Part 1- Behind the scenes (Start)

Rantaro was opening the secret entrance according to his Survivor Perk Monopad.

He still didn't know how and why he got such a thing... just that he did, and specially for him.

But he doesn't know why.

Rantaro only remembered waking up inside a locker... he had felt a strong sense of deja-vu as he fell through the locker and in a strange place, he decided to analyse the situation thoroughly which also sparked a lot of familiarity.

He remembered being surprised by his extra Monopad and getting the 'Survivor Perk' which he had no idea what for, except it was for a survivor. Otherwise why would he get the perk? Except he didn't even know what he survived in.

In fact, as he decided to explore around, he realized he didn't remember a lot of things, even something completely basic. That started when he first introduced himself. And dawned on him that he forgotten a few crucial things...

He met many others, as they introduced themselves, their names and their Ultimates. However, Rantaro only introduced his name, but not his Ultimate. Because no matter how many times he racked his brain, he... just couldn't remember.

Later on, he realised unlike the others, his memory loss might go a little further, a slight disadvantage. To balance out the advantage that was the Survivor's Perk?

Yet, despite his lack of memory, he always felt a certain deja-vu, as if he was in exactly this type of situation before...

He can't be surprised at the Exisals, the stuffed bears or... the killing game. It felt like he was moving through deja-vu, especially the killing game.

Then, when he thoroughly read the Pad, and that memory of the Ultimate Hunt...

For some reason, no one else remembered. Someone was pulling the strings and it was most definitely not just Monokuma.

When the First Blood Perk and time limit came to, he knew he had no choice. After the explosion and the reappearance of Monokuma, there was no doubt, a mastermind was among them. The reason being is that Monokuma surely exploded and came back? Exactly how?

The only answer he could think of was that someone, someone here made a new copy. Rantaro couldn't think of any other answer than that. The fact that someone gladly orchestrated this inhumane killing game and was among them to watch their suffering and misery sickened him. That the same person was there when Monokuma announced the killing game and saw them panic and stress out. The same person who went through the Death Road of Despair which was a trap that drained them of all their hope and made them felt so... drained.

They must be enjoying themselves so much right now, but Rantaro wasn't going to let that happen, especially when push came to shove. Thanks to the Survivor's Perk, he knew more than the average student.

And had a better chance and opportunity, because he knew what he needed to do now.

To end the killing game, he will confront them. So, there would be no killings.

So, he can finally escape... and find his sisters... and remember...

Why couldn't he remember? What did the mastermind do?

With that, especially, what he wanted most was... to finally get answers, his memory back.

As to why he was the odd one out, in getting the Survivor's Perk, why he couldn't even remember his Talent, why he remembered the supposed Ultimate Hunt no one else has no clue of...

Why the killing game was so damn familiar...?

But now... what he was doing now... he was doing this for the greater good of everyone. He will confront the mastermind. The killing game will have to end. They will have to eventually come out, right? When they make the so called Monokuma army, Rantaro won't let that happen. Innocent lives don't deserve this... so, please come out, whoever they are.

Flash!

As he finally opened the door in impatience for a person to come out, Survivor Pad in his hand, a bright light suddenly came from somewhere. Curious, Rantaro approached it, and he saw it was a... camera? His hand reached out to it. Why was it there? Did someone set it up?

'What the-?' Rantaro thought, and then... it all happened soon.

Thump.

A shot put ball fell near his feet. Shocked, all Rantaro could do was back away. Did someone... make an attempt for his life? They were in a killing game after all.

They were in a killing game.

Rantaro felt so familiar with the killing game that he forgotten that the game was about killing and that someone... could kill. The time limit was near its end... even though he told people that he had a plan for escape. Although that didn't reach too many ears, so maybe some people don't know, but still...

Maybe they were desperate.

Well, could Rantaro blame them? But he didn't appreciate the attempt because he was a bit too close to the Grim Reaper. Considering the circumstances, that was just ominious.

But seeing this bald face attempt reminded Rantaro that he had forgotten the fact that he was still in a killing game, and murder plots might still happen... in his quest to recklessly confront the mastermind alone.

Alone... that there would be no witnesses to prevent any murders to happen to him. In hindsight, it had been stupid to go on this alone. After all, anything can happen. At the same time, it wasn't like Rantaro could trust anyone here who could be potential masterminds. He can't discount anything.

And that was how he ended up alone in this reckless quest.

But he sighed thoughtfully. Whoever tried to murder him failed. Eventually he had to confront this to the class, but now back to confronting the mastermind, even if there was a murder attempt done that almost caused him harm, although it was unsure whether he was the intended target. Despite that, with the time limit in hand, he wasn't taking his chances on bailing this one opportunity to end this killing game without anything happening.

Ironically, with the time limit at hand, someone wasn't taking their chances.

Crash.

Rantaro didn't see, didn't notice, didn't hear. It happened all too quickly. One moment he thought he was safe, the attempt behind him.

Another moment, he already felt the pain, the cloud of darkness and a lethargy he never knew. And thanks to that, he knew...

'This is how I die...' Rantaro thought, only seeing the flash of long dark blue hair and glasses before he fell roughly to the floor, his vision blurring into the darkness, dying. Dying never ending the killing game like he planned, never finding the mastermind to get his answers.

And he was supposed to be a survivor, as he got that special perk! Very funny joke, no one's laughing. Whoever decided to give him that perk might laugh or wince at this irony, depending on whose side they are on.

As he died... he can't help but feel regret. The killing game started, it started! Because he wasn't careful enough! And he can no longer escape. He can no longer go out throughout the world. He can no longer find his sisters.

He can no longer find out his true Ultimate because he was sure as heck that Ultimate Survivor wasn't it. Because how does one exactly get that tittle? By surviving many deadly traps and situations. Rantaro didn't feel like he went through that stuff. He remembered travelling around and going through different places, and while there were deadly and dangerous times, he didn't think them worth for the so called Ultimate Survivor.

Rantaro regrets that he could no longer do anything anymore, to experience more things he wanted to experience, to accomplish goals he promised to accomplish, to fix up any regrets he had in the making.

But it was all useless now that the blackness simply engulfed him into emptiness... or not.

Loading...

0%... 13%... 42%... 67%... 94%...

ERROR... REBOOT... FAILED... EJECT...

0%... 9%... 22%... 56%... 84%... 100%

EJECTION COMPLETE.

Darkness... and a little light, a hiss sound and the body falling on the ground... again, but it's not as painful. And his eyes can open.

For someone whose supposed to be very... very... dead, well... alive again. To feel, see and think when Death only brought nothingness, Rantaro was now feeling everything.

Pain... at his head but he could shake it off, as Rantaro blinked multiple times.

When his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw that he was inside some kind of underground spacious lair, many screens on the wall, a large pantry full of food and drinks, at least 16 doors leading to rooms and above each with a symbol of their own and scattered around were tables with computers and other personal effects. At the center was a long table, with about 16 chairs and there was a written piece of paper on it.

Curious, and hoping it shed some light to the situation, he picked it up and read...

Dear fellow Despair Minion,
By now you have probably woken up from your 'death' and drowned in utter despair... then good for you! Because that's how it's supposed to be! Welcome to the Despair Apocalypse aka the Tragedy where you will lend a helping hand having been already turned into despair! Surely you are confused but the entire killing game was actually a VR simulator, built to take you over with the sweet addicting inducing despair and spread despair all around the world too, but... you don't remember right? I bet you don't remember anything at all! Don't worry, those memories will come in time... and bring forth more despair. Upupupu. Until then, enjoy your stay here, plan your despair inducing plans, and when all the participants wake up, we will come for you. We will continue despair's work for the world and continue this never ending cycle. Until then... so long, bear well.
P.S. Please remember to restrain the survivors. They will be very useful for the next killing game to be~

Rantaro sighed, quite confused with the letter. It didn't really make much sense, more of a silly horror plot made up on the whim. There was no address or name of the sender and when he flipped to the back, he was disgusted to see it was black with a red mark similar to the eye of Monokuma...

Flash...

"... End this..."

"Don't give up... onii-chan..."

"Help us!"

"... know what they are going to do to..."

"... will always bring you back and back until you despair..."

Voices so many voices, and then...

"You will never get away with this! I will-..."

Flash...

Rantaro was suddenly on his knees, groaning with a headache as voices, unrecognizable yet familiar coursed through him, and then his own voice. Through these voices, he could vaguely see... a flash of girls, a person in a Monokuma mask and his own determined expression...

Rantaro unsteadily stood up, rubbing his temples. He... he didn't understand his situation at all, and what were those... flashes? Were they the memories the letter was talking about?

Rantaro died, and then he was brought back alive because everything was a VR simulation in the end. So, no one's going to die... That just raises more questions. Why were they brought into a killing game when none of it is real?

There were also some things in the letter as well, such as... Despair Minion, Despair Apocalypse, despair? Well, whatever the heck is despair, he wasn't feeling it. He was just feeling completely confused, more questions piling up and no answers whatsoever.

The killing game wasn't real... even if they 'died', the others will probably wake up, and then...

Rantaro looked around and then saw the pods that contained the rest of his classmates, and an opened one between Miu and Ryoma, who looked they were sleeping peacefully through the clear glass.

In fact, all of them were. Rantaro rather break them out of there so he could discuss this with everybody. But no telling whether they will cause side effects, not risking it.

Rantaro had no idea how many days they have because those 'we' mentioned in the letter will come, but it's time to get to the bottom of this.

Put it simply, from Rantaro's perspective, without as much of his memories, he could only remember just his past without the recent events. He had no idea about the state of the world now, except it might be in an apocalyptic state, because.... Despair Apocalypse.

People might scoff it for being a joke, but the state of things... it's too elaborate for it being anything but a joke, although it is certainly doubtful. He needed more information, for sure.

His memories to come might be the most useful to come, but for now, he should search the place, any clues to get a better feel of his situation.

To be trapped in a killing game, die and then be told that it was just VR and yippee, you are still alive! How overwhelming is that? No wonder Rantaro can't think straight.

Ding dong bing bong.

Rantaro suddenly turned around to see the screens, the screens on the wall that he barely noticed were... streaming something.

In shock, he saw Kaede, Shuichi, Kaito and Tenko over his dead body, along with other classmates coming into the library...

Period, it was weird to actually see his dead body when he was totally alive and standing watching the scene...

Soon enough Rantaro noticed that the screens over the wall were actually surveillance to the killing game. Everywhere at the Academy... the dorms, the gym, the bathrooms, the game room and... the library.

Rantaro was watching Monokuma and the Monokubs conversed with the students, asking who wants to own up the First Blood Perk.

Surprisingly, no one did.

Rantaro narrowed his eyes, because he couldn't help wonder... what is the use of the First Blood Perk when they were probably all going to end up alive? To jump start the killing game by inciting a person's escape? Probably.

"Well then, if that's what the blackened wishes, we are going to have a class trial!"

Rantaro was shocked. That would mean the blackened would be executed, that would mean they would die...

That would mean one of them would wake up...

The one who killed him... he still remembered the falling shot put, the sick crack on his head, that flash of long blue hair and glasses...

And the only one with long blue hair and glasses was...

Rantaro narrowed his eyes at Tsumugi Shirogane, who looked fearful and even refused to look at the body...

Why on earth did she not take the First Blood Perk?

Doesn't matter. He will meet with her soon if she died.

Is he angry at her?

Well... he's alive, and they have more pressing matters.

***

The investigation was ongoing inside the Academy but outside, Rantaro has his own. He was only half paying attention to the screens now as he searched through the underground lair...

Other than that letter, there were an array of clues to their situation. For example the computers. Apparently, there were sixteen of them.

'One for each of us...?' Rantaro thought as he saw symbols on each computer and neared the one with a compass design same as his shirt.

Opening it, there was no password, and as Rantaro clicked at it, he was surprised to see an online sticky note at the screen written in an entirely different language, with many symbols and shapes that Rantaro knew as some secret code but as in a sense of deja-vu, he can read it, as if it were his mother tongue.

The Despair Minions allow you to keep your personal stuff such as your laptop and phone which is no doubt in your room. Thankfully, they don't bother to check with your personal effects so what I relay to you would probably be safe. I hope that when you read this, you lived to fight another day. I advise you to look through the current news and also information from this computer of your current situation. From there, gather as much as you can about the lair and be prepared when they come. This is probably overwhelming but know that they will come soon and by then, you along with your classmates need to fight back.
RA

Rantaro was simply stunned at such a sticky note. But ultimately decided to follow the advice because no doubt... RA is himself, a past him he does not remember writing this code for whatever situation he dropped himself into...

Flash...

"...learn a code... discreet..."

"...will let in on my super special secret code! ... do consider you as..."

Laughter, jabbing, slight disbelief, pouting...

This time, he can see himself typing furiously at his computer, but he can hear one single thought...

"No matter what, I will save..."

Flash...

Rantaro rubbed his temples again at the sudden head he that sprouted after those flash of memories.

Voices just now, so familiar... that he swore he heard them just recently.

And then, he looked at the screen again, seeing many of his classmates still investigating his 'death'.

He could hear their voices and... some of them were actually as familiar as those from his memories.

Does that mean... he had actually met all of them before the killing game?

Flash...

"Hi my name is Rantaro Amami, nice to meet you."

He was in a classroom where 15 pairs of eyes were staring at him but for some unknown reason, they were blurry, but he could hear their voices loud and clear.

"Nice to meet you too!"

"I hope we can get along."

"Stay back. If you dare lay a finger on any female, ***** will Neo-Aikido you!"

"***** hope we can be friends."

"***** is glad that Kami-sama gave us a chance to meet together like this. More blood sacrifices to Kami-sama, how divine!"

"I wonder if you will even enjoy spending the years with someone as plain as me."

"Nishishi, welcome to the chaos!"

Flash...

Rantaro once again rubbed his temples, grudgingly thinking, 'Give me a warning next time.'

And even if he didn't hear a bit here and there, there was no longer any doubt, he had met his classmates before, regardless of time and place... he met them before... all this.

But what the heck does that mean? Was it a coincidence that his previous classmates became the exact same classmates of this killing game? Rantaro cannot exactly believe in such coincidences. It certainly spelt something further.

Rantaro then just looked at the laptop with certain icons waiting to be clicked away. Then, he looked up and saw that everyone had gathered at the warehouse, looking through pictures.

After pieces of conversation, it was revealed that Shuichi and Kaede had placed cameras all over the library, in order to look for the mastermind. So that explained the cameras anyway.

Apparently, he wasn't the only one who had a plan to take down the mastermind. Even though he specifically said that he had his own plan... but could he blame the distrust ongoing in such a killing game, where lives are at stake and especially your own? After all, he didn't trust others himself.

Throughout the photos, not once did he see anything that could indicate that Tsumugi could ever approach him to deal with the finishing blow. Well... unless...

Again Rantaro looked at Tsumugi Shirogane and he couldn't help but wonder... did he mistake that flash of blue hair?

Or... could she have been the one who he was looking for all along...?

***

"The culprit is you, Kaede Akamatsu!" Shuichi shouted as he pointed at Kaede who simply smiled at the detective's accusation.

"Unbelievable..." Rantaro muttered, as exclamations of shock rose up among his classmates but...

It made no sense.

Rantaro busied himself with his laptop as he watched the trial, gaining as much information from it. Rantaro thought that maybe... maybe he could call for help from there but apparently communication signals are down.

Figures. Instead he got good Internet to browse through the little news and notes that he himself made in the past.

It was a lot of information to take but at least the past him was kind enough to summarize and bullet point most of the information.

Even to question the legitimacy of such information, there were photos and even video clips to prove the authenticity.

Rantaro was actually a high school student of the famous Hope's Peak Academy and spent the past two years learning there while he still travelled all over the world for his sisters. Thankfully through some resources... he was able to find all of them and it was the happiest reunion he ever had. A chance to be a big brother again, he saw the picture, a picture of him and all his twelve sisters, all who looked up to their big brother with adoring eyes, like it was telling him that maybe... just maybe, he won't be the Ultimate Useless Brother after all.

Unfortunately, midway through his second year, everything just went downhill. With the mass suicide from the Reserve Course, followed by the many terrorism acts with no real cause except just for the senseless acts themselves. Fortunately, the class seemed to be able to escape, and hole up somewhere where Despair couldn't touch them yet with their remaining family and friends...

But by then, the world became arrayed with bombs, killing games and mindless zombies...

By mindless zombies, Rantaro meant the people who have been forced into the killing games such as him and when dying or executed woke up as a mindless zombie, after the death of Junko Enoshima and the first killing game that is...

The question is why Rantaro didn't turn into a Despair Minion when that happened could come later. Instead he was grateful that he was still sane.

For the survivors, since they didn't die, the Minions couldn't implant the despair just as easily and always force them into another killing game until they 'die'.

Rantaro was one of the people who survived the last killing game and was thrust into one, but what about the other survivors? He...

Flash...

"Onii-chan..."

Tears.

"Everything will be alright..."

"I love..."

A hand on his shoulder...

"Taro, we will get through this together..."

Another voice. Blue hair, a smile.

"That's right... Mugi."

His own.

Flash...

As fast as it came, it vanished and unlike the others, this memory was something he couldn't quite grasp, except for the fact it had something to do with Tsumugi...

Tsumugi Shirogane... someone Rantaro should hate for being the one thing he despised in the killing game... the mastermind.

Rantaro was now absolutely sure, and the fact that Kaede was going to die for a crime she never committed... the one where that shot put ball fell by his feet but not the thing that killed him...

And how else could she pass through the cameras except if there was another entrance and what other than the mastermind's lair.

Regardless, Rantaro can't bring himself to hate Tsumugi. A part of him is telling deep down there was something more to Tsumugi just being the mastermind. That's what his gut was saying. After all, they were also classmates before then, apparently together until the killing game business, so how could Tsumugi be affected by then?

Then again, he didn't have all the pieces. All Rantaro could do now was to believe his instincts.

Because, although Rantaro was a little more aware of his situation, he was still unknowing what to do next...

All he wanted was to escape the killing game and go back to finding his sisters, but it seemed that even in escaping, there was more to it than what it seems.

And the fact his own life and the world were too different from what he actually remembered, because he already found his sisters, the world was peaceful in his memories instead of the supposed apocalyptic state and that he was actually older than what he thought he was, damn his missing memories.

"I just wanted to get everyone out of here!" Rantaro heard Kaede shouted, looking up to the screen and seeing tears roll down her eyes, "That's why I tried to kill the mastermind."

But Kaede failed and instead gave the mastermind an opportunity to kick start the killing game...

Rantaro went closer to the pods, trying to find Kaede's, and found hers between Himiko's and Kaito's. Might as well try to bring comfort even if no one could for him at first, because he knew... that Kaede would probably need it more than she thought, especially considering these strange circumstances.

"IT'S PUNISHMENT TIME!" Monokuma gleefully shouted, and with one hit of the gavel, a person was going to 'die.'