SDR2 SPOILERS. also written on Kuzuryuu_Fuyuhiko (if you wish for the ongoing story) and AO3.

<SONIA>

"No way! You're not erasing them from my mind- our minds."

"Akane-"

Cracking her knuckles, Akane Owari took a step forward. "Dunno about Souda and Ha- Izuru, but Baby Gangsta and Sonia ain't forgetting their loved ones!"

Loved ones.

As I laced my fingers together, staring wistfully at the pods which held my comatose friends.

"Akane, Sonia, Fuyuhiko, Izuru, Kazuichi," Makoto Naegi addressed us. "I'm sorry to say that all those in comatose will have their plugs pulled in one week. We are erasing all memory of them from your minds tomorrow."

With his voice wavering, it seemed that he had practiced this in advance.

"Why?" Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu demanded.

"Any memory of Chiaki Nanami and everyone who is in current comatose would be better of erased from the memories of the Remnant of Despair," Kyoko Kirigiri responded, flicking her braid away from her eyes.

"Gh...! No way!" Akane repeated her previous statement, her dark eyes flashing.

Kazuichi Souda followed her suit, slapping the pants of his yellow jumpsuit for emphasis. "Yeah, yeah! We can't just do kazam and totally forget them! Well, unless Miss Sonia's up for it, then I totally am too."

"I stand against it," I spoke, wrapping my arms around myself. "I believe it would be rude of ourselves to forget the lives that are struggling to maintain life in those pods."

"I'm on her side!" As expected, Kazuichi made a hand-gesture at me.

"Izuru, you haven't spoke at all during this discussion," Kyouko noted.

"Stop referring to me as Izuru," Izuru Kamukura- otherwise known as Hajime Hinata spoke, his voice flat.

Despite winning over Izuru in terms of being controlled (the black-haired male only got out when Hajime was overcome by an emotion or panicking because of Hajime losing control), he still carried some of Izuru's characteristics, just like his voice and smile...or lack of the latter.

"I apologize," she replied, although her expression said she didn't really care about it. "Hajime?"

Hajime sighed, dropping his hand from where it had tangled in his dyed-brown hair. "I...honestly think it's a good idea..."

Fuyuhiko and Kazuichi gaped at him. "You're gonna forget Chiaki?!" The latter exclaimed.

"Chiaki and I were never romantically involved," Hajime shot back. "Besides, don't you think we'd be better off without wallowing over the despair of the fact eleven of our friends are trapped in a battle between life and death? It's rare that they'll get out alive. We should forget the whole killing game before they actually die. You know, to stay hopeful."

"Your Izuru and Nagito are showing at the same time," Fuyuhiko muttered.

Akane bristled at the name, but her steely gaze never moved from Makoto's. "We all say no."

"Akane, I just said-"

"We all say no," Akane repeated, glaring daggers at Hajime while threateningly punching her palm with her other fist.

"Like I said before," Makoto said, his eyes glassy with sadness. "We're plugging their pod plugs in one week. Your memories are being removed tomorrow."

"Hey!" Fuyuhiko roared, taking a step towards the blonde heir in the back- Byakuya Togami. "We just said no, dammit!"

"You have no choice, plebeian," Byakuya sneered in return.

"Nice first words to add to this conversation, Four-Eyes," Fuyuhiko snarled, his temper getting the best of him. "We said no. You get that, you shits?"

"It seems you are uneducated enough to misunderstand the fact that what we choose happens. We're supporting you, you remnants of the Ultimate Despair.

"Had you gone out into the world today, there is no doubt hatred would snatch at you feet while revenge fired guns at you," Byakuya finished calmly. "What we say goes."

Angrily, the Yakuza tore his gaze from him to stare at Makoto. "How can you tolerate and work with a bastard like him?"

"I never said I could tolerate him," Kyouko said with a straight face.

With a huff, Fuyuhiko spun on his heel and slammed the door open, sprinting down the hall in seconds.

I started after him for a moment, but a tan arm stopped me.

"Leave Baby Gangsta alone for awhile," Akane suggested. "Out of all of us, he prolly needs ta' cool off the most. He's known Pekoyama for forever."

"That's true..." But I couldn't stop my gaze from wandering back to our view of the hallway before Fuyuhiko's retreating back disappeared.

Hajime sighed. "Let's just...go for the night."

With that, he turned on his heel and left the room, his footsteps echoing away.

Looking over at Kazuichi, I could see the awkwardness in his gaze as he purposefully looked down at the ground, twirling his wrench. Akane herself was quiet, having withdrawn her arm and crossed it across her chest.

"I guess...we can get an answer from you tomorrow?"

In the thick tension of the room, none of us responded before I chose to.

"Yes, in fact. Thank you."

With that, I excused myself from the room.

OoO

"Sonia!"

"I am coming, Akane," I called back, finishing my hair as I put the black bow into place.

I exited my cottage, very similar to that of one I had on Jabberwock Island, but not before I stole a fleeting glance at the four hamsters curled up on a cushion near the doorway.

Akane looked no different then usual- a sandwich in one hand as she waited for me to arrive, a small metal figurine clutched in the other.

"I'm not entirely up to this," she sighed, very much unlike herself. "I mean...can't just forget Old Man Nidai and all, ya know?"

I nodded, choosing not to comment on her words. The body of the Ultimate Team Manager flashed through my head, blue liquid spilling out from the back of his head.

And the murderer...

I immediately banished the thought from my brain as I walked alongside Akane. The Gymnast was pretty quiet herself, eyes staring dully at sun, whose's tears of sunshine dripped down on us.

It was silent until about more of a third of the way there, until she spoke.

"...you know, do you think this will really help us?"

The crisp, morning wind tugged at my hair, and several blonde strands flew around my face before I answered.

"Perhaps..." I replied, my words heavy. "If we do forget being the Ultimate Despair, as well as everyone's comatose, it is possible we will be better off."

She squeezed Minimaru in response, looking rather depressed. That aside, we kept walking till we reached the Future Foundation's headquarters.

Kazuichi and Hajime were already awaiting us, hands clasped behind their backs. Fuyuhiko, however, was nowhere to been found.

"Hello, Sonia, Owari," Hajime greeted, and Akane's guarded gaze flicked over in his direction.

"Izuru, is that you?" I asked, not bothering to greet Hajime's other, and more rude personality.

"Yes. He was stressed."

Direct, to the point- only expected of him. The emotion had been wiped clean from his face, a mask of heartlessness.

"We are waiting for Fuyuhiko, correct?" My question seemed to snap everyone out of their silence, and they all looked at each other, searching for the boy.

"He's not coming," Izuru said at last. "His grief over forgetting Pekoyama is affecting him. He does not wish to be present."

At the smooth vsst of an electric door sliding open, we all looked towards the sound. Makoto exited the building, and, of course, flanked by Byakuya and Kyouko.

"Hey, everyone," he nodded. "Everyone here besides Fuyuhiko?"

"Yes!" Kazuichi said, his voice loud compared to the gentle tone the other had used.

"Kyouko, can you-"

"Yes." Without Makoto finishing his sentence, she spun on her heel and left at a brisk pace.

"You totally got your eye on her," the Ultimate Mechanic said, scratching his cheek with a finger. "Hey, as long as it's not Miss Sonia, I'm totally up to shippin' you two."

Makoto turned a shade of red, hastily covering his face with his hands for a few moments."That-That's nonsense!" He spluttered, and Kazuichi merely laughed in response. The tension in the air was lifted, even for a few moments before Makoto regained his composure.

"...so you guys thought about it?"

"How boring," Izuru sniffed in response. "It's clear that no matter what they shall choose-" Kazuichi raised an eyebrow at this, looking at the black-haired male like ' You were dragged into this too', "...their memories will get erased."

I frowned. "I do not wish to forget the memories we shared on that island..!"

"It's not just the memories of Jabberwock Island," Byakuya sighed. "It's your memories of them overall. Their entire existence will be demolished. As for Kuzuryuu...I suppose we're going to have to take away those memories of his childhood with Pekoyama as well."

"...I'm sorry," Makoto said at last. He was looking at the ground, an arm tugged to his chest. "There's really...no other choice. It's been about a year and a half, and..."

"No," I cut in quickly. "I...we...completely understand, we were holding onto a hope that we shouldn't of had."

"Don't let Nagito hear you say that," Kazuichi muttered under his breath. "He'll pro-"

His words were interrupted by a loud "Don't you get it? I said no, for fuck's sake!" and everyone glanced towards the direction where the voice came from. It wasn't hard to identify the voice as Fuyuhiko, who was struggling in Kyouko's iron grip.

The detective wasted no time in dragging him up to the group, a hand keeping him from bolting.

"I said no!" he barked, "Don't you understand that, dumbasses?!"

"Too bad," Kyouko said, without an inch of emotion or sympathy in her expression.

"Come," Makoto said, before turning, walking towards the double-doors with Byakuya right beside him.

The Remnants of Ultimate Despair cast a glance at one another- Akane was clutching Mechamaru tightly, Izuru had no expression whatsoever, Kazuichi had gone death pale, and Fuyuhiko was (still) muttering curses under his breath.

"All right," I said at last. "Shall we go?"

OoO

Why is it so hard to pretend that everything is okay?

From behind the desk, Makoto was on his knees, pulling various files out. "Sonia Nevermind..." he muttered, and I stiffened when I heard my full name. "Kazuichi Souda..."

We were in a dimly lit room, and I could tell by the green light ghosting over Byakuya's cheekbones and jawline that we were in a room right next to the others in comatose. Casting a fleeting glance at the five chairs set up, a quiver of uneasiness danced down my spine, but I kept a straight face, with a fake smile.

"Fuyuhiko, you're sitting in the one nearest to Makoto. Everyone else can disperse in the chairs how they wish."

I sat down in the chair between Fuyuhiko and Akane, catching a glimpse of Kazuichi's crestfallen face as he occupied the one next to Akane.

Was I really ready for my memories to be stolen, taken away as easy as stealing one's breath from their lungs?

"Close your eyes," Kyouko commanded. "Fuyuhiko, we're doing you last."

Beside me, I could hear the yakuza stiffen, fingers digging into the padding on each side of the armrest. I closed my eyes just like she had said, and felt something descend upon my head and face, as well as the metal wiring touching my nose.

"Ten..." her robotic, monotone voice floated around in my head. I could imagine myself in the dark room, looking upon this memories as they slipped away from my grasp.

"Fear not, my Dark Queen! I have tamed these fearsome beasts!"

"Nine."

I tugged Gundam in the general direction of the stairs of the Strawberry House, hoping to get away with him before Kazuichi noticed. He looked down in surprise at me holding his arm, and nudged it so that I didn't touch the bandages on his left arm.

"Eight."

"Interesting, interesting..." he mused. "It seems...that you yourself are immune to the poison that runs through my veins. Perhaps, you are a ruler of Hell much like I?"

"Seven."

"My name is Gundam Tanaka! May you remember it, for it is the name that will rule this world!"

"Six."

Four hamsters flew out of his scarf, two on his shoulders, one ran down to balance on his index and middle finger, and the last rested on his forearm. I clapped my hands together, my eyes lighting up in excitement. "Oh, your hamsters! They're so cute!"

"Five."

"Th-Thank you," Gundam mumbled, tugging his purple scarf up to his nose to hide the red scrawls that appeared upon his cheeks. But his scarf didn't entirely cover it, I could still see the blush, and even the tips of his ears had turned red.

"Four."

I found Gundam on the beach, crouched over his hamsters as they scurried around in the sand. He looked up when I approached. "Ah, Lady of Darkness, is my presence needed to benefit you tonight?"

"Three."

His body hit the ground with a sickening slam, and Akane's grip tightened. I could see it in her eyes, too- she didn't like this. Gundam had murdered her coach, Nekomaru Nidai, and I could see slivers of tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. But at least she didn't have to see him die in front of your very eyes. A stream of blood dripped down the side of Gundam's skull, and the breeder didn't move, lying there, helpless and motionless.

"Two."

"Trying to defend me is not benefitting to a royal such as yourself," Gundam told me. "Keep this in mind, Sonia Nevermind- never give up on life. It is insulting to both life and death.

"One."

Gundam turned and offered me a small smile. It was rare to see him like that, if you take into consideration how little time he spent with others, but it set my heart on fire in the way I hadn't experienced before.

"Zero."

I desperately attempted to hold onto the memory of his face- his smile, name, and laugh had all slipped away- but my grip wasn't tight enough.

"I'm so sorry, Sonia Nevermind."