Chapter Text
Hey hey, no squirming, let’s just take it down a notch, kiddo, ya' might break you r neck or something! I’m not sure where you think you’re going, you sure weren’t invited here for your strength alone!
Where are they? Awww hun, all your classmates–I guess our classmates–are just fine, don't worry your sweet little head about it! They’re gonna get the same treatment as you, they just don’t get moi’s completely undivided attention for a hot second.
Why not? Jeez, are you only going to play twenty questions with me? You ultimates can be so fickle, I swear.
****
Avoiding the gaggle of Reserve students was cake when you had a military-trained older by like thirty goddamn seconds sister that dispatched them quickly and with ease. It was a part of her twin’s brutish nature that Junko found somewhat interesting: she worked with the agility of the seasoned gun nut that she was but with a silence that fell over her like a reaper. It was fun but also kind of magical to watch, she wasn’t sure how else to describe it. And that was saying something, considering it was..well, her. She always knew how to run her mouth.
Mukuro didn’t even break a sweat nor drop her sister during the ordeal.
The fashionista kicked her legs in glee, snickering like a maniac, “Aww, I mean I knew they wouldn’t amount to much, but ya’ think they could have stepped up their games, just a little? None of them even had weapons, the hell is with that? I went through all the trouble of flashing that video to them, gave them all the fuel to fuck over anyone from the academy they came in contact with, and they're relying on weak punches and uncoordinated kicks? Guess it makes sense why they were in the Reserve Course.”
“Did you predict this?”
“Ugghhh, I mean in a way, yeah I guess. I knew they were gonna be pissed and try to beat us down in their march for justice or whatever crap.”
Mukuro seemed satisfied with that answer, looking down and kicking one of the few unconscious ones that lay at her feet: slight head wound, he’d live. For now, anyway. “So, I assume we’re heading back?”
Junko tutted, her manicured fingernails tapping against her chin, drumming from thumb to pinky. “I mean, I guess we could. It would look pretty suspicious if we faded away for too long.” She had no intention of missing out on tomorrow’s grande finale, but today was different. Today, they were going to get their ultimatum, their choice on whether or not they wanted to throw away everything to bunker like rats blanketed in the very personification of this fucking school’s idiotic ideals. I didn’t really want to be away from you guys for too long, ya’ know? I had a lot to observe and only so little time to actually–you know , observe.
“Yeaaaah~,” she then decided, “I don’t want Miss Detective and Heir-To-The-Throne to start getting too suspicious of us, that’d be a pretty unfortunate roadblock. For them, that is .
By this point in the conversation, Mukuro was turning around and starting back for the building, dull and almost lifeless looking in front of the backdrop that was the stormy gray clouds that didn't seem to be letting up. “What would it matter? We already decided how to take care of that.” Hey hey, relax , killing anyone would have been, like, the worst. Truth be told, I had no intention of doing it, not unless I really had to. There were plenty of other solutions to Kirigiri and Togami, even Miss Yasuhiro, that I could implement before it got to that point. Hehehehe, if you wait, you’ll see what I mean. I can give you a behind the scenes on how I, let’s say, course corrected this past year . No really it's gonna blow your mind!
“Pushing forward with the plan without the detective is implementing a handicap that’s way too OP on my end, a cheat that’s almost too cruel for these little goobers. I can’t just get rid of her like that.” She let out a sigh, a sneeze from the cold, and then continued, “As for Togami, he’s easy to control. Those that build themselves up by stepping on others fall so comically hard with the slightest push . Predictable, but easy, if needed.” Yikes, didn’t like that, huh? You got a crush on him or something? Oh my, harboring feelings like this when your heart already belongs to another? That’s so twisted!
Mukuro sighed, “I guess. I still don’t really understand the point of purposefully keeping around those that can unravel the plan like that, or even letting them all survive for as long as we intend at all.”
“I told ya’, this stuff takes time! I need to get everything ready, everything good to go, before I can even think about heading into the final stages!” And as for her first inquiry, “Most of them are threatening in their own right, sis, you know that. If it’s not intellectually, then physically. Ogre is gonna be an issue if I don’t find a way to reel her in, and then there’s the fucking sociopath serial killer that’s waaay smarter than she lets on. It ain’t gonna be easy, but that’s okay! It wouldn’t be fun if it was easy, ya’ know?”
Mukuro almost blushed a little bit at the mention of Genocider Syo–likely thinking of her better half as well–hiding it by huffing a little bit. “You’re putting too much weight on the thought of losing.”
Unfortunately for her, Junko saw that little slip up and grinned at her, “Aww, you still got that crush, huh? Sorry sis, can’t pick any favorites–ow hey!” She whined when, without even thinking about it, the Ultimate Soldier immediately dropped her on the soaking ground, water soaking her skirt. “What the fuck, Mukuro?”
“Your legs aren’t broken, but they will be if you ever talk to me like that again.” It was a simple threat, and then she started walking on her own towards the school building. She couldn’t really let her sister see she got to her, read her eyes or whatever bullshit way she was able to always tell what she was thinking. Honestly, it was fine, I liked that sis had weaknesses! It made it easier to control her, if I needed to–hey, watch it there! I ain’t a control freak, I swear! Just some friendly sibling rivalry, I swear! Cross my heart and hope you die n'all that !
Despite the momentary annoyance that started coursing through her, the fashionista managed to bounce back with ease, snickering a little as she caught up to her twin. “Aww hun, I’m just teasing you, ya’ know that.” Mukuro didn’t seem interested in talking anymore, roughly shrugging off her sister’s hand as she continued on forward, shaking her head.
They had more important things to focus on.
****
The first thing that Junko was suddenly bombarded with when she walked through the back doors that she had just managed to see her classmates shuffle through was just how empty this fucking decrepid place was. It hadn’t been in use for almost a year now, and it was pretty clear that they hadn’t put any thought into keeping it clean beyond some sweeping: there was already so much dust littered on the glass display cases and the rugs.
“Enoshima-kun! Ikusaba-kun!” She turned when she heard the excited voice of Maizono to her right, eyes looking relieved to see them as she trotted over.
“Hey, pop star! See? Told’ja we’d come out a-okay. Right, Muki ~?” She tilted her head back with an expression specially curated for her sister, a cruel little grin that dared her to smack her, a bratty twist of her lips that Mukuro glared at momentarily.
In a movement that was so incredibly painful that she could see it in the way her jaw and neck clenched, the soldier focused her dark eyes on Sayaka, nodding. “It wasn’t an issue, I believe I took care of them all. Err, I mean, I didn’t kill them or anything, but they probably won't wake up for a little while.”
Maizono frowned a little. “I mean, I understand why you had to, I guess I just feel a little bad for them. But, more importantly, as long as you guys are okay, then that’s all that matters!” She flashed that very bright smile, lips thin and eyelashes fluttering against her skin. Like a little wind up doll, and just as tightly bound too . She turned to Junko, smile calming as she did so, “you’re wondering where everyone else is, right?” And just as fucking sharp as that detective .
Junko hid her disdain with a little squeal, “You know I love when you’re able to read my mind like that, you little psychic! Hell yeah, I already miss my dear dear friends!”
The pop sensation was nodding towards the hallways, “I was down here waiting for you two, but they’re already up on the fourth floor with the headmaster! C’mon, they’ll be happy to see you!” And with that, she started walking in the direction she pointed to, trusting they’d be right behind her.
Walking up four flights of stairs was a pain– why the hell didn’t we put some of that dull Reserve Course money into an elevator ? Hmm ? Hmm?-- but Junko was only slightly out of breath when they finally made it. She glanced to the side, watching for a moment as the pitter patter of rain hit the window before cutting the corner in the very familiar path to the headmaster’s office. Most of her classmates were gathered outside, water from the rain having pooled under them, the only one that seemed to be missing being Kirigiri.
“Oh, hey guys! Thank goodness you’re alright,” Naegi said with a sharp sigh of relief, nearly toppling over when Asahina shot past him to wrap her arms around Junko and spin her around like a top. Mukuro almost snorted, almost , but thought better of it.
Once the fashionista was back on her feet, she smiled a little, “I mean yeah, it was a little touch-and-go for a moment. But there ain’t anyone better to dispatch like sis! Oh, no offense, Sakura.”
“None taken,” the martial artist said smoothly.
As her eyes scanned about the group that had surrounded the double doors, she noticed that Togami was watching her, those icy blue eyes looking over her and Mukuro carefully, almost suspiciously–whether he was searching for wounds or any other kind of disruptions to their normal appearances or not, she met his stare without fear, waving with a little smile. Finally, he merely sighed and adjusted his glasses, “I’m surprised you graced us with your presence looking like a drowned rat.”
Okay, now Mukuro snorted.
“Not much I can do about that, I’m afraid. I’d normally threaten ya’ll with an NDA to keep how I looked right now between us, but who better to trust than your best friends?” She was pleased to see both Fujisaki and Asahina nodded along, as if already agreeing with her sentiment before she even finished it.
“I’d be more than happy to offer m’lady my sweater, if it pleases her–” Yamada’s little broken croon was interrupted with a shriek as Celeste’s hard smack on the head. Junko noticed that she had abandoned the wig, her normally crispy brushed hair slightly frazzled due to the rain. Poor thing, she regarded her appearance above all else, even more than I did !
“Nah, I’m honestly fine. I’ll feel better once I’ve had a hot bath, but this is more important! How long’s Kiri been in there?”
Naegi’s face slowly became a little worried, “A little while now, said she wanted to talk with him first. We can hear some voices, but nothing too much. I’m sure whatever it is, they’re trying to decide how to break it to all of us.” Already picking up on the fact that it was something bad, a big bad change that was about to be thrust over your heads, very smart !
“Well, we don’t know that it’s...I mean, it could be something positive or hopeful” blegh “or–yeah, I trust this guy, especially if Kyoko does!” Asahina stated, small fist pounding in an open palm with that determined little look in her eyes. Junko could see that Fujisaki and Maizono looked touched by that attempt at a pep talk, and Ogami had that reserved smile on her face. Hope, huh? I’m sure you know by now how I feel about that bullshit. I mean, without getting too cliche about it, I think one of your upperclassmen said something interesting...something about stepping stones, hm? I think that can fit here too .
Everyone’s heads hilariously turned in unison as the doors opened enough for the detective to slide between, gloved hands closing it behind her as she let out a small breath. Naegi, of course, was the first person to take a step forward: Junko couldn’t see his expression from where she was standing but she heard him speak even with that little hurried voice he had when he was anxious. “So…?”
“...I think it’s only fair that he explains all of it to you all himself.” Those purple orbs shifted up and cycled through all of them. “He wants to see everyone one at a time.”
“One at a…?” Naegi’s worried brow was visible now as he turned to look at the rest of his classmates, floundering for a moment and looking to the group for help. Here’s the thing, you all differed from class 77. It took a lot to glue those little misfits together, glue that was so fragile and yet strong at the same time. I mean, yeah sure, Nanami-san was no match for me, but I guess I underestimated how much that death was going to fuck them all up. But you guys were different, huh? Oh, it took time, of course! But…
…you guys are special.
“I don’t mind going first,” she heard the Ultimate Gambler speak up, that tight little smile on her face, “Anything that will allow me to retire sooner to my room. I feel like a disgusting mess the longer I stand here, very wet and cold.” She took a few steps forward and Kirigiri, obviously, didn’t argue with her voluntary movements: she opened the door for her, even.
Mukuro cleared her throat, “You can’t give us a hint?”
Those firm eyes fell on the sisters now and Junko almost felt a chill. “No, I don’t think it’s for me to ask my classmates. However, I will say that I agreed to his terms.”
“His terms…” Togami’s voice sounded as he mused over those words, still leaning against the wall, “So it is an offer, something he wants from us or something he desires us to do.” His eyes looked over his glasses expectantly at her, but the detective’s mask was back up, clasped and tightly shut: she had nothing more to offer.
Kuwata’s brash voice followed on the heir’s heels, “I mean, it can’t be that life-changing if Kiri agreed to it. She’s, like, the smartest one here.” Junko covered her mouth at how pointed that was but Togami didn’t take the bait aside from blue eyes rolling back into his skull. And so, they all waited. Mostly everyone was on their phones, some were talking amongst themselves like Asahina and Ogami and the detective with her pet lucky student but it was mostly quiet. This old-ass building was empty, aside from staff and themselves, so there wasn’t much to expect in terms of those passing by. Junko turned smoothly in her place to look her sister in the eye and she winked. “I don’t think he suspects anything,” she purred.
The soldier raised an eyebrow as Persian flowed out of her perfect sister’s mouth but she didn’t hesitate, “I’m not sure how he would, we’ve covered our tracks pretty easily.” A part of Mukuro, a very tiny part, was impressed that her sister learned the language of Fenrir just to be able to speak amongst their classmates without the threat of being listened in on, but it was expected of a girl with her sister’s abilities, and it was needed considering the lot they were stuck with: most knew English at least rudimentary with the exception of those like Kuwata and Maizono being pretty fluent, Celeste and Togami loved flaunting their barely passable French accents in their little private conversations and Ishimaru was, surprisingly, able to understand Chinese pretty well– that had been both fucking hysterical and momentarily terrifying figuring out for the first time .
“I just figured Munakata would have already spilled the beans to him, even without the evidence. Seems like the kind of hard-on he is,” Junko hummed, looking at her nails.
“Junko, they’re watching,” her sister said warningly, even as her eyes never wavered over the fashionista’s shoulder: both Kirigiri and Togami were glancing over at them, the latter looking slightly more suspicious than the former. And of course he would be, it wasn’t the first time he stuck his nose in on a private conversation between family. What a little nosey bitch.
Knowing only Mukuro could see her, Junko’s face split into a terrifying smile, “Oh how hilarious is this? If only someone could understand us, if only they pushed those little brains further, if only they weren’t so terribly predictable, they could stop us. Isn’t that exciting, sis? I mean, that just fucking sucks for them, doesn’t it? Salvation just out of reach from something as simple as a fucking language barrier?”
She raised an eyebrow at that, and Junko’s eyes lit up when a small, rare smirk formed on that freckled face. “I suppose so.” Her sister certainly found a way to find her precious despair in the simplest, most mundane ways, didn’t she. Both the sister’s turned their heads when the doors opened up and the gambler herself daintily stepped out. Her expression was locked, somewhat between blankness and an inability to process what she had just heard. I loved seeing another one of Muki’s favorites at a loss for words. The rest of her classmates gravitated towards her presence a little, still just kinds curious as fuck as to what was going on.
“So?” Oowada pushed, hands stuffed into his pockets.
“Our dear headmaster certainly has a way with words, I must admit. I didn’t think he’d be able to sway me in such a way,” she crooned, hands connected under her chin as she shot Kirigiri a look and a very soft wink. Those ruby orbs shifted over to Togami and she offered him one of those smiles, one that was loaded but also barely spread across her cheeks. “He wanted to see you next.”
The heir raised an eyebrow at that but didn’t question it, removing himself from the support of the wall and crossing his arms. “I would have volunteered regardless, I want to know what’s going on now ,” he said firmly, taking the door and walking in where she just came out of.
“He’s getting the class cynics on his side first, makes it easier for the rest of them,” Mukuro said softly.
Junko snickered a little bit, “If the information is good, that is, and we know what he’s truly proposing.”
“Celeste, you gonna fill us in? Or are ya’ doing that creepy thing where you like holding shit over our heads?” Kuwata asked, blue eyes squinting in her direction.
The gambler merely let out a small tinkling chortle, hand to her lips, “I don’t believe it’s my place, you see. The headmaster has cultivated something for us, something that he clearly worked rather hard on. I am with Kirigiri in this opinion, without a doubt, you shall hear what he has to say for himself.”
“I mean, is it bad?” Maizono asked softly.
Again, Celeste wasn’t moving an inch in that regard. “I find it interesting, interesting enough that I agreed to everything he said without a second thought.”
Fukwawa was rubbing her head furiously with a nervous little noise, glasses practically falling off her nose. “Nngghh, I hate this. I hate this, hate this–there’s too much going on.” She jumped, though, when Fujisaki crouched down beside her with that tiny little smile they always had, that stupid tiny little hopeful smile that didn’t need any words behind it to draw in whomever it was pointed to in some comfort besides a very gentle, “it’s okay.”. And while the writer was still warming up to most of her class besides Togami and Mukuro, she seemed to appreciate Chihiro’s reach out, that nervous look softening a little as she placed her own hand on their’s as it rested on her knee.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it, Toko! As long as we stick together, nothing bad’s gonna happen. I’ll protect you, promise!” The ever-positive Asahina said, smiling in her direction.
Junko smirked knowingly in her sister’s direction, catching the slight jealous tinge just as it started disappearing from those dark eyes, annoyance being replaced in them as she realized she was being perceived. Honestly, I got the gambler–really, I did. Sis was always a sucker for those types. But Fukawa? Really? I think I would have understood more if it was just to cozy up to her other personality.
Eventually, the door creaked open and Togami took a step out. His expression was a little different than Celeste’s, eyebrows pulled together in a deep crease and frown resting in one corner of his mouth. The gambler in question took a step forward, those eyes searching over his face. “I am most interested in what you have to think of all this, Togami-san.”
“Did you agree?” Kirigiri was also focusing her attention on him as well, a rather intense look taking over her that she cast on him.
“...Yes.” Of course he did, what else is a good little Togami boy going to say to something like this besides ‘of course, anything to make sure I live on!’.
Junko cleared her throat, pressing a finger to her cheek, “You sound a little unsure there, pretty boy! Heh, took me off-guard a little bit, I says.” She flashed him a small wink as he looked over at her with a glare that didn’t have the bite she expected: must really be deep in thought with this one.
“I’ll admit, I was slightly taken aback, but his reasoning is all based in logic, it’s nothing I can argue with,” the heir murmured, adjusting his glasses with a finger before those icy orbs flashed in Naegi’s direction. “You’re up next.”
“M-me?” Makoto blinked rapidly before clearing his throat, readying himself. Poor thing, still felt soooo out of place here, huh? “Okay, yeah–thank you, Togami-san.” And with that, he disappeared inside the office as well.
This continued on until, one-by-one, every single one of the 78th class filtered into the headmaster’s office and returned with a mixture of different emotions scribbled over their faces: Oowada looked pissed but resigned, anxiety was all over Maizono and Fujisaki’s faces, Kuwata looked perplexed I doubt he could even understand what he just agreed to , and even Asahina looked unsure, those blue eyes conflicted. Junko relished in it, relished in the small speck of despair that was likely living in each of their hearts. It’s so easy, it’s almost too easy –
“Sis,” she snapped her head up as she saw Mukuro poking her head out from the door, nodding to her, “It’s exactly as we expected.”
She smirked at that, tossing one of her pigtails before starting to walk over to switch places, “Easy now, hun, everything’s gonna be fine,” she knew how to place this part well, “I’ll be right back, okay?”
The inside of the headmaster’s office was just as stuffy and boring as she remembered when she was here on her first day, the day that she was assigned to the class 78, the day that she infiltrated the academy like a parasite. Bastard still hasn’t figured it out. The dark sky behind him only seemed to set the mood that was clearly written all over his face: concerned, barely concealed panic that he was pushing aside for all of them. Beside him was a camera, focused in the direction of one of the chairs that, once he saw her come in, he gestured for her to sit down. “Yes, you’re the last one, Enoshima-kun?”
“Indeed I am!” she purred, boots clicking as she walked the short distance between the door and his desk, sitting herself in the chair and smoothing her skirt down. “I’m assuming that camera ain’t there to get any candid shots, huh?”
The headmaster–Jin Kirigiri–coughed. “No–ahem, I’m using it as a means for a substitute contract. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Nah, film away!”
He breathed out a sigh of relief before he began speaking. She was actually a little surprised how serious those eyes were, boring into her with this odd gentility, one she recognized right away. He was expressing regrets, guilt, all these boring sentimentalities. Disgusting. “I’ll get right to the point: there is a chance that you’ll likely have to spend the rest of your life in this school. The situation outside is grim and doesn’t seem to be getting any better, but I want to make sure that I keep at least some of my students safe. Is this something you can agree to?”
Junko offered a smile, “I guess it might be weird at first, but we don’t really have a choice, right? Yeah, I think I can do that” And then, “but you sure we’re gonna be safe in here?”
The man adjusted his tie with a determined look in his eyes, “I am still the headmaster of this school, no matter how small it might be. I will make sure to keep you safe, until my very dying breath. This shelter project will succeed, I know it will, and we’ll come out on the other side of this together. This, I swear to you.”
Oh, this poor stupid fool. He has no fucking idea… The apple really did fall pretty far from the tree with this one, huh?
****
“I can’t believe you missed,” Mukuro muttered, wrench in her hand as she moved over to one of the mental sheets that had been put up by Ogami, starting with the corner as she began tightening it with a little grunt. Junko, meanwhile, shot her a dirty look before she stood back, glancing down the hall again she had watched Naegi and Maizono shuffled down.
What? Hell yeah I tried to end it right then and there! It’s not my fault! Luck really is such a fickle thing… “Nah, it’s better this way. I’m really interested to see how long he’s gonna last when we get the ball rolling.”
“And when will that be?” Mukuro huffed.
Her sister snickered at the apparent impatience, “I wanna give it at least a year, I don’t think very many of these little brats trust us completely, not enough to provide me with what I need.”
“Like…?”
Blue eyes rolled but she indulged her, “Secrets, relationships to exploit, hopes and dreams, you know we talked about this, dummy.” She held her hands up in mocked surrender when Mukuro stood up with narrowed eyes, fist tightening on the wrench threateningly. “Trust me, it’ll make the game even more fun. Plus, it’s my ace in the hole just in case they all decide to be boring about it.”
“If you say so. I don’t know how long I can stand acting like this.”
Junko clicked her tongue, “I’unno, I think Fukawa or Yasuhiro would be able to give you a reason~” she teased, that smile looking so utterly cruel.
“Shut up,” the soldier snapped out, twisting the last bit of give in the bolt with an extra jerk before she stood up, pointing the tool in her sister’s porcelain face, those eyes daring her, “Don’t take my kill away from me, understand? I’ll leave the three to you that you want to torment, but leave those two for me.”
Junko’s eyes lidded knowingly and it only fueled Mukuro’s anger. However, before she could swing that wrench at her, the younger of the twins placed her hands on her sister’s shoulders, those eyes completely devoid of anything human. “Remember what I said, sis: there is no blood loyalty here. I’ll take who I want when I want if I want. If I want to string up the serial killer by her braids in the freezer or lock Miss Ludenburg in the sauna overnight, I’ll do it. Nothing you can do about it, sweetie.”
But, surprising Junko, her sister did not back down. In fact, she met that threat with a fiery gaze of her own, one that barely ever stoked the coals in her heart. “An eye for an eye, that’s what I learned in Fenrir. You take away my despair, I’ll take away yours. I don’t fucking care, I’ll go down with you.” Now, some important context here is that my bimbo of a sister never really surprised me, maybe once or twice since I knew her. But this? Whew, I was absolutely flabbergasted: she was giving me her weakness on a silver platter while also threatening me with such a good time, and she seemed fully aware of it. How could I resist?
The younger of the Despair sisters’s cheeks were a little pink, flushed, completely overwhelmed with emotion at the display her sister gave her. Without really even thinking about it, perfect arms wrapped around identical shoulders and she squeezed her, relishing the choke of surprise that Mukuro gave her: just a little treat.
“Challenge accepted, hun.”
****
What? Those two are okay, you know that! Don’t give me the stink eye! Oh...yeah, I guess you really have no choice but to look at me. Hehe, sorry about that, sweetie.
I guess that catches us up, huh? Got all the boring stuff outta the way so now we can move from the prologue to the first act! I think you’re really gonna like it, honestly! I know this year has been fun for you all, but it’s been extra special for me: I’ve really gotten the chance to know each and every one of you intimately. Gathering motives, playing matchmaker, huddled together when the power went out, it really does something to a girl.
Heh…
…don’t worry about it, hun. Ya’ shouldn’t be concerned about me anyways, right? I'm the one that caused all of this.