[Sayaka Maizono isn't exactly sure what sort of god she managed to piss off in a past life to get shoved into two games where she had to fight for her right to survive, but quite frankly, she's almost had about enough of this bullshit.
When Sayaka woke up in the admittedly very cushy room when they first started this game, she'd been apprehensive. She didn't remember much at all when she first woke; just that she was supposed to be starting her school year at Hope's Peak, and that she either went on the wrong boat, or something was very wrong. It only got weirder when she saw one of her classmates in this place with her. He was certainly an intimidating man, but Sayaka was willing to at least be civil with him. Any port in a storm, right?
Of course, the peace didn't last long. Very soon the game was afoot, the mastermind of the game speaking to them over the intercom and telling them the rules they'd be dealing with. It wasn't long after that Sayaka's nerves kicked into overdrive--if she was trapped here, then she wasn't outside, in the world and in the public eye, and if that wasn't the case, she was being forgotten. Slow but sure, of course, but she'd be forgotten and replaced, and bluntly put, Sayaka needed to get out of there.
It had been strange, playing through this game week after week. Sayaka didn't even kill; the temptation was there, oh it was week after week like a gnawing thought in her mind, but she was either too slow to act (the first and second weeks were plenty bad for this; she nearly got framed in the second case, even, which painted a target on her back), or bafflingly enough, it was her fellow classmate that managed to prevent her from murdering anyone.
Mondo Oowada. If someone had told her that she'd wind up befriending and borderline coming to depend on Mondo's aid to keep her sanity, Sayaka would have laughed politely at the person accusing her and said it wasn't possible. The two of them talked far more often than Sayaka would have expected (and more than was proper, one of her managers would have said to her), but Mondo knew how to get Sayaka out of her head easily. He was a very dear friend to her; one she defended as best as she could, and tried to look out for in kind. After all of the kindness he was showing her, it was only fair to do the same for him.
It was strange to have someone who could look past the fake, sugary sweet idol persona that Sayaka put up for many of the other participants in this game, but in a way...Sayaka was honestly glad to have Mondo on her side, and to be on his as well and see past the rough persona of the gang leader. Even when times got rough, be it from their shared memories or the memories that plagued Mondo himself from Hope's Peal, they stuck together through thick and thin and made it to the bitter end of this game.
The two of them stood alone at the end, after dealing with a trial that took the rest of their number down; it was only then that the mastermind of their game gave them the truth of what was going on. In short, there was no way for them to go home; the mastermind had revealed the truth of what happened to their world, at it's complete and utter destruction. The mastermind also revealed that the very world that they were staying in wasn't in a much better state; there was nothing left for the two of them in this world.
...Nothing except joining the mastermind and the corporation that they were a part of, and being forced to run these murdergames themselves. And in all honesty, neither choice was looking very good right now.
It's what causes Sayaka, still shaken from the earlier events, to look to Mondo for guidance.]
Oowada-kun...what do we do? If it's really true that there's nothing left...that we can't go home...do we have any choice in this?
[It feels like it's been forever since Mondo awoke in Hope's Peak and met his fellow classmates at the beginning of that killing game. In reality, it's been a little over two months. Being pulled from one killing game and placed in another has a way of warping your sense of time severely.
Of course, he didn't remember that Monobear had trapped them all in Hope's Peak and forced them into murdering one another; those memories came back week by week and each time he regained another one, Mondo had to ask himself is this it? Is this the week I finally break?
He thought he would a couple of weeks ago, when he remembered his death, and Chihiro's. The trial, the investigation, the secret... and to make matters worse, that was the week the mastermind of this horrid game felt the need to offer secrets as a motivation to kill as well. The only reason he got through it was because of Sayaka Maizono.
He wouldn't have expected to bond with Sayaka. They had barely said anything to each other during their time at Hope's Peak - but then, Sayaka died quickly and he hadn't had much of a reason to think about her afterwards. Here, though, without his memories of her death and Leon's execution, he'd had the opportunity to really get to know her. It had started out of familiarity - she was the only person here he recognized, and that alone was enough to get them to talk. When their memories started returning, of course they sought each other out to compare notes. And when she remembered dying, he was the only one she trusted enough to talk to. Even though he didn't know how to comfort her or help her, he continued to go out of his way to look out for Sayaka.
And somehow, against all odds, she didn't kill this time. Maybe he helped her - he certainly annoyed her into staying put in her room some nights by sitting outside of it to keep an eye on her - and she certainly helped him. His temper hasn't really gotten any better here, but the idea of losing himself so completely to anger runs the risk of leaving her alone to face all this, and he can't do that. They're friends now, and friends support each other no matter the odds.
Usually that would be enough. It isn't now.
They've heard all the mastermind has to say and what their options are, and now they're faced with a choice. Do they agree to work for the company this mastermind is a part of and run murdergames like this on someone else's whim, or do they walk out into the wasteland of this world and try to make their way knowing that these horrid things are still happening? Going home was never an option for either of them - they both died in Hope's Peak. But Mondo had always hoped that maybe there would be a way to return to a point before their deaths. Maybe they could save everyone in Hope's Peak. Maybe they could make things right.
They can't, and everyone in Hope's Peak - their world is dead and gone. They're the final two survivors. All of this is so immensely overwhelming - no matter how many times he told himself he was strong, Mondo always comes back to the same conclusion: he really isn't. When faced with a horrible situation, he doesn't know how to proceed.
And yet Sayaka looks to him, not the rest of their fellow survivors. He has to pull himself together one more time for her sake.]
This fuckin' asshole could at least have the decency to show his face instead of playing all high and mighty over the fuckin' intercoms.
[It isn't an answer, but it's something that's been pissing him off since they entered the trial room for hopefully the final time. With the two options illuminated on the podiums before them - stay and leave - it really does make it clear that this is the end, and that the mastermind hasn't even told them who they are.]
If what they've said is true, looks like there isn't anything we can do for our world.
[The information some of the others gathered pointed in that direction, and the mastermind has confirmed it. While Mondo doesn't like taking them at their word, there really doesn't seem to be any way to return home either.]
Don't get me wrong, I hate the idea of working for someone. Especially the assholes running this entire shitshow. But I don't think we've got much of a choice. We could go out and wander this world for awhile, but...
[His eyes narrow as he looks up at the intercom and the blacked-out window, like maybe he could get a glimpse of the person behind this. It'd make it easier if he could imagine the face he wants to punch.]
I don't know, Maizono. I couldn't have imagined a worse setup.
[He's not the only one who doesn't know how to proceed; it hits Sayaka that she's being utterly selfish when she asks him what to do. As if he'd have an answer, as if he'd truly know what to do in this situation--
What did Celes call this, once? A zero-sum game? No, that's probably not it--it'd be more accurate to say that in this situation, it'd be closer to something like "heads, they win. tails, we lose.", and that's...
It's a situation Sayaka dislikes more than anything, and she averts her gaze in response.]
I hate it too. All of this. The jerk standing over us, the fact we can't do anything for our own world...it's all awful. I've spent so long doing that sort of thing, working for jerks almost like this one, and it's never good. And...it never will be, either. But...
[So it falls on Sayaka to at least try to make a decision, then. Sayaka doesn't know how to offer words of comfort in this time, really; she used to be so good at it, playing her part so well, but now...]
...Oowada-kun, do you trust me?
[She doubts he'll like the decision. But more than anything, she needs to know that he trusts her; if he can't make the decision, then she will.]
[More than anything in the world, Mondo loves his freedom. That's what he values the most, and what he's continued to care so much about even after Daiya's death. Choosing to attend Hope's Peak in the first place was difficult because it meant giving up on that freedom temporarily, but he was willing to do it. This isn't anywhere near the same. His freedom's been stripped of him, and neither of these options will truly give it back.
His hands are clenched tightly into fists at his sides, but he does look over at Sayaka's question.]
'Course I do, Maizono. [Like it isn't a concern, like it isn't something he has to think about. At this point, it isn't. He trusts her. He battled with that idea weeks ago, considering what she tried to do to Leon, and he hasn't looked back since.] You got an idea?
I do. It's...it's not going to be a pleasant one, but...
I believe there's something we can still do.
[Sayaka gives Mondo an apologetic smile; this isn't a decision that'll be easy, but she at least has a vague idea of what to do here. It's not going to be pleasant. Nor will it be easy, but...if this works, if they don't fuck this up, there's potential. They can tear this apart from the inside, perhaps.
Sayaka can't say it now, obviously, but Mondo's trust means a lot more than Sayaka can state at the moment.
Sayaka turns towards the blacked out window, addressing their mastermind.]
I think we've come to a decision, Mastermind-san.
[The mastermind seems pleased with that much; Sayaka hits stay. She can only hope that Mondo doesn't question her, at least for now, and does the same.]
[Mondo watches as Sayaka presses stay and though he doesn't like jumping in so blindly, he does trust Sayaka. If she has a plan, then it's something she'll reveal to him later. He just has to believe that everything will work out for now. Blind faith isn't really his thing. But just this once, he can manage it for her.
[It's not long after the vote that the mastermind sees the two of them relocated--from what Sayaka's gathered, it seems like they were in a place that's rather valuable to the corporation in general. Either way, they're directed into some sort of vehicle that looks like something out of a science fiction film, and Sayaka keeps her eyes and ears open the entire time.
It's all they really can do at this point, because apparently whatever technology they're using to make these cars makes them go fast through the dimensions; there's barely any time to see anything outside the window before they're at the destination in question.
...An abandoned school building. Cheeky. Sayaka really tries hard not to roll her eyes as they're lead inside and given an orientation on what they need to do in order to run these stupid games. It's almost akin to a crash course, really, though the peons Sayaka and Mondo are dealing with assure them that they're "here to provide pointers" (a sentiment that Sayaka wishes she could gag at, or tell them to shove their pointers up their ass) as needed, which would be nice in any other context! It's not in this one. Not at all.
By the time the peons leave them to get everything properly set up in this stupid building and check for any last minute repairs, they have a few scant hours of time where nobody seems to be listening in or watching them. None of the cameras are online either, from the look of it, but Sayaka's content to stay in the office and write notes on everything that she's learned. There's plenty of notes already, just on observations and the notes she's forced herself to take on how to actually run these games with Mondo at her side, but if all goes well, perhaps they'll be able to break this from the inside.
It's a sentiment that Sayaka can get across to Mondo now, at any rate, as she sighs into her notebook when the footsteps of the other people can't be heard anymore.]
...Ugh, they're finally gone. They really were trying to be here forever... [Sayaka sighs and looks over to Mondo with a tired smile.] I think we have a little while to ourselves. Mind coming over here?
[They don't get to see the mastermind. It's the wrong thing to focus on, but for a brief moment that's all Mondo can think about as they're ushered to a strange-looking vehicle and shipped off to start their lives anew as this corporation's cogs in a horrible murder machine. Great. Just what he wanted.
Though to be fair, the vehicle is fascinating, and Mondo's way more interested in staring out the window than he is in the location they end up; he almost wishes the trip could have been longer so he could get a better idea of how the vehicle works or even what it's like traveling through dimensions. As it stands, it happened so quickly he's bound to forget it soon.
But here they are, at an abandoned school, because of course it's a fucking school. God, they're damn lucky Sayaka's here or he'd haul off and punch them in their fucking faces for that insult. While Sayaka is successful in refraining from rolling her eyes, Mondo definitely is not. He doesn't argue against them any as they "help" by giving them information on what's expected of them here, either. He keeps his damn mouth shut until they finally take their leave.]
Thank fuckin' god. [He kicks his legs off the table and moves to finally start poking around the office. Investigating has never really been his thing, but getting an idea of what they have access to here is definitely going to be necessary.] I bet they're probably keeping an eye on us anyway, but until we've actually got a game to run, they won't be expecting much from us.
[Maybe they'll be nice and give us a few days to settle in... but probably not. At Sayaka's request, Mondo ditches the other desk he was looking through (all blank paper and plenty of pens, nothing interesting there) to join her.]
[One of these days Sayaka will absolutely say fuck as well. She's honestly super glad that Mondo's curses enough for the both of them, at this point; it's highly cathartic.]
That seems to be the case, yeah.
[Either way, pull up a chair, and...oh god, there's so many notes everywhere, Sayaka's not even close to keeping these organized currently.]
Sorry for not telling you what I had in mind before we left--I didn't want any of these guys catching onto what we might be able to do, you know? We gotta have the element of surprise.
So, how do you feel about the idea of taking these guys apart from the inside?
Anyway, Mondo does just that! He doesn't prop his feet on the desk this time, at least, though he's glancing over the notes without reaching out to take any of them. Looks like Sayaka's making sure to keep everything written down, which is probably good, but it's giving him a headache just looking at it.]
I figured you couldn't say it when that bastard could hear it. Like I said, I trust you.
[He certainly does. Those words get a grin from him and he leans back and folds his arms behind his head.]
That's what I was hoping to hear. Seems like it's really our only option - just gotta play along for awhile until we get an opportunity to take things down from within, right? Shouldn't be too difficult. The important thing is stopping this kinda shit from happening again. As long as we can do that, everything'll be worth it.
[Hopefully. He doesn't like the idea of running these games - of watching people die for a greater cause - but if they don't play along, who the hell is going to put a stop to this fucking corporation? They've gotta do something. He's sure Sayaka feels the same way.]
[And Sayaka clearly means it; there's a soft, more genuine smile on Sayaka's face as she plucks out a few notes from her pile, organizing them in front of the three of them.]
That's exactly it. And in order to do that, we have to make sure we know our enemy first. [Sayaka pounds one of her fist into the open palm of her other hand in a determined motion.] If we go in blindly, they probably won't take very nicely to it. So--I tried to listen in on some conversations while we were getting ready, to try and figure out some kind of plan.
It's not a lot, but from what I've gathered...this place isn't a permanent one--this is supposed to be a testing building for new recruits, and we'll be moved if we do okay. But I can tell you that the person we were dealing with? Is actually the one who runs the whole operation. Well...operations, I guess. There's apparently a lot of these.
Huh, seriously? That bastard's the one behind the whole thing? Shit, maybe I should've watched my mouth more.
[Not that it really would've done any good; Mondo's an open book. It's obvious when he's irritated. It was a struggle just to place nice with these goons, there's no way he could've gone the entire duration of the murdergame without snapping at the mastermind.]
You picked up on a lot, though. Most I managed to get is that they've got high hopes for you. [Sayaka specifically, not Mondo.] But I wasn't paying much attention to 'em. I'll try to listen in more from now on. Never know what info will end up being useful.
[He stretches a bit before settling, drumming his fingers on the desk.]
So if this is some kinda testing facility, I wonder what exactly they're looking for here. I'm guessing they want to see if we can handle actually running this shit. They've probably gotten a few people who crack under the pressure.
[So mental fortitude, as well as capability to oversee this thing without letting the participants steamroll them. Considering how wild their fellow captives got sometimes, that makes sense to him.]
Ugh, they're the last ones I want to have high hopes for me. They can take those hopes and shove it up their--w-well, you know.
[sayaka is at least attempting to pretend she still has decorum left in her. one of these days she'll say fuck, and then everyone will be sorry
At any rate, Sayaka nods her head at Mondo's assessment and comments; they're all stuff she's been thinking too, honestly.]
That's what I gathered, yeah. But from the sound of it, they're just as likely to look for people who they think will break really easily too--it seems like no matter what they get, it's all "useful data" for them to use for...something or other. I heard them talking about a girl that they put in this position for that reason...it was really, really bad.
[Sayaka sighs.]
So, they're stupid and sadistic, at least from what I'm gathering. [...] So please be careful, Oowada-kun. Promise me that, okay? I...
[Sayaka doesn't finish that thought, but any confidence goes out the window after that as she looks away. She wants to articulate that she likely won't be able to do this without him.]
[The first part gets a grin out of him; someday Sayaka will say fuck and he will cheer her on!! Anyway, he nods at Sayaka's words as she moves on.]
Hey, c'mon, don't do that. You know nothing's gonna happen to me. We made it through that shit, yeah? This'll be way easier compared to that shitshow.
[He doesn't know that and he really can't assume that. But right now what's most important is reassuring Sayaka. She doesn't need to worry about him on top of everything else.]
Focus on yourself and keeping an eye out for our "bosses". I promise nothing'll happen to me. We'll make it through this together, got it?
[It's sort of gruff, just like all of his reassurances, but it's confident. Certain. Like there isn't a single doubt in his mind.]
[Yeah, no, Sayaka's cheeks puff at that--it's not a very mature look, really, but hearing Mondo say that so easily when he can't assure it is--]
We don't know that. It can't possibly be any easier to just...force people to die like this. And who knows what those people will do? They won't look at us and see two people forced into this, you know...
And if we don't do it right, who knows what the people in charge will do to us?
[As much as the reassurances are nice, Sayaka can't accept them. There's so much here that's unknown, and it sees Sayaka turning away, fidgeting with her sleeves. She shakes her head after, though--but it's probably telling that she's not even pretending to have a smile on her face anymore.]
...I'm sorry. I shouldn't speak so harshly. I know you're going to make sure nothing happens to you--and I'll keep an eye on those bosses and myself, too. But...
I am going to worry about you, either way. You're my friend, after all.
[...Well, that didn't work. Sometimes he's able to get Sayaka to calm down easily, but other times he fucks it up like this. Mondo sighs and runs a hand through the back of his hair.]
Shit, sorry, Maizono. I'm not trying to rile you up. I know we're walking on thin ice here. We've gotta be careful, and there's no telling that this'll be any easier. I know. I just don't want you worrying too much about me, alright? I'm gonna look out for myself, I promise.
[If he can ease her worries even the tiniest bit, it'll be a big help. She's already got a lot she'll have to deal with, after all.]
[Sayaka's cheeks puff again, but this time it's in exasperation.]
You're not riling me up, you dummy. I know you can look out for yourself, but I'm gonna look out for you too. You've always been looking out for me, and I appreciate it...but worrying is just what I do. [Sayaka takes a stand of her own hair and twiddles it, her expression going back to a small smile.] We're supposed to be a team, you know? Which means we've gotta watch both of our backs. But...maybe you do have a bit of a point. I don't want to sound like I don't have faith in you when I do, you know?
So...I'll try not to worry about you too much, but at least let me worry about you a little. Is that a fair deal?
Yeah, that's fair. You can worry a bit about me, but don't go working yourself up too much, got it? I'm gonna look out for you too, don't worry. We'll make it through this and tear down this establishment. We'll make 'em wish they'd stopped with our game!
[...Honestly, it's hard not to be determined when Mondo starts getting spirited like this. Sayaka starts to giggle a bit, but she winds up pumping her fists a little too.]
I won't, I won't. I know it'll be hard, but...I do believe in you, Oowada-kun. And I believe in our ability to put these people in their place, too--we'll make it so nobody has to suffer these kind of games, ever again. They're totally gonna get what's coming to them if we've got anything to say about it!
It will be. We're gonna absolutely make sure of it.
[Sayaka says that much with determination, at least. She really does believe in their ability to do this much, after all. Even still, her look briefly goes kind of sad as something crosses her mind, but...
Well, it looks like they've got the electronics finally set up, given how the electronics in the room start to flicker on--Sayaka's quick to stuff away any notes she has elsewhere, under her desk and out of their sight. It looks like they're coming up to give them both some information, but looking around at this school is an experience already; there's many rooms to keep track of, classrooms and dorms alike, hallways, the whole nine yards...]
...Maybe we should start deciding on what kind of shifts we're going to be having, looking around at all of these. Did they really need to put this many cameras up? This is so much to keep track of!
[The cameras flicker to life and Mondo moves to go check them out while Sayaka works on hiding her notes. There are a lot of rooms to keep track of, not to mention plenty of hallways, and even some spots that seem like they're pretty well-hidden from the cameras. Nothing too big, but large enough that it could pose a problem if the participants are aware of it. The technology present here is a bit beyond him as well, but it should be something he can learn in time.]
We're probably gonna want someone up as often as possible just in case there's some kinda emergency. Or a rule-breaker. 'Course, we're still going to need to sleep and eat... Shit, this seems like a fuckton of work.
[like that didn't occur to him before now??]
Look, we aren't gonna have to worry about all the rooms at first. See here? Parts are blocked off with these gates; doesn't look like they'll be able to make it upstairs at first.
[So just like their own game, parts of the building will become available after every murder. It's not a pretty reminder, but at least it means they'll have less to keep track of right now.]
Yeah, like...how are we supposed to eat? How are we supposed to decide when we can actually sleep? Knowing them, they're probably going to try to set up night watches too, and that means they'll just be up all night long...
[...Yeah, Sayaka may just be realizing that wow we are in over our head here. Uh. Shit? Shit. This is going to be pure torture, holy--
Wait.]
Gates? Where-- [Hang on, Sayaka is dumb and actually didn't notice and she's scrambling to find which cameras they can be seen--AHA.] Oh thank goodness. This will definitely help to keep them under control, at least for the time being...
[...]
That...still does leave us with the problem of how we're going to be able to do much of anything else, though, with so many people down there at once. I didn't hear anything about the kitchen closing at any time--did you...?
[please. please tell her they at least have that, we'll likely die otherwise]
[Those are really damn good questions, and Mondo frowns for a moment before finally attempting to take control of the cameras in the foyer. Thankfully, despite his limited technical know-how, he's able to work it out enough to get a better view of the posted rules.]
"Participants are not permitted to sleep outside the dormitories." Looks like that at least ensure they'll be in their rooms to sleep. If it's anything like our game was, the kitchen is probably locked down at night too. Maybe we should take a look around to see if there's some back way into the kitchen?
[Oh! That makes sense; Sayaka was honestly worried that they were just going to leave them with no safe way to get food, but that's at least a small saving grace.]
That might be a good idea. We should probably get as familiar as we can with this place while we're here...the last thing we want is for the others to get familiar with this place before we do, you know? Once these people leave, of course.
Who knows? We might find something interesting, too.
[Sayaka smiles, but it's clear there's a deeper meaning behind that.]
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When Sayaka woke up in the admittedly very cushy room when they first started this game, she'd been apprehensive. She didn't remember much at all when she first woke; just that she was supposed to be starting her school year at Hope's Peak, and that she either went on the wrong boat, or something was very wrong. It only got weirder when she saw one of her classmates in this place with her. He was certainly an intimidating man, but Sayaka was willing to at least be civil with him. Any port in a storm, right?
Of course, the peace didn't last long. Very soon the game was afoot, the mastermind of the game speaking to them over the intercom and telling them the rules they'd be dealing with. It wasn't long after that Sayaka's nerves kicked into overdrive--if she was trapped here, then she wasn't outside, in the world and in the public eye, and if that wasn't the case, she was being forgotten. Slow but sure, of course, but she'd be forgotten and replaced, and bluntly put, Sayaka needed to get out of there.
It had been strange, playing through this game week after week. Sayaka didn't even kill; the temptation was there, oh it was week after week like a gnawing thought in her mind, but she was either too slow to act (the first and second weeks were plenty bad for this; she nearly got framed in the second case, even, which painted a target on her back), or bafflingly enough, it was her fellow classmate that managed to prevent her from murdering anyone.
Mondo Oowada. If someone had told her that she'd wind up befriending and borderline coming to depend on Mondo's aid to keep her sanity, Sayaka would have laughed politely at the person accusing her and said it wasn't possible. The two of them talked far more often than Sayaka would have expected (and more than was proper, one of her managers would have said to her), but Mondo knew how to get Sayaka out of her head easily. He was a very dear friend to her; one she defended as best as she could, and tried to look out for in kind. After all of the kindness he was showing her, it was only fair to do the same for him.
It was strange to have someone who could look past the fake, sugary sweet idol persona that Sayaka put up for many of the other participants in this game, but in a way...Sayaka was honestly glad to have Mondo on her side, and to be on his as well and see past the rough persona of the gang leader. Even when times got rough, be it from their shared memories or the memories that plagued Mondo himself from Hope's Peal, they stuck together through thick and thin and made it to the bitter end of this game.
The two of them stood alone at the end, after dealing with a trial that took the rest of their number down; it was only then that the mastermind of their game gave them the truth of what was going on. In short, there was no way for them to go home; the mastermind had revealed the truth of what happened to their world, at it's complete and utter destruction. The mastermind also revealed that the very world that they were staying in wasn't in a much better state; there was nothing left for the two of them in this world.
...Nothing except joining the mastermind and the corporation that they were a part of, and being forced to run these murdergames themselves. And in all honesty, neither choice was looking very good right now.
It's what causes Sayaka, still shaken from the earlier events, to look to Mondo for guidance.]
Oowada-kun...what do we do? If it's really true that there's nothing left...that we can't go home...do we have any choice in this?
[It's a scary question.]
no subject
Of course, he didn't remember that Monobear had trapped them all in Hope's Peak and forced them into murdering one another; those memories came back week by week and each time he regained another one, Mondo had to ask himself is this it? Is this the week I finally break?
He thought he would a couple of weeks ago, when he remembered his death, and Chihiro's. The trial, the investigation, the secret... and to make matters worse, that was the week the mastermind of this horrid game felt the need to offer secrets as a motivation to kill as well. The only reason he got through it was because of Sayaka Maizono.
He wouldn't have expected to bond with Sayaka. They had barely said anything to each other during their time at Hope's Peak - but then, Sayaka died quickly and he hadn't had much of a reason to think about her afterwards. Here, though, without his memories of her death and Leon's execution, he'd had the opportunity to really get to know her. It had started out of familiarity - she was the only person here he recognized, and that alone was enough to get them to talk. When their memories started returning, of course they sought each other out to compare notes. And when she remembered dying, he was the only one she trusted enough to talk to. Even though he didn't know how to comfort her or help her, he continued to go out of his way to look out for Sayaka.
And somehow, against all odds, she didn't kill this time. Maybe he helped her - he certainly annoyed her into staying put in her room some nights by sitting outside of it to keep an eye on her - and she certainly helped him. His temper hasn't really gotten any better here, but the idea of losing himself so completely to anger runs the risk of leaving her alone to face all this, and he can't do that. They're friends now, and friends support each other no matter the odds.
Usually that would be enough. It isn't now.
They've heard all the mastermind has to say and what their options are, and now they're faced with a choice. Do they agree to work for the company this mastermind is a part of and run murdergames like this on someone else's whim, or do they walk out into the wasteland of this world and try to make their way knowing that these horrid things are still happening? Going home was never an option for either of them - they both died in Hope's Peak. But Mondo had always hoped that maybe there would be a way to return to a point before their deaths. Maybe they could save everyone in Hope's Peak. Maybe they could make things right.
They can't, and everyone in Hope's Peak - their world is dead and gone. They're the final two survivors. All of this is so immensely overwhelming - no matter how many times he told himself he was strong, Mondo always comes back to the same conclusion: he really isn't. When faced with a horrible situation, he doesn't know how to proceed.
And yet Sayaka looks to him, not the rest of their fellow survivors. He has to pull himself together one more time for her sake.]
This fuckin' asshole could at least have the decency to show his face instead of playing all high and mighty over the fuckin' intercoms.
[It isn't an answer, but it's something that's been pissing him off since they entered the trial room for hopefully the final time. With the two options illuminated on the podiums before them - stay and leave - it really does make it clear that this is the end, and that the mastermind hasn't even told them who they are.]
If what they've said is true, looks like there isn't anything we can do for our world.
[The information some of the others gathered pointed in that direction, and the mastermind has confirmed it. While Mondo doesn't like taking them at their word, there really doesn't seem to be any way to return home either.]
Don't get me wrong, I hate the idea of working for someone. Especially the assholes running this entire shitshow. But I don't think we've got much of a choice. We could go out and wander this world for awhile, but...
[His eyes narrow as he looks up at the intercom and the blacked-out window, like maybe he could get a glimpse of the person behind this. It'd make it easier if he could imagine the face he wants to punch.]
I don't know, Maizono. I couldn't have imagined a worse setup.
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What did Celes call this, once? A zero-sum game? No, that's probably not it--it'd be more accurate to say that in this situation, it'd be closer to something like "heads, they win. tails, we lose.", and that's...
It's a situation Sayaka dislikes more than anything, and she averts her gaze in response.]
I hate it too. All of this. The jerk standing over us, the fact we can't do anything for our own world...it's all awful. I've spent so long doing that sort of thing, working for jerks almost like this one, and it's never good. And...it never will be, either. But...
[So it falls on Sayaka to at least try to make a decision, then. Sayaka doesn't know how to offer words of comfort in this time, really; she used to be so good at it, playing her part so well, but now...]
...Oowada-kun, do you trust me?
[She doubts he'll like the decision. But more than anything, she needs to know that he trusts her; if he can't make the decision, then she will.]
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His hands are clenched tightly into fists at his sides, but he does look over at Sayaka's question.]
'Course I do, Maizono. [Like it isn't a concern, like it isn't something he has to think about. At this point, it isn't. He trusts her. He battled with that idea weeks ago, considering what she tried to do to Leon, and he hasn't looked back since.] You got an idea?
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I believe there's something we can still do.
[Sayaka gives Mondo an apologetic smile; this isn't a decision that'll be easy, but she at least has a vague idea of what to do here. It's not going to be pleasant. Nor will it be easy, but...if this works, if they don't fuck this up, there's potential. They can tear this apart from the inside, perhaps.
Sayaka can't say it now, obviously, but Mondo's trust means a lot more than Sayaka can state at the moment.
Sayaka turns towards the blacked out window, addressing their mastermind.]
I think we've come to a decision, Mastermind-san.
[The mastermind seems pleased with that much; Sayaka hits stay. She can only hope that Mondo doesn't question her, at least for now, and does the same.]
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Stay.]
We've put in our votes, so let's get going.
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It's all they really can do at this point, because apparently whatever technology they're using to make these cars makes them go fast through the dimensions; there's barely any time to see anything outside the window before they're at the destination in question.
...An abandoned school building. Cheeky. Sayaka really tries hard not to roll her eyes as they're lead inside and given an orientation on what they need to do in order to run these stupid games. It's almost akin to a crash course, really, though the peons Sayaka and Mondo are dealing with assure them that they're "here to provide pointers" (a sentiment that Sayaka wishes she could gag at, or tell them to shove their pointers up their ass) as needed, which would be nice in any other context! It's not in this one. Not at all.
By the time the peons leave them to get everything properly set up in this stupid building and check for any last minute repairs, they have a
few scant hours of time where nobody seems to be listening in or watching them. None of the cameras are online either, from the look of it, but Sayaka's content to stay in the office and write notes on everything that she's learned. There's plenty of notes already, just on observations and the notes she's forced herself to take on how to actually run these games with Mondo at her side, but if all goes well, perhaps they'll be able to break this from the inside.
It's a sentiment that Sayaka can get across to Mondo now, at any rate, as she sighs into her notebook when the footsteps of the other people can't be heard anymore.]
...Ugh, they're finally gone. They really were trying to be here forever... [Sayaka sighs and looks over to Mondo with a tired smile.] I think we have a little while to ourselves. Mind coming over here?
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Though to be fair, the vehicle is fascinating, and Mondo's way more interested in staring out the window than he is in the location they end up; he almost wishes the trip could have been longer so he could get a better idea of how the vehicle works or even what it's like traveling through dimensions. As it stands, it happened so quickly he's bound to forget it soon.
But here they are, at an abandoned school, because of course it's a fucking school. God, they're damn lucky Sayaka's here or he'd haul off and punch them in their fucking faces for that insult. While Sayaka is successful in refraining from rolling her eyes, Mondo definitely is not. He doesn't argue against them any as they "help" by giving them information on what's expected of them here, either. He keeps his damn mouth shut until they finally take their leave.]
Thank fuckin' god. [He kicks his legs off the table and moves to finally start poking around the office. Investigating has never really been his thing, but getting an idea of what they have access to here is definitely going to be necessary.] I bet they're probably keeping an eye on us anyway, but until we've actually got a game to run, they won't be expecting much from us.
[Maybe they'll be nice and give us a few days to settle in... but probably not. At Sayaka's request, Mondo ditches the other desk he was looking through (all blank paper and plenty of pens, nothing interesting there) to join her.]
What's up?
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That seems to be the case, yeah.
[Either way, pull up a chair, and...oh god, there's so many notes everywhere, Sayaka's not even close to keeping these organized currently.]
Sorry for not telling you what I had in mind before we left--I didn't want any of these guys catching onto what we might be able to do, you know? We gotta have the element of surprise.
So, how do you feel about the idea of taking these guys apart from the inside?
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Anyway, Mondo does just that! He doesn't prop his feet on the desk this time, at least, though he's glancing over the notes without reaching out to take any of them. Looks like Sayaka's making sure to keep everything written down, which is probably good, but it's giving him a headache just looking at it.]
I figured you couldn't say it when that bastard could hear it. Like I said, I trust you.
[He certainly does. Those words get a grin from him and he leans back and folds his arms behind his head.]
That's what I was hoping to hear. Seems like it's really our only option - just gotta play along for awhile until we get an opportunity to take things down from within, right? Shouldn't be too difficult. The important thing is stopping this kinda shit from happening again. As long as we can do that, everything'll be worth it.
[Hopefully. He doesn't like the idea of running these games - of watching people die for a greater cause - but if they don't play along, who the hell is going to put a stop to this fucking corporation? They've gotta do something. He's sure Sayaka feels the same way.]
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[And Sayaka clearly means it; there's a soft, more genuine smile on Sayaka's face as she plucks out a few notes from her pile, organizing them in front of the three of them.]
That's exactly it. And in order to do that, we have to make sure we know our enemy first. [Sayaka pounds one of her fist into the open palm of her other hand in a determined motion.] If we go in blindly, they probably won't take very nicely to it. So--I tried to listen in on some conversations while we were getting ready, to try and figure out some kind of plan.
It's not a lot, but from what I've gathered...this place isn't a permanent one--this is supposed to be a testing building for new recruits, and we'll be moved if we do okay. But I can tell you that the person we were dealing with? Is actually the one who runs the whole operation. Well...operations, I guess. There's apparently a lot of these.
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[Not that it really would've done any good; Mondo's an open book. It's obvious when he's irritated. It was a struggle just to place nice with these goons, there's no way he could've gone the entire duration of the murdergame without snapping at the mastermind.]
You picked up on a lot, though. Most I managed to get is that they've got high hopes for you. [Sayaka specifically, not Mondo.] But I wasn't paying much attention to 'em. I'll try to listen in more from now on. Never know what info will end up being useful.
[He stretches a bit before settling, drumming his fingers on the desk.]
So if this is some kinda testing facility, I wonder what exactly they're looking for here. I'm guessing they want to see if we can handle actually running this shit. They've probably gotten a few people who crack under the pressure.
[So mental fortitude, as well as capability to oversee this thing without letting the participants steamroll them. Considering how wild their fellow captives got sometimes, that makes sense to him.]
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[sayaka is at least attempting to pretend she still has decorum left in her. one of these days she'll say fuck, and then everyone will be sorry
At any rate, Sayaka nods her head at Mondo's assessment and comments; they're all stuff she's been thinking too, honestly.]
That's what I gathered, yeah. But from the sound of it, they're just as likely to look for people who they think will break really easily too--it seems like no matter what they get, it's all "useful data" for them to use for...something or other. I heard them talking about a girl that they put in this position for that reason...it was really, really bad.
[Sayaka sighs.]
So, they're stupid and sadistic, at least from what I'm gathering. [...] So please be careful, Oowada-kun. Promise me that, okay? I...
[Sayaka doesn't finish that thought, but any confidence goes out the window after that as she looks away. She wants to articulate that she likely won't be able to do this without him.]
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Hey, c'mon, don't do that. You know nothing's gonna happen to me. We made it through that shit, yeah? This'll be way easier compared to that shitshow.
[He doesn't know that and he really can't assume that. But right now what's most important is reassuring Sayaka. She doesn't need to worry about him on top of everything else.]
Focus on yourself and keeping an eye out for our "bosses". I promise nothing'll happen to me. We'll make it through this together, got it?
[It's sort of gruff, just like all of his reassurances, but it's confident. Certain. Like there isn't a single doubt in his mind.]
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We don't know that. It can't possibly be any easier to just...force people to die like this. And who knows what those people will do? They won't look at us and see two people forced into this, you know...
And if we don't do it right, who knows what the people in charge will do to us?
[As much as the reassurances are nice, Sayaka can't accept them. There's so much here that's unknown, and it sees Sayaka turning away, fidgeting with her sleeves. She shakes her head after, though--but it's probably telling that she's not even pretending to have a smile on her face anymore.]
...I'm sorry. I shouldn't speak so harshly. I know you're going to make sure nothing happens to you--and I'll keep an eye on those bosses and myself, too. But...
I am going to worry about you, either way. You're my friend, after all.
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Shit, sorry, Maizono. I'm not trying to rile you up. I know we're walking on thin ice here. We've gotta be careful, and there's no telling that this'll be any easier. I know. I just don't want you worrying too much about me, alright? I'm gonna look out for myself, I promise.
[If he can ease her worries even the tiniest bit, it'll be a big help. She's already got a lot she'll have to deal with, after all.]
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[Sayaka's cheeks puff again, but this time it's in exasperation.]
You're not riling me up, you dummy. I know you can look out for yourself, but I'm gonna look out for you too. You've always been looking out for me, and I appreciate it...but worrying is just what I do. [Sayaka takes a stand of her own hair and twiddles it, her expression going back to a small smile.] We're supposed to be a team, you know? Which means we've gotta watch both of our backs. But...maybe you do have a bit of a point. I don't want to sound like I don't have faith in you when I do, you know?
So...I'll try not to worry about you too much, but at least let me worry about you a little. Is that a fair deal?
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Yeah, that's fair. You can worry a bit about me, but don't go working yourself up too much, got it? I'm gonna look out for you too, don't worry. We'll make it through this and tear down this establishment. We'll make 'em wish they'd stopped with our game!
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I won't, I won't. I know it'll be hard, but...I do believe in you, Oowada-kun. And I believe in our ability to put these people in their place, too--we'll make it so nobody has to suffer these kind of games, ever again. They're totally gonna get what's coming to them if we've got anything to say about it!
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[It has to be worth it, because it's not like they really have any other options here.]
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[Sayaka says that much with determination, at least. She really does believe in their ability to do this much, after all. Even still, her look briefly goes kind of sad as something crosses her mind, but...
Well, it looks like they've got the electronics finally set up, given how the electronics in the room start to flicker on--Sayaka's quick to stuff away any notes she has elsewhere, under her desk and out of their sight. It looks like they're coming up to give them both some information, but looking around at this school is an experience already; there's many rooms to keep track of, classrooms and dorms alike, hallways, the whole nine yards...]
...Maybe we should start deciding on what kind of shifts we're going to be having, looking around at all of these. Did they really need to put this many cameras up? This is so much to keep track of!
[like please tell her it's not just her???]
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We're probably gonna want someone up as often as possible just in case there's some kinda emergency. Or a rule-breaker. 'Course, we're still going to need to sleep and eat... Shit, this seems like a fuckton of work.
[like that didn't occur to him before now??]
Look, we aren't gonna have to worry about all the rooms at first. See here? Parts are blocked off with these gates; doesn't look like they'll be able to make it upstairs at first.
[So just like their own game, parts of the building will become available after every murder. It's not a pretty reminder, but at least it means they'll have less to keep track of right now.]
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[...Yeah, Sayaka may just be realizing that wow we are in over our head here. Uh. Shit? Shit. This is going to be pure torture, holy--
Wait.]
Gates? Where-- [Hang on, Sayaka is dumb and actually didn't notice and she's scrambling to find which cameras they can be seen--AHA.] Oh thank goodness. This will definitely help to keep them under control, at least for the time being...
[...]
That...still does leave us with the problem of how we're going to be able to do much of anything else, though, with so many people down there at once. I didn't hear anything about the kitchen closing at any time--did you...?
[please. please tell her they at least have that, we'll likely die otherwise]
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"Participants are not permitted to sleep outside the dormitories." Looks like that at least ensure they'll be in their rooms to sleep. If it's anything like our game was, the kitchen is probably locked down at night too. Maybe we should take a look around to see if there's some back way into the kitchen?
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That might be a good idea. We should probably get as familiar as we can with this place while we're here...the last thing we want is for the others to get familiar with this place before we do, you know? Once these people leave, of course.
Who knows? We might find something interesting, too.
[Sayaka smiles, but it's clear there's a deeper meaning behind that.]
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