An update? That didn't take three months? Yay.

Shameless self plug: Please check out my new fic 'Countdown to Despair' if you have the time, I'd really like to hear what you think! Available on my profile page.

Warning, this chapter contains just as many spoilers as the chapter before this one did. And the one before that, and the one before that…

Disclaimer: I still don't own Danganronpa. Sorry to disappoint.

"W… W-What did you say?"

As Shuichi watched Tsumugi's expression begin to crumble he opened his mouth, ready to say something, anything, to try and interrupt whatever spiel Monokuma was starting this time. Himiko actually managed to take this one step further.

"Be quiet! We don't-"

Despite the effort though Monokuma continued unabashed.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry Tsumugi. You must not have heard me!" Cupping his paws around his mouth Monokuma took a deep breath. "I asked you if you had just asked yet another completely pointless reference that nobody else had heard of!"

"Ah, actually I-"

"I suppose with such charming characteristics like that it's really no surprise that you're the least popular contestant this season. At least according to all of our audience polls." Monokuma continued, speaking over Shuichi's slight interruption with ease, "It's really quite astonishing actually, it didn't matter who we asked, your little plain self was always the least favourite." Here the bear paused, his paw raised to his chin in mock thought, "In fact I wonder if we did a poll involving all the fictional character's Danganronpa has ever produced just how low your name would appear?"

Monokuma's words were enough to draw a wince from both Shiuchi and Himiko. When he looked across the room at Maki she looked like she was about to attack the bear, killing game rules be damned.

Although at this point I think I'd be right there beside her...

Turning his attention to Tsumugi herself he saw her distraught expression and he didn't miss the shudder that ran through the girl's body at these jeers, nor the way Monokuma's grin seemed to widen in return just behind her.

Once more Shuichi opened his mouth ready to interject but it seemed that this was exactly what Monokuma was waiting for as he immediately began to speak again.

"But that's the price of playing the Mastermind I guess! Then again most people love a good villain so I wonder just how poor a picture that paints of you and your efforts! But at this point that's all you are, isn't it Tsumugi?" Monokuma cooed, his voice becoming sickeningly sweet, "You remember right Tsumugi? All the foreshadowing you've dropped since the beginning about who you really are?"

"A-ah…"

"Don't worry, it's okay if you don't!" Reaching out behind himself, Monokuma's arm returned holding a similar device he had used earlier to blow up the Monokubs. "We all remember."

Pressing the button with his paw Shuichi watched as the numerous screens changed their display. Just before they changed though, he was once more assaulted by the numerous comments sent in by 'fans'.

'Monokuma's here to bring the desbear!'

'Don't give up now Shuichi! Show them your hope!'

'Hope you all have an umbrella, Monokuma's here to rain on your little parade!'

'Teach that awful Mastermind the real meaning of hope!'

'Ahhhhhh! They mentioned Clover again! She was my fav last season!'

'Hold on… Did they just say they are all r-'

"Hmm… Ah, here we are!"

The screens were now showing a still image of three figures. Three very familiar figures.

It was the blonde hair that first caught his eye. Adorned with clips in the shapes of notes and a pair of soft purple eyes looking inquisitively at her surroundings.

Shuichi tore his eyes from the screen, forcing himself to look in a different direction. He couldn't look at her, not after what Ts- Danganronpa, what he, had done to that girl. But it didn't matter where he looked, the image was the same on each TV.

Kaede…

"Well Tsumugi, does this ring any bells?"

Tsumugi didn't reply. Instead her eyes were fixed on the grainy image of herself from a few weeks prior.

"Let's open it up to the floor! How about you Shuichi? Don't you remember Tsumugi's little introduction?"

He did. Looking back to that time that felt like a lifetime ago now, when he and Kaede had just woken up and they had come across someone who seemed to be quite a... spacy girl. Someone who had been so nervous to speak to two new people that they had ended up blurting out something so absurd before even introducing herself…

The video began playing and the voices of Kaede, Tsumugi and himself enveloped the room. A blush quickly came to his face when he remember how exactly the bluenette had been introduced.

"Poke. Poke."

Damn it Keade…

"Now then let's talk. What do you want to start with?" On the screen Tsumugi took a step forward before she continued talking enthusiastically. "My favourite Doraemon episode is #53. The one with the security cameras and target practice."

53...

From Himiko's slight gasp and Maki's pained sigh it appeared he wasn't the only one who caught the implication.

The volume of the voices seemed to raise just in time for another sentence from Tsumugi.

"Ah… that bronze dragon statue over there. I'm just plain curious about it. It almost looks like it's floating, right? Doesn't it seem out of place?"

Another thing that hadn't meant much at the time, but the fact that the dragon statue had actually been the first 'obstacle' to the next floor of the school...

"And what about the rest of you? How about the time she referred to poor Gonta's execution a whole three trials early?"

The scene shifted to display the trial in question. This time however it seemed to be from a first person point of view. After a quick look Shuichi determined it was in fact from Keebo's perspective.

Right… Tsumugi did say he was made purposely for the audience this season…

The robot said nothing about this though, merely staring ahead, his expression… pained?

"Kee-"

Suddenly Gonta's voice began to play from the feed, the moment had captured his explanation of why he was in the AV room at the time of Rantaro's murder. Tsumugi chimed in next.

"Were you trying to imagine yourself as a huge mantis with swords for hands?"

Tsumugi herself flinched hard at this reminder, her mouth opened for a moment ready with a rebuttal but when she turned to confront the bear she appeared to lose her nerve and instead broke eye contact, spinning back around and her gaze falling to the floor.

Before anyone could do anything the screen changed again, this time displaying Gonta's execution itself.

The scene had been impossible enough to watch the first time, here it looked as though someone had edited together a 'highlights' reel, the picture cutting between close ups of Monokuma, the robot bugs, Gonta's swollen face a tracking shot of the final, huge, mantis racing towards Gonta, it's limb extended out ready to-

Shuichi managed to wrench his eyes shut in time to avoid seeing Gonta's final moments for a second time but the squelching sound of his chest being impaled...

"Why are you showing all this?" Maki demanded.

"I know, I know… Doing a clip show? Shameful of us, but don't you worry Danganronpa fans, new footage coming soon!"

"Stop… please stop…"

"Not just yet! We've haven't shown the best one!"

The screen changed again. When the static cleared it was to the familiar sight of the library. The main focus of the image though was the green haired teen who was looking down at his personal pad stood in front of the opened bookcase.

"No… Not this…"

A flash of light illuminated the man, the result of the camera that had been placed to his right. He acted as anyone would, moving to investigate with a confused 'huh?'.

"Please, just-"

Even though a part of him was expecting it, the sudden appearance of the falling shot put ball was a shock. For the first time Shuichi saw exactly where the ball fell. A mere foot or so from the person's head.

The male looked up, just as surprised at the appearance of the ball. Just distracted enough to miss the new person entering the room behind him.

"Don't, please!"

The new figure was silent. They looked at the male in front of them for a moment before their eyes fell to the second shot put ball in their hands. There was a few seconds of hesitation, the figure lowing their head briefly, their eyes screwed shut. The silence was broken though as, with a yell, the ball was thrusted into the back of Rantaro's head.

The sound… The crunch…

The lone standing figure now looked down at the corpse in front of them, for a moment it seemed they didn't know how to react, their mouth open and behind their glasses their eyes were quivering. The expression didn't last long though before their mouth shifted into a manic grin. The shot put balls were swapped and with a sudden panicked look to their side the figure returned into the secret room.

That figure was of course now stood opposite him, Tsumugi Shirogane stood with her arm extended out towards the screen, her mouth open in a silent scream.

"You remember, right Tsumugi? This is who you are, the Mastermind of the 53rd killing game, here for no other reason, no other purpose, than to create despair. You work for Team Danganronpa, for ME!"

Monokuma was standing now, right on the edge of his 'throne'. From Shuichi's perspective opposite them the bear looked to be directly above the cosplayer, almost appearing to be whispering into her ear thanks to Tsumugi having her head bowed, her face hidden behind her bangs.

"All of this was a fun little distraction Tsumugi, but this whole thing has really gone on for too long. You really think after everything you've done you can just turn your back on your position? After getting Kaede executed? Manipulating everyone's minds? Giving Kaito his illness?" A flurry of flinches ran through the group affecting Shuichi and Maki in turn, each one being mirrored and magnified by Tsumugi. However...

"H-hold on!" Though shaking slightly as everyone's attention turned to her Himiko raised her index finger, pushing up the brim of her hat before turning it on the bear with a pointed… point, "Tsumugi may have done s-some of those things… A-and a lot of them were pretty awful, b-but there's no way Tsumugi was the one who gave Kaito his illness. She doesn't have the magical ability for something like that." The mage's words may have started shaky but built in strength as she expressed her point before, with a little smile, she finished speaking in a faux smug tone when Tsumugi's head raised slightly to look at her, "I know because I checked with my mage sight."

Monokuma's words caught in his throat for a moment but, unfortunately, he was quick to respond with a growl, "So what? She may not have done that personally but she still works for the company that did!"

"Has that… always... been the case?" Keebo asked slowly, his hand raising to rub his forehead briefly.

Monokuma opened his mouth to respond but it was Tsumugi who beat him to the punch, "N-no. It wasn't until after I survived the 52nd killing game that I became a part of Team Danganronpa."

"Then it wouldn't be right to blame her for things that began before this killing game then!" Himiko said.

"Well what about all the things she did in this killing game? How can you justify that?" Monokuma shouted, his words just shy of a roar.

"You're right."

"Exactly! I'm glad you're finally agree- Wait, which one of you-"

The same voice from before spoke again in an almost clinical tone, "Tsumugi has done some awful things since the beginning of this killing game, all in the name of Team Danganronpa."

"Maki? What are you-"

It was indeed Maki who had taken the chance to speak, though she didn't grace anyone else with the same opportunity as she soon continued, "Things that she will never be able to take back, no matter how guilty, no matter how sorry she may be because of them."

Maki met Tsumugi's eyes in an icy glare, one that Shuichi recognised as one more fierce than the ones he had frequently received before. Despite it's intense nature however Tsumugi did not turn away. In fact it was Maki who was the one who broke the contact first.

"But the thing is I know quite a bit about doing terrible things, all for the people above me."

"Maki?" Keebo questioned with a confused look on his face, something that was mirrored on Himiko.

"As I'm sure you all know I am the Ultimate Assassin." Maki began. "And based on what we've just established our 'backstories' are real." Maki took a breath before she continued to speak.

"I can't remember my parents, but I can remember the fact that I used to live in an orphanage. I was the eldest of all the children and as such it was my responsibility to look after everyone else, although I can't say I enjoyed it very much." Pausing to release a brief chuckle Maki closed her eyes, losing herself in her old memories, "All the kids seemed to love me for some reason though so in return I tolerated the task of making sure they were all looked after. It wasn't glamorous but we made it work. Until it didn't. We didn't have enough money and with the winter approaching…"

"That's when you were recruited, right Maki?" Shuichi asked.

"Right. It was a… ruthless process. I'll spare you most of the details but I have personally shot, stabbed, poisoned, tortured... a lot of people."

In spite of himself Shuichi nervously swallowed.

"I hated myself for a long time because of it. It was only thanks to a very stubborn idiot and a very nosey sidekick that that's… started to change." With a final deep exhale Maki turned to face Tsumugi. "And the thing is… if I can learn to forgive myself, I certainly can forgive you."

"B-But…" Tsumugi began slowly, casting a nervous look towards the other girl. "You had a good reason didn't you? The other children at your orphanage?"

"Right." Maki nodded cautiously.

"Then how could you possibly forgive me for doing… all of this, all for Danganronpa?" Tsumugi implored, fresh tears on her face.

"We don't know that!" Himiko cut in. "Maybe you had a good reason too!"

"We know for a fact that flashback lights were used on Rantaro, so there's a high probability they were used on you too." Shuichi confirmed.

"And who knows what they could have overridden. But until we do…I won't judge you." Maki said firmly.

"Maki… I..." Tsumugi whispered.

"Me neither."

"Himiko…"

"Come on Tsumugi, don't leave your forgiveness arc halfway."

"Shuichi…" Tsumugi suddenly released a snort. "Did you mean redemption arc?"

"Ah…" And he was blushing again…

"Tsumugi, it's us against the killing game, against Monokuma… Will you fight with us?"

In response to Maki's question Tsumugi's gaze once more circled the room, this time looking at each portrait that surrounded the group, pausing for a moment on Gonta's, and hesitating even further on Rantaro's.

"I…" Tsumugi's eyes met his, before with a determined nod, "Yes."

"Yes?" Shuichi parroted, a wide grin growing on his face.

"Yes! I will." Tsumugi confirmed, beaming. Her eyes fell to her podium once more, considering it for a moment before she stepped down, walking around the podiums until she stopped just to his right.

Shuichi turned to meet her in a hug.

It was swiftly returned.

After a moment Himiko too walked over, promptly followed by Maki, both of them joining the two of them (though not without a blush from the later).

When Shuichi turned to look at Keebo he saw the robot shaking his head, his hand supporting it and his ahoge still waving wildly. After a moment he snapped out of it and after noticing the new position of everyone was quick to join in too.

As the group began to break up Tsumugi looked across the room at her podium once more. When she saw Monokuma just behind it silently watching her she met the gaze evenly before her attention turned to Miu's podium.

With a push to move the picture out of the way she stepped up on to it. Just behind her Himiko did the same onto Tenko's. To his left he saw Maki already in place looking back at him from what was Kaito's post.

The group of five shared a smile before they turned to look at Monokuma, now alone on the other side of the room.

"Monokuma I have to ask…" Tsumugi began. "What was the point of that… distraction? It was definitely cruel but you gave up... really easily."

"You're right…" Shuichi agreed. "The only thing you seemed to achieve was wasting time-"

Shuichi's words were suddenly cut off by the sound of a pained scream from his right.

"K-Keebo?!"

As the group turned to look at the robot, each expressing their concern they watched as electricity started to race over this metallic body, Keebo's face twisted in pain.

"Puhuhuhuhu… Puhuhuhuhuhuhu! Thank you. Thank you all for indulging yourselves in all these pointless topics. Thanks to all of you things are finally getting back in track. You have all done a great service to Danganronpa! We'll be sure to mention you in the closing credits."

As if in response to Monokuma's words the electricity suddenly cut off, and Keebo's face fell blank.

Monokuma's eyes flashed and his grin grew to cover his entire face.

"Although I'm afraid it's unlikely you'll ever get the chance to watch them. Don't you agree K1-B0?"

So… yeah.

Funny word cleaved. While it can mean to cleave something apart it can also be used to mean to cleave something together. I thought it fit.

As always please leave a review if you have the time, I really appreciate it! Help me make this fic as good as it can be.

Until the next time!