Case File #7

Victim #1: Jibo Momota

"The victim has signs of strangulation, first degree burns, and a deep wound on his chest."

"Cause of Death is a stab wound through the heart."

"The time of death is unknown."

TRUTH BULLETS

Hoshi Momota

Ruins on the body bag

Normal Decomposition

Kiyomi's Autopsy

Chest Wound

Burn on forehead

Missing Sarcophagus

Hole in Samurai Armor

Blood on the Katana

Charred Helmet

Akeno's Theory

Monokuma Doll

Future Foundation Theft

Jibo's Journal

Body was found in the Foyer

Chapter 35: All Hallows Eve: Act Two

11:07 P.M Day Eighteen

Mausoleum

Trial Room

When the final survivors made their way inside, they found the trial room decorated with large jack o'lanterns and cheap-looking cobwebs. A faint, Halloween-themed soundtrack contributed to the ambience. Plastered upon the walls were dozens of portraits, some of which contained faces that were familiar to the group. Shiro, having embraced his festive spirit, sat behind his podium dressed like the bride of Frankenstein. Frizzy black-and-white hair adorned his head, fake bolts were attached to his neck, and fake stitches were drawn in marker across his face and bare arms. On either side of the dress-wearing boy stood the bear abominations, which had been dressed in ridiculous costumes as well. "Mwehehe! Welcome to my house of horrors. Prepare yourselves for the beginning of the end!" the Executioner exclaimed dramatically.

"I'm all for the theatrics, but what's with all the tacky decorations and photos?" Akeno quirked her brow as she took her podium.

Samuel sighed. "Well, no one ever said he had a sense of taste. I think that's pretty obvious by now."

Shiro gasped in mock offense. "How can you be so cruel? I spent all day preparing all of this! These decorations are handmade, and these photos show everyone who's died on the island thus far. Makes you feel pretty special to get this far, don't it?"

"The only thing that will make it feel special is if we can prevail here. Otherwise, I assume we will be joining this gallery," Teleios mused in a somber tone.

The Ultimate Executioner giggled. "Aww, don't be so glum! I have special stakes for this one. It's true that solving the mystery will allow you to leave, but I have something different than mass execution in mind if you all fail."

"What? Do you intend to torture and break us as you were?" Kiyomi gave a wary expression.

"As fun as that sounds, that's not it at all. It's pretty simple, really. If you don't solve this mystery, you'll have plenty of time to contemplate your failures, because Hora Island will remain your home for the foreseeable future!" Shiro snickered.

Ariana scowled while her tails whipped through the air. "You'd make us stay on this godforsaken island? I-I have to say, I think death sounds preferable."

"I'm assuming that's the point," Alejandra said in a deadpan tone. "Though, something tells me you don't intend to suffer the same fate if we fail. You must have some way off of here."

Sonia pursed her lips. "From what we discovered in our investigation, there was a device that allowed for teleportation. It's how Saino and some of the others left, so I think that is the most likely solution."

"I believe that is unlikely, M'lady. I can attest that the device in question was smashed in the lab. That was no doubt a byproduct of Chase's rampage following's Syd's death," Sebastian pointed out.

The Werewolf offered a shameful expression as he spoke in a deep tone. "I can't apologize enough. I keep making things more difficult for the rest of you."

"Darling, you can't put that on yourself. Syd was the one who released you when you were like that, so this is on him," Maya said as she gently patted Henry's head.

The Spirit Channeler frowned. "If that machine was destroyed, then how does Shiro intend to leave if the worst comes to pass?"

Shiro offered a cheeky grin as he pressed a finger against his lips. "That's a secret, but you all have bigger fish to fry, and by fish, I mean a murder to solve. To add a little bit more stakes to everything, you have until the stroke of midnight. Failure to end the trial by then, or failure to provide the right answer, will end in the same way. I'm sure you all are familiar with how this works by now, so let the final trial of Hora Island commence!"

"Any suggestions on where we should begin?" the transformed Chase said in a guttural voice.

The Paranormal Investigator raised a hand to her chin. "I think it would serve us to look back at the beginning. Brooke was the one who dragged Jibo's body into the dining hall on the second morning. We need to determine where he was killed first."

"That's easier said than done. Every staff member but Sebastian is long gone. Unless he saw something, we're out of luck," Ariana pointed out.

The Dragon Tamer cleared her throat. "I think Chase and I may have an answer to that. We checked the gallery and found a painting Mackenzie did. It showed Jibo's body slumped near the grandfather clock in the foyer." TRUTH BULLET

"I hate to rain on your parade, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything," Samuel said. "For all we know, it could have just been an artistic liberty."

Hana shook her head vehemently. "I'm sorry, Samuel, but I have to reject that assertion. While I had my grievances with Mackenzie, she always captured every scene in stunning and horrifying detail. If that's what she captured in her painting, I think we should trust Maya's point." TRUTH BULLET

"Actually, what she captured was where the body ended up, not necessarily the scene of the crime. You're making a dangerous assumption that he wasn't killed elsewhere," Alejandra said.

Teleios unfurled his wings. "Yes, I suppose it is possible the body could have been moved. At the very least, we haven't heard testimony disproving that."

The Butler raised a hand to his mouth to clear his throat. "Actually, I believe I can set the record straight. I had the unfortunate task of cleaning up the blood after Master Momota's murder. Much to Maya's point, he was found near the grandfather clock near the entrance to the basement. The blood was completely centered around the body except for a spray on the wall behind him, which was no doubt a result of being stabbed. I found no other blood except what was around the body itself." TRUTH BULLET

"Tch, it's a shame that Brooke had to drag him into the dinning hall. We could have really used that chance to investigate everything. I'm sure it was all that little creep Kuuma's doing," Akeno seethed as she shook her head.

Sonia offered a thoughtful nod. "While I wasn't present for this occasion, I do believe he died in the foyer, despite the contaminated crime scene. I think Maya's and Sebastian's testimonies prove that." TRUTH BULLET

"Now that we've solved that chestnut, why don't we tackle something that's been bothering me since it happened? Why was he wearing that damn samurai armor in the first place, and why was he presumably out late at night? If he had been killed in his normal attire, it would be more likely that he was caught off guard. The fact that he was wearing the armor seems to suggest he was anticipating danger," Alejandra said as she toyed with the bone in her hair.

The Ultimate Werewolf offered a low grunt. "Maybe he was put into the armor after being killed? It could have been some sort of sick joke to the culprit."

"I think that's pretty unlikely. The armor itself had a hole in the chest, surely a result of the samurai sword that is still coated in his blood. If he was already killed, it would mean the killer either stabbed him again for no reason, or stabbed the armor itself before putting it on him. I don't know what Kiyomi found in her autopsy, but that theory seems hard to believe," Akeno said with a contemplative expression. TRUTH BULLET

"She's right. There was only a single stab wound through the heart and it was a clean strike. I think he donned the armor and was attacked shortly afterwards," Kiyomi suggested. TRUTH BULLET

The Familiar's eyes widened slightly. "If memory serves, at the time he was attacked, electricity was not on for the majority of the mansion. Perhaps he wanted to retire to his room for the night when he heard something. Being alone in the dark, he could have slipped into the armor out of desperation." TRUTH BULLET

"Considering how many sets of armor are on display in that area, he certainly would have had access to it, though he must have felt terribly cornered to resort to such a desperate means of protection," Ariana said as she crinkled her nose.

Sebastian rubbed at his chin. "There is an underlying thing to consider as well. Whoever killed Master Momota had every opportunity to admit to the crime. Let us not forget what Kuuma said."

"Oh, ye of little faith! It's rather simple. Most of the time, we'd all go search about looking for clues. At a certain point, we'd shuffle off to the trial room and try to decide whodunnit. However, this feels like a special case, so why treat it the same way? Here's how it's going to work: Each and every one of you will be allowed to make an accusation as to who you think the killer of Jibo Momota is at any point in this game - that includes staff and students, alike. You name the right person, and you get to leave this island, no questions asked!"

"W-Wait, are you saying the killer themselves could have named themselves as the blackened and simply walked away?" Maya gave a baffled expression. "Who in their right mind would have killed and not seized that chance?"

Hana toyed with the beads around her neck. "That could be a clue unto itself. Either the killer isn't in their right mind, or they are no longer here to reap that reward."

"Regardless of either scenario, we can be assured of how and why Jibo acquired the armor. I suggest we talk about the cause of death now, for clarification," Sonia said as she stretched her wings.

"That sort of seems like a waste of time to me. I mean, the bloodied sword and wound in the chest makes it pretty obvious, right?" Ariana gazed around the room, searching for someone to agree.

The Princess frowned. "As someone who wasn't there, I wouldn't mind a bit more detail. Besides, he may have been stabbed, but that doesn't mean that was necessarily how he was killed."

"That is true. Hardly anything has been simple. Someone could be trying to throw us off," Chase murmured.

"Should go into more detail with the autopsy then?" Hana glanced over at the Paranormal Investigator.

"After Sam, Alejandra, and I got the body back to the infirmary, I did my best to perform an examination. As you might imagine, after so long, decomposition had begun to set in. However, I observed quite a few things. While nailing down a time of death was impossible, I spotted a first degree burn mark on his forehead. It wouldn't have been life threatening. The only other wound was a slight bruising on the neck. I believe the culprit gripped him by the neck before plunging the blade through his chest. While I'm not as qualified as Syd or a coroner, I am confident enough to say that the wound in his chest was what lead to his demise," Kiyomi responded. TRUTH BULLET

The Ultimate Familiar tilted his head slightly. "It seems we have our cause of death in the form of the samurai sword, and a curious clue in the form of that burn. Was there anything else of note found during the examination?"

"You could say that." Alejandra pulled out a Monokuma plush and set it on her podium. "It was zipped inside the body bag with him."

The Ultimate Vampire eyed the doll curiously. "Do you think that could have been Sabishi's doing? Why was it in a bag in the first place?"

Samuel worked at his jaw. He refused to stare at the plush. "I can't speak on behalf of the Monokuma doll, but it was our theory that the bag was to keep the body in its grave. We noted strange-looking runes on its surface. TRUTH BULLET

"I can confirm that. I overheard Saino and Kuuma discussing it shortly after Master Momota's death," Sebastian admitted.

Maya sighed softly. "That would explain why he wasn't among the horde during the zombie motive. It was because of their meddling. Still, it doesn't seem like we have an answer for the doll, unless it was left as a joke."

"Let's ignore the damned bear for a moment. I think our focus should be trying to weed out some suspects, or we're never going to find an answer to this," Samuel said bluntly.

"Fufufu. This is the point where we'd normally ask for alibis, but considering how long it's been and how few of us are still here, it seems like a moot point. Unless, of course, any of us were together that first night," Akeno said as her gaze flitted around the trial room.

Samuel sighed. "It's unlikely that many of us were together. I know I didn't trust any of you at first."

"...Well, the minnow was with me. I-I helped him prepare for bed and kept an eye on him that first night," Ariana said in a strained voice. Her stare lingered on the little boy's crossed-out portrait. TRUTH BULLET

Hana nodded thoughtfully. "I remember seeing you both in the common hall that second morning. So, that's two people out of… almost thirty."

"Here's a question. Can we not remove all of the staff members as suspects?" Teleios pondered.

Maya blinked. "That seems to be jumping the gun a little bit. What makes you say that?"

Sebastian spoke up. "I believe I can answer that. I know it's been a long time, but at the time of Jibo's death, none of the staff members were considered a part of the game. None of them had a reason to kill him."

"The motive specifically designated a student, not a staff member, which means no one is leaving. I guess now that the old man is gone, we should probably make a few changes. You see, this game wasn't supposed to include the staff members. Though, it would be kind of a shame to have so many warm bodies around and not have them involved too, don't ya think? So, as this killing game begins in earnest, the staff will be fair game from here on out."

"Are you sure about that? Brooke hated all of the staff with a passion, and Kuuma was nuts. Plus, Syd could have killed his master to bring himself closer to being in charge. Either way, any of the staff could have done it for more power," Chase said in a deep voice.

Kiyomi shook her head. "No, I think Sebastian is right. He personally wouldn't have struck because he didn't want to jeopardize his children. Sabishi may have hated Jibo, but she wasn't even allowed in the house until after he died. Shiro and Mackenzie were so broken that their only obsession was with each other and their crafts. I don't see either of them risking themselves and leaving the other behind. Brooke wouldn't have killed Jibo because it would have meant losing the only person who could have cured her. Saino clearly preferred Jibo to Syd and Kuuma, as he was cautious and heeded her advice. Syd was detestable, but he clearly respected JIbo, and was troubled by his passing. He even said he preferred being in the background. He only stepped into the mastermind role because he disagreed with Kuuma's methods. Then, of course, there's the Homunculus himself. I think he may be the only staff member with a proper motive." TRUTH BULLET

"So? Even if we can completely rule out all the staff, that still leaves us with over twenty suspects. There's no way we can possibly vet their alibis," Alejandra said in a deadpan manner.

Akeno tapped her chin. "That's not entirely true. Hana could channel them and let them speak for themselves."

"Unfortunately, even if Hana could channel every single person… we'd likely run out of time well before we'd reach an answer," Sonia said a slight frown.

Shiro giggled before popping a piece of candy into his mouth. "That's very true. Time isn't on your side, but if you wanna waste it, go ahead."

"Shit, we really need to find a better lead. Does anyone else have any suggestions at all?" Samuel tapped his forearm impatiently.

The Spirit Channeler cleared her throat. "Sebastian and I checked the entire basement. It's possible the killer hasn't been among us from the beginning, because Hoshi Momota was unaccounted for. They both seem steeped in horrific research. What if he killed his brother for some reason?"

"It isn't the worst suggestion I've heard," Alejandra said with a shrug. "But where exactly do you propose this guy has been hiding?"

Maya shrugged. "The island is so large, and there's not much that we know about it. We limited our search to the mansion because we assumed any evidence around Jibo's death would be in close proximity of the house itself."

"Wonderful! Someone we haven't even met could be hiding in a hole on this damn island." Ariana shook her head in frustration.

"I find that highly unlikely. While I have no knowledge of this individual, it seems to me this is reaching. Other than his existence, we'd have no evidence to ever reach this conclusion. To add insult to injury, if someone we hadn't noticed had been here, I believe Chase or Akeno would have detected them," Teleios pointed out.

The Werewolf nodded. "I can say with no hesitation that I didn't notice any new scents that morning. I've memorized everyone else's, so I doubt someone would have eluded my nose." TRUTH BULLET

"Agreed. I definitely smelled plenty of blood, but I never noticed anything else out of place," Akeno added.

A sigh escaped Sebastian. "Then it seems Hoshi Momota's absence may just be a coincidence that has nothing to do with this case. In which case, we're back to where we began."

"It certainly doesn't bode well for us, but we should press on till the last moment. We may have overlooked something," Sonia said with a contemplative look.

The Ultimate Paranormal Investigator's eyes widened. "Perhaps we did. While Jibo was indeed killed via the katana, I did observe a burn mark on his head. That may be a glaring clue."

"Come to think of it, we noticed that the helmet itself was charred. It seems the two instances are connected," Akeno mused.

Samuel's eyes narrowed. "Fire, the reason why the culprit never announced themselves, and the fact it was most certainly a student leads to only one likely conclusion: Alexander was the one who killed Jibo."

"You think he was behind all of this? I guess it would make some kind of sense. He had manipulated quite a lot between Saino's escape and everything else," the Kitsune said.

"Perhaps it was all a scheme to set up for his curse. By causing the systematic downfall of the staff, Alexander convinced a desperate Syd to trust him with a motive that nearly lead to all of our deaths. He never wanted us to leave the island because he wanted to see us burn!" Kiyomi stated with an air of confidence.

Teleios shifted slightly. "I must admit, it does explain quite a lot. However, beyond supposition, we don't have a lot of concrete evidence."

"King is right. I'd feel better about this if we had more than a hunch," Sonia said with a worried expression.

"There may not be any evidence left at this point. We're trying to solve a cold case," Chase offered in a deep grumble.

The Butler cleared his throat. "Shall we ask the individual in question? We may not have time to probe everyone, but we do have time to ask just one."

"Isn't that sort of dangerous, though?" Maya asked with an anxious expression. "What if he does something horrible with Hana's body?"

"It's a risk worth taking. Otherwise, we all risk something far worse," Alejandra pointed out.

The Spirit Channeler nodded before offering a reassuring smile. "Guys, it's alright. I've come a long way with my abilities. I should be able to do this."

Akeno offered a weak smile. "Just be careful. Don't forget how twisted he is."

"Don't worry, I won't let my guard down." Hana shut her eyes before going into some sort of trance.

Stillness filled the room for a long moment before the Channeler assumed a much more confident stance.

"Just look at all of you scurrying around looking for answers, so desperately trying to preserve your pitiful existence."

"We heard enough out of you when you were alive, Alex!" Akeno snapped as she balled up her fists. "Please, just cut the bullshit and answer us..."

Alexander let out a cruel laugh. "It sounds like you're begging, which of course wouldn't be the first time you've done so. It really is pathetic how you all are so desperately trying to discern the truth."

"Shut the fuck up! I swear to God, if you don't answer our questions, I'll-" Samuel was cut off by the conjured Sorcerer.

"You'll do what, precisely? What could you possibly do or say to threaten me? I'm in Hana's body, and if your small mind has forgotten, I'm no longer flesh and blood." The Sorcerer chuckled.

Sonia bristled a moment before composing herself. "Alexander, I know you were far from a saint in life. However, you have the chance to atone. We're not asking for an apology. We want you to tell us if you were involved in Jibo's death."

"Princess, if you think appealing to my 'good nature' is going to help, you're sadly mistaken. I savored both of my kills on Hora Island. I only feel bad that I couldn't have bathed more of you in flames."

"Arschloch!" Ariana yelled as she felt her tails stand on end.

The Paranormal Investigator offered a tiny smirk. "Thank you, Alexander. In your hubris, you gave us an answer after all."

"I-I'm afraid I'm not following. What did he say?" Maya gave a puzzled look.

"I think I see where Kiyomi is going with this. Alexander just mentioned savoring 'both' of his kills. However, the only victim we know about thus far has been Mackenzie. He implied there was a second kill, which is precisely what we were searching for," Alejandra said with a bemused expression.

The Sorcerer smiled lightly. "Hm, well it seems I've been caught. Denying it now would be pointless. It's a shame I can't be executed again. I would so savor that sensation."

"Hana, I believe we've heard all we need from this one. He seems to enjoy his own voice more than anything else," the Butler said as he crossed his arms.

A faint chuckle escaped the Sorcerer before the Channeler's body went limp again.

After a few seconds, Hana took a deep breath. A bead of sweat formed on her brow. "I take it that will suffice?"

"Hah, you did a great job!" Chase roared, flashing his mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. "We can now bring this to an end."

"I would have preferred a detailed confession, but we are running out of time," Teleios said as he shifted his posture.

The Executioner stuck out his tongue. "Right you are! I think it's time we put all the chips down. Time to cast your votes. Is it Alexander, Hoshi, or some mystery party? It's time to make your voice heard!"

The remaining survivors cast anxious glances at one another before one by one each of them began to cast their vote.

Nearly thirty seconds elapsed before Shiro stood up and cleared his throat. "The vote was completely unanimous. Everyone of you voted for Alexander Fotia, and yet every single one of you was wrong as well."

"W-Wrong?!" Maya croaked out with a look of horror on her face. "But that's impossible! Alexander all but confirmed it himself. What purpose would he have to lie about it?"

Ariana shook her head with a look of disbelief. "She's right. It makes absolutely no sense!"

The Spirit Channeler hugged herself as she began to shake. "W-We're stuck here forever? How is this happening?"

"...He could have purposely misled us just so we'd cast the wrong vote," Alejandra surmised with a solemn expression.

Kiyomi gritted her teeth. "Dammit, if we were wrong… at least tell us who the hell did it?!" she snapped as she glared at Shiro.

The Ultimate Executioner smirked. "Aww, don't be a spoilsport! You tried your best. Oh, I guess I should give you the answer you've been searching for. Jibo Momota's killer is none other than Junko Enoshima!"

"Junko? I-I thought she perished at Hope's Peak Academy. Is she still somewhere on this island?" Sonia questioned.

"Teehee, you could say that. In fact, she's closer than you might realize." Shiro giggled.

The Hunter's gaze turned murderous. "Enoshima?! The bitch who started the entire Despair movement is here?!" He roared as he clutched at his hunting knife.

"Bitch… Fashionista… Ultimate Despair… Queen… or Ultimate Vampire if you'd prefer. They're all just monikers of the one and only Junko Enoshima," Akeno announced as she reached up and brushed a pair of purple contacts out of her eyes. Her spiraling blue eyes gazed around the room, and a malicious grin spread across her face. "Gosh, I can totally feel the rampant despair in this room. It's nothing short of intoxicating!" she gushed as she hugged herself.

"I-Is this some kind of bad joke? A-Akeno, this isn't funny," Maya stammered out.

Sebastian shook his head in denial. "N-No, it's impossible! As Miss Sonia said, Junko Enoshima is dead."

"Plebeian, are you so daft that you can't consider the reason for my return? Have you not seen stranger things on Hora Island? I was nothing more than rotting flesh when I was brought here," Junko said in a regal manner.

The Familiar's eyes narrowed. "Now I understand. Jibo's notes mentioned something being taken from the Future Foundation. That was your body, wasn't it?"

"Fufufu! As mother of the night, I do not possess all of the details. I was indeed dead at that time, but I suppose my body was recovered from the Foundation. Now I can begin my reign of eternal night!" Junko exclaimed. She flashed one of her fangs before striking a dramatic pose.

The Werewolf bared his teeth. "As if we'd let you get the chance! There's no way in hell we're letting you leave this place!" He roared as he lunged forward at the Vampire.

Junko offered a mildly amused expression and snapped her fingers. Chains materialized out of nowhere and swiftly wrapped around the Werewolf. "Those are silver, Fido, so I wouldn't squirm too much… unless you get off on the pain like Alex did."

Samuel stared at the redhead murderously. "...Alexander never betrayed you, did he? That's why he didn't curse you. He was in league with you."

"Aww, my cute former Despair member is such a bright one! You've come a long way from butchering people like a mad dog. Gosh, it's a good thing this isn't being broadcasted. That sure would be a nasty secret to have leaked." Junko gigged in a cutesy voice as she stared at Samuel.

The Hunter recoiled as a look of shame filled his face. "Don't talk about that like you understand shit! It was all your fault. It's what your people did!"

The former Fashionista shrugged. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Sammy. I have to say that I'm so disappointed in all of you. I dropped clues left and right. Like, seriously, Akeno Shujinmo? Have you ever heard of an anagram? It's right there in my name. Hell, even the birthday I chose in the records was the day that Ryoko Otonashi died."

Alejandra shook her head. "It just doesn't add up. I know you didn't make up the name Shujinmo. There is a real director with that last name."

"It was quite simple, and carefully planned. I knew a background was more powerful if it drew from a bit of reality. So, when I saw his last name, I saw an opportunity to craft a new persona and a believable back story. You all ate up the idea of a goth-inspired film buff that just so happened to become a creature of the night," Junko explained as she rested a hand on her hip.

The Kitsune scowled as she folded her arms across herself in a defensive manner. "We get it already. You fooled all of us. What do you plan to do with us now?"

"Gosh, you really don't listen well, do ya?" Shiro hopped off his podium. He moved towards the Vampire and extended an arm. "You all failed. As such, you're going to have to pay the price. You're not going anywhere. This is a horror setting, you know. What were you expecting? A happy ending?"

Junko smirked as she took the Executioner's arm. "Don't take this personally. This is just natural selection and despair at its finest. If nothing else, this has been interesting."

The Surgeon offered a strained smile before patting his mentor on the shoulder. "Just don't push yourself too hard. I'll see you in the morning."

A wry smile spread across Jibo's lips. "Yes. That is when things will begin to get more interesting."

BEGIN FLASHBACK

12:51 A.M Day Two

First Floor

Foyer

"Alexander, you certainly have a flair for the dramatic, don't you?" Jibo questioned with an amused expression as he stared down at the armor around his body.

The Sorcerer offered a one-armed bow. "But of course. I think it adds a nice conundrum. Perhaps they will debate whether or not it's relevant. We wouldn't want to make this too easy now, would we?"

"Fufufu! Easy is so boring, and you know that I hate boring, old man," Junko said with a playful smirk.

The Ultimate Biologist offered a dry chuckle as he eyed the katana in Junko's hand. "I'm more than aware by now. As a matter of fact, that is why I'm agreeing to this. Things have become so predictable, and I would rather die by your hand than from cancer. If those who survive adapt and grow, perhaps they will win. Conversely, this plan of yours may succeed. Natural selection will dictate that. Will you do me a favor, though? It will be the only thing I've ever asked of you..."

Junko smirked. "I know you're into younger women, pops, but even I don't want to feel that kind of despair."

"I'm being serious. Just humor me for a moment before you run me through," the Biologist said as he stared at the blade.

The Vampire rolled her eyes. "What do you want? You've made things fun, so just spit it out."

A sigh escaped the frail man. "I know you have a penchant for betrayal and anything in the name of despair. However, I ask that you look after Yukiko, just as I did for Jun. She's every bit as much our daughter as Jun is your son. Despair can thrive more if it's allowed to grow, so I implore you to let it flourish."

"For a last request, it's surprisingly touching. What do you think, my queen? Will you honor it?" the Sorcerer questioned as he raised a single brow.

"Heh, why not? Hope is really persistent. It would be a shame to snuff out such promising members of Despair. Junny could use a big sister, anyways. So, what'ya say we get this going? I'm starting to get really thirsty," Junko said as she flashed her fangs.

Jibo chuckled and slowly pulled the helmet onto his head. "Very well. The legacy of despair returns where it began. I'm sure that whatever society comes after this will be far stronger. Rapture will be a perfect place for the best and brightest to start over."

"Fufufu. You always set such lofty goals. You should know I couldn't care less about any of that. Lofty goals and ambitions can be crushed, but despair is something that can never be stopped..."

END FLASHBACK

12:11 A.M November 1st

Mausoleum

Trial Room

"If you think you can just walk away, you're out of your goddamn mind!" Samuel leapt forward at the pair with his knife in hand.

Junko giggled and didn't even hazard a look backwards. She simply snapped her free hand.

Suddenly, an ethereal portal appeared before the pair.

The Hunter gritted his teeth and sped up, only to stab the air as they disappeared into the portal.

"Where the fuck did they just go?!" Ariana screamed as she thrashed her tails wildly.

Sonia bowed her head. "Beyond our grasp. We played into their every move, even up until the end. Now we'll have to live with the consequences."

Chase let out a low growl as he snapped his chains before falling onto the floor. "...This place may have been horrible to us, but the game is over. How bad could it be?"

"I-I hate to say it, but he's right. We may have lost, but at least we're all still alive." Maya approached the Werewolf before wrapping her arms around his neck.

The Paranormal Investigator shook her head. "This is no victory. We survived, but we have set something terrible into motion. Who knows how many lives will be ruined because we failed when it really counted?"

"I didn't expect the story to end with us alive but trapped on this god-forsaken island. It seems there's little we can do about it now, though," Alejandra said in a defeated tone.

The Butler shook his head. "It's true that we have failed on the greater scheme of things. Despite that, there is still something we can do. Now that we're not surrounded by motives or killing games, we should focus on finding a way to put the dead to rest for good."

Teleios fluttered across the room to land on Sonia's shoulder. "That is a noble goal. It may not help the living, but at least we can give peace to the dead."

The Spirit Channeler bit back tears as she nodded her head weakly. "I will do everything I can. I've been trying to give solace to those alive. Now, I can offer it to those who've passed on..."

[Epilogue] 8 Weeks Later

6:21 A.M January 3rd 2021

Queen's Gambit

Bow

"Land ahoy!" Naruhiko exclaimed dramatically from the crow's nest with a wide grin plastered across his face.

Kazuichi stared up at the crow's nest before rolling his eyes. "That moron has been saying that for weeks now. I'm convinced we're lost. This is like the Bermuda triangle of the Pacific. All my updated gadgets and compass haven't done jack. To make matters worse, I think I'm gonna be sick again," the boy groaned as he grabbed the railing for support.

The Mathematician gave him a sympathetic look. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Kazu. Your calculations were spot on. It's just that these waters seem to defy logic and the wonderful laws of mathematics and science."

The boy offered a nervous laugh from the praise. "Well, I couldn't have made some of these upgrades without your mind, Mad Math. I'm just glad we have some people that know these parts. That's really our only hope now," he mused as he stared at the front of the boat where two girls stood side by side.

Shiho offered a warm smile towards the girl next to her. "Naru is right, isn't he? We're really here. I can smell more than just salt water in the distance."

The young woman took a deep breath through her nose and tucked some hair behind her ears. She closed her eyes for a few moments before glancing at the others. "We're here, and very close to the shore. We'll have to be careful. The old man set up some fail safes around the island. There's a kraken and some samebito, to name a few."

"Don't worry. Seikatsu already predicted their patterns. She's guiding Kaizoku through a gap in the perimeter. That being said, we will need to move swiftly. From what our mermaid here has said, this is not a place we want to linger for long," Chloe said. She approached the pair before offering a small nod at Charlotte. Her gaze flitted down to the girl's expanding belly. "Perhaps you shouldn't stretch your fins in these waters. Kaizoku will be dropping anchor fairly soon, anyways."

"Y-yeah. I may be dying for a swim, but I definitely don't want to risk losing this little one," she said, placing a hand on her abdomen. She smiled, glancing back at the ocean. "I'm sure he thinks I'm dead but… When I give him the news, he's gonna be so happy,"

Shiho patted the mermaid's shoulder. "I'm sure that, after everything they've been through, this is exactly what he needs to hear," she said. Moments later, the boat suddenly ground to a halt.

"Looks like this is our stop. We should discuss who's going ashore. There's no need for all of us to go, and it would be dangerous to leave the boat unattended," Chloe said as she adjusted the sword strapped to her back.

Kazuichi and Maddie approached the trio. The former cleared his throat. "There's no way in heck I'm gonna stay behind. I came all this way to make sure Sonia made it out of here safely. I'm not going to fail her for a second time."

"Then you should go. I think I'll just stay here. I'm not exactly keen on stepping foot on that island, and I'm not really good with new people," Maddie admitted with a sheepish expression.

"Aye, let's keep this simple. Kazuichi, Charlotte, Chloe, and Shiho will be going ashore. I reckon you all have personal reasons to do so. Just don't do anything reckless. I'm sure enough blood has been spilled," Kaizoku cautioned as he approached with Naruhiko and Seikatsu. The Sailor's family tattoo was visible on his bare chest. On his shoulders rested a captain's jacket.

The Tarotologist raised a finger to her brow. "Captain, you'll be pleased to note that I haven't foreseen any deaths in our immediate future. Still, there's no reason to tempt fate."

"Just get your asses in and out, yeah? This place gives me the creeps. No offense, Shi." Naruhiko laughed as he leaned in and kissed the girl's cheek.

"N-No offense taken, trust me," the Runner replied with a smile.

Before anyone else could respond, the group would see a shadow on the deck. A large silver bird suddenly landed on the deck before observing them all curiously.

"No freaking way! Teleios, is that you? Gosh, you're even bigger than I remember!" Kazuichi exclaimed.

The bird tilted his head a moment. "Kazuichi, it is good to see you again, though you still fail to address me properly. It is Teleios, King of Raptors!"

"D-Did you guys just hear that or am I going crazy?!" Kazuichi asked as he pointed at the gyrfalcon with a trembling arm.

"You aren't hearing things," he spoke.

"Honestly… after all the shit I've seen on this island, this doesn't surprise me," Charlotte said, kneeling down before the bird. "Am I to assume you are here to lead us to the others? There's… someone I need to speak to." She sounded desperate.

A sigh escaped the bird. His gaze flitted around the rest of the group that stared at him in a mixture of puzzlement and astonishment. "I forget most of you are not accustomed to the absurdness of Hora Island. Allow me to make this less confusing for all of us." Teleios stepped a few paces back from the Mermaid before a bright light illuminated the deck. In the bird's place stood a tall, handsome man swathed in a robe of silver feathers. "I trust this form is less unsettling to you all."

"...I swear I haven't done drugs in ages. Could it be the sun?" Naruhiko rubbed at his eyes.

"Nah, lad, I think this is a very much real," Kaizoku said. "King Teleios, was it? As Charlotte was saying, are you here to guide us to the others?"

The transformed Familiar nodded his head. "Indeed. I saw your ship in the distance and immediately set course. I will inform the others. I'm sure they're just as eager as I am to be rid of this island."

Suddenly, a loud roar could be heard in the distance as the sound of trees cracking filled the morning air.

Chloe tensed as she grabbed the sword on her back. "What in the hell was that?"

"Oh, pay it no mind. Henry is just doing his morning exercises," Teleios explained.

"Henry?" Madison raised a brow.

The Familiar chuckled as he approached the railing before looking back at the group. "Don't worry, you'll be introduced soon enough."

7:49 A.M January 3rd 2021

Hora Island

Beach

Chloe stared at the foreboding forest in the distance. "They're taking quite a while. Just how far away is this mansion?"

"It's further than you might expect. To be so hard to find, this island is massive. I-I'm sure Charlotte knows all about that," the Runner mused softly as she knelt down and ran her hand through the sand.

"Yes… While we were forced to explore the entire island, we did get to the mansion. If you take this path straight through the Dark Woods, you'll make it." Charlotte pointed at the path on the faded Hora Island map in her hands. "At most, it would take them about two hours... If they really wanna get out of here, they'll haul ass. I certainly would."

"Yeah. I've seen my share of creepy, but just standing on this beach is giving me the willies," Kazuichi muttered.

Suddenly, a large creature burst from the confines of the forest before gliding forward and sliding through the sand. It stood about five feet in height and was as long as a small car. Its sleek scales shone in the morning light. It puffed a tendril of smoke into the air.

"WHAT THE SHIT IS THAT?!" Kazuichi screamed as he pressed his hands to his face.

"Henry! I know you're excited, but don't you scare them!" A dark-haired girl emerged from the forest with a scolding tone, but she eventually relented and gave the creature a pat on the head.

Chloe stared at the two with a look of wonder. "So this is Henry. Just when I think I've seen everything, something comes along to prove me wrong."

"Believe me, this is only the tip of the iceberg. One of my friends was able to turn into a dragon far bigger than this guy. You haven't seen anything yet," Charlotte said, holding back a smile.

"I'd recognize that girly scream anywhere. It's been a long time, Kazuichi," said a soft and friendly voice. A familiar blonde walked onto the beach along with several others. Her wings were furled behind her, but were still very much visible.

"S-Sonia!" The boy cried out and ran forward several paces before falling into the sand. He didn't miss a beat, though, as he picked himself up and continued onward to tackle the girl into a tight hug.

"I told you he'd be a blubbering mess." Teleios chuckled, though he offered the Mechanic a good-natured smile.

The Angel smiled lightly and returned the hug. "It's okay. It's nice to see an old friend. Thank you all for coming for us."

"It's about damn time someone did," Ariana said, as she stepped out from behind the dragon. She placed a hand on her partially swollen stomach with a grin on her face. "I thought I'd have to raise my minnow in this shithole."

Chase let out a bark of laughter as he wrapped Maya in a hug. "Since Hana helped the dead move on, it's really not so bad anymore. Well, minus the the monsters still creeping around the place."

"Feel free to stay here, dog breath. The rest of us are quite ready to be rid of this place," Alejandra said. She quickly strode towards one of the boats that awaited on the shore.

"She seems friendly," the Mechanic remarked sarcastically.

Hana laughed as she eyed the Writer. "Don't be upset. Alejandra is just bored because she finished her book and has writer's block now."

"You all seem well-adjusted despite everything that's happened," Shiho pointed out.

A familiar voice spoke up in response to her comment. "Win or lose, we're survivors. I wish I could welcome you home in a better way, but this will have to do. It's good to see you again, little one," Sebastian greeted with a warm smile. He closed the distance between him and the Runner before pulling her into a tight hug.

Shiho broke into tears as she hugged the Butler tightly and cried into his chest.

"That's one way of putting it, I suppose. There's something you all should know, Enoshima is still alive. You need to let anyone out there know as soon as possible," Samuel warned as he strode forward hand in hand with Kiyomi.

"You're too late on that announcement. She made her grand debut last week. Believe me, the world knows she's back. The Foundation is taking a beating. There are still missing kids, and the morons in Tokyo think that rebuilding Hope's Peak is a sign to the rest of the world that despair has been beaten. It's a sad joke," Chloe sighed.

"Great, because that's what the world needs now… More ultimates that can be targeted." Kiyomi groaned.

"Um... I don't want to interrupt, but… where's Daisuke? Last time I saw him, he was heading back to the mansion. Matter of fact, where are Shiro and Mackenzie? I've got something to tell them." Charlotte glanced at the others. "They all think I'm dead. I know it'll be a shock, but... I'm sure what I have to tell them will make them forget that!"

A silence filled the beach for a moment. It was Sonia who finally, slowly strode forward. "You must be Charlotte. A lot has happened to us, so I'll explain everything on the boat. What I can tell you is that Daisuke's story may not have had a happy ending, but he risked everything for all of us." She reached out and placed a comforting hand on the Mermaid's shoulder.

"What… What does that mean?" Charlotte tilted her head. "He's here, right? If he risked himself for you, then he must be fine. He's just hurt, isn't he? That idiot was always risking his ass for other people. That's just like him."

The Princess sucked in a sharp breath. "There's no way I can say this gently, but he's no longer here. I know that he deeply loved you, though. I think he'd want you to have this." She pulled Daisuke's bag off of her shoulder and held it out to the other girl. "He never stopped thinking about you."

"What do you mean he's not here? He can't be…!" she cried, taking the bag into her grasp. She opened it and saw a familiar leather-bound book within. "I'm six months pregnant with his daughter... I came to tell him the news. Please tell me this is a joke!"

She felt her knees get weak, and she dropped to the ground, hugging the bag tightly. Her shoulders shook as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Daisuke... You can't be serious... You couldn't be… You're Sparkling Justice…! He doesn't die!"

Ariana knelt down in front of her to take a hold of her hand. Charlotte hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted the gesture. She didn't know this stranger or why she was there, but she could tell she had been through a lot. The Kitsune hugged her firmly, patting the small of her back.

"I've been through something similar. My love was killed on this island. It hurts… It hurts more than you can imagine."

"You don't understand. For months, I've thought of nothing but coming here. This fucking shithole has taken everything from me. My old life, my friends, my fucking boyfriend, and now… and now I have to raise our daughter alone!" she cried loudly. Ariana pulled out of the hug and yanked the young woman to her feet. She pulled her away from the others.

"Listen to me, Charlotte… I don't know you and you don't know me, but I do know what suffering is. You think you are the only one who has to raise a kid on her own? I'm a month and a few weeks behind you, sweetie," the woman snapped angrily. "It sucks ass that he's gone… but he was a hero. He gave up his life to end this game, and his sacrifice wasn't in vain. He just didn't know how deep the web of lies was."

"I...I'm sorry, it's just-"

"You have nothing to be sorry about, but don't you dare say you are alone, because you aren't. That little one in your womb is with you. When she's born, she's going to learn all about her father." Ariana said while wiping Charlotte's tears away. "She's going to learn about what a fucking badass he was, about how he had hope to the very end, about how he stared death in the face and went out with a smile. I'll be there to tell her all about it."

"T-Thank you... I don't even know your name, yet here you are to comfort me." Charlotte smiled through her tears.

"It's what I do best… Call me Ari. Everyone does," the Kitsune said happily. "You'll be fine. You both will."

Chloe finished observing the scene somberly before she approached Sonia. "We can discuss this at a later time, Princess, but I have a final request from your sister. This is something I feel indebted to see through to the end."

The Angel offered a tearful smile as she nodded. "I very much look forward to discussing it. I think I speak for everyone when I say we're all ready to leave."

"You can say that again!" Alejandra called out as she leaned against one of the longboats. "I think we've all had our fair share of Hora island. It's time to write a new chapter of our lives, one that's free from these nightmares."

Hora Island was still.

The souls of the deceased had long since moved on. Despite that, there were creatures that still roamed on this island.

These creatures would never be still, be them victims of the games that took place on this hallowed ground or creatures who were doomed to darkness for the rest of their lives.

The loud shriek of a crow echoed through the quiet forest, startling a few of the native birds. Its crimson eye looked every which way before spreading its wings and taking off into the skies. It flapped its wings with gusto as it flew down towards the abandoned mansion, which had fallen into a state of disrepair in the weeks following the departure of the survivors.

It came to rest on top of a tombstone and pecked it a few name was barely visible due to the overgrown grass in the graveyard. It let out a series of caws as it looked out into the woods, then gave one last cry before flying off into the night...

10 Survivors Escaped

*AN* We've finally reached the end my friends. Thank you for this wild ride. It's had it's ups and downs, but I truly loved this story. Thank you for sticking with it to the end!

Oh and before anyone says there weren't Junko hints:

-I used Ryoko's death date as her birthdate.

-I even used most of Junko's description from the wiki when describing Akeno.

-I included her special colored nails

-Her hair pin,

-the mention of her boyfriend being beaten to death, which was actually her doing (Matsuda)

-her name is a complete anagram of Junko Enoshima,

-The Fufufu is literally a bastardization of the Monokuma Pupupu

There's probably more, but I'm tired xD Anyways thank you all again!

Review Section:

StoryProducer214

I hope you enjoyed the conclusion. We definitely put a lot of love into it. Even thought it ended on a bittersweet note

Magus1108

Well I hope you enjoyed the way things resolved. I thought it would be fun to have an ending where the cast actually failed.

BirblordAlmighty

Inb4 your ego becomes the size of a planet lol

Fee5H

You know what I said before good sir. Half credit. No more. No less.

NSPunny

Lol she's only suspicious because she's a sweet earnest girl. You just don't trust someone could be genuine in a killing game xD

pokemansuperallstar

Mwehehhe. I take it you enjoyed yourself? Good! =)

bellatrixshine

Well the wait is officially over. Huzzah!

doomqwer

I hope the pay off was worth it. I put a lot of thought into it!

MudkipOfDespair

I hope plenty of bricks where shat.

ShinyOshawottKing1

Plenty of hate was earned for that sucker haha.