… possible victory condition.”
“How possible?”
“…Barely. It borrowed the backstory from the D-1 simulation. The post-societal collapse one. It intends to break the classmate characters’ spirits with it, and unless the player can save all of them, he’ll die.”
“…”
“Sir, I have to admit, I’m feeling misgivings about continuing this now. The stress from this revelation, and then being abandoned by his companions…”
“…No. Continue. The simulator is fair. Let’s see if he can beat this no-win scenario.”
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“…I can’t believe it. He pulled it off.”
“Congratulations, gentlemen. I have never been more pleased by a result from this simulation lab.”
“Shall we end it now, sir?”
“Oh, come now. Don’t you want to see what the good ending of a Despair-course simulation looks like?”
“…Well, if you put it that way…”
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Naegi almost felt like giggling at his friends as they bickered around him, about self-destruct devices, and what they’d find outside. His skin tingled from his cheeks his stomach from the anticipation. He knew they’d probably stick together for at least a little while once they get out there, but somehow this seemed like an end. And he was feeling more than a little melancholy. Far too many friends were missing. There should be sixteen people present, not six. Secretly, maybe he’d even miss this place a little. As much as he hated it, and would be glad not to worry in the back of his mind that he’d be killed at any second, he feel like he grew up here. For better or for worse, it was a part of him, and after Maizono died, he’d resolved to always carry his burdens forward and not forget the past, no matter how painful. That was his Hope.
Finally, they wouldn’t let him stall any longer. He pressed the escape switch, and a loud klaxon sounded in the entry hall. The guns retracted into the ceiling, the door lit up, and at last they started to slide apart sideways. Funny, somehow he always thought they would open vertically… And then between the crack, it hit him. Sun. It felt like years since he last felt the sun on his face. Just with that, it felt like everything was going to be all right. With just the sun, and his friends by his side, for just a moment it seemed like he could accomplish anything. It was the happiest moment of his life.
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“All right, cut it.”