(One more because why not) (for this one the culprit and victim is different) (spoilers for chapter two of the fan game Danganronpa Redemption)
Everyone stands at their podium. The look on Shindo's face says it all. It's a look of utter despair. Rantaro sighed deeply as everyone struggled to stay strong with the one that had guided them so intensely through the game to seeing his spirit absolutely crushed.
The victims are Kokichi and Mukuro. It's up to Rantaro now. He's the only one left that can even remotely hold Shindo back if they choose violence. Kaede is in tears, but she feel's determined to at least bring Shindo some justice, but she looks worried and confused.
"Hey. I know this is bad. But I want to bring you justice for what happened to Kokichi. Just know that he's not dead. He's out there as his old self... so even though it's not much comfort... it's something." Kaede tells him.
Shindo just stares blankly into space crying and Kaede looked away holding her arm trying to not cry too.
"You're doing good Kaede. Let's just keep fighting..." Rantaro tells her softly.
Kaede just sighed deeply, "We can't let the culprit get away with this! I won't accept their victory! So please! I know we all hate it. I hate it too! Let's find the culprit... and afterwards...." Kaede sighed.
The gang looks depressed, "Well... we'll discuss that later." Kaede sighed.
"I'll start us off with what I know." Rantaro sighed as he explained how the twins fought each other and how Mukuro took Kokichi to his dorm or so he thought.
Rantaro explained how he followed Shindo up to the data center after they were stopped by Monokuma from checking up on Kokichi by lock picking his door. When they got there no one was there. Shindo was sure there must be someone in the hatch. Rantaro left to look for something to lift it up. When he came back Mukuro was trying to kill Shindo. Rantaro explained he knocked her out.
As they were going to bring Mukuro downstairs and have her tied up. Shindo found Kokichi's dead body. In a fit of rage Shindo stabbed Mukuro killing her. Rantaro tried to stop him, but it was too late. He managed to drag a very angry Shindo back to his dorm, where Kaede saw them. Eventually Shindo calmed down and his trauma response kicked in. Rantaro deeply blushed and looks regretful.
"I didn't resist him that time. He was already hurting so bad... That... I just wanted to comfort him. It was probably wrong of me, but... He just lost someone he loved... I just wanted him to know... I... I love him too." Rantaro thinks.
"Anyways you know the rest." Rantaro sighed.
"No... if Shindo killed Mukuro than he'll be executed." Kaede cried.
"But wait... this sounds like there's two killers instead of one. One being Mukuro and the other Shindo... are they both the blackened?" Kaito asked confused.
"It's first come! First serve. Don't any of you read the handbook?" Monokuma roared.
"Uh... it's not in the handbook." Chihiro explained.
"What?!? Surely you jest and pull my leg." Monokuma exclaimed.
Chihiro reads off the rules, which Kaede notices that no lock picking isn't on there, "Opps. I'm such a klutz. You'll have to excuse this bear. I've been a bit off my game since dealing with the corruption. There we go. It's added." Monokuma explains, "In the event of two killer. The first body found will be the only one you need to worry about. The second body and killer are basically free game or pointless. No execution, no graduation, and no trial for them understand?" Monokuma asked and they all nodded.
"So... Shindo will be spared... I should feel comforted, but at last I'm not." Korekiyo sighed.
"So... Mukuro killed Kokichi..." Kaede sighed deeply, "Even if we vote her... Shindo had already got his justice..." she sighed deeply.
"Come on guys. Shouldn't you all talk it out. Go over the evidence. To make sure it wasn't anyone else who could have done it?" Rantaro asked.
"No.... Because the only other person it could be is you... and honestly... I'm done. I'm done with this. If I have to accuse another of my friends and watch them die on me... then maybe... then maybe I do deserve to die. Maybe we all deserve going back to our old selves.... I'm just... done..." Kaede cried.
"It wasn't really a trial after that. Everyone just took my word and voted Mukuro which was correct." Rantaro narrated.
"Normally this be the part where I'd be a dick and kill the other blackened for the hell of it! But I can wait! I've been a patient bear so far. I'll wait until he kills properly this time. Puhuhuhuhu!" Monokuma laughed.
"With that we all left to discuss what to do next. It's obvious that everyone was feeling as depressed as Shindo felt aside from myself. I tried to rally them up, but to no luck. With our hope of escaping gone. With Shindo in despair. They've all pretty much accepted death at this point. Accepted going back to their old selves..." Rantaro narrated.
"It was Kaito... who managed to bring them all out of despair." Rantaro narrated.
"So that's it? We just give up because things look hopeless?" Kaito shouted.
"What else can we do? We can't hack the matrix anymore." Chihiro cried.
"Then we break it!" Kaito shouted.
"Break it?" Kaede asked weakly.
"Kokichi tried to do that in our game. Trying to create a situation that breaks the killing game which he believed would force it to end. I say we break this killing game!" Kaito shouted.
"How do you propose we break this killing game? We can't even hack the matrix?" Korekiyo sighed.
"I don't have the full details, but surely there must be a way. If we talk it out. Then surely we can come up with a plan." Kaito explains.
"So basically you're just talking out of your ass again with no good solution." Miu sighed.
"I wish this was like the movie. We can choose the red or blue pill and fight the matrix like that." Kaede explains.
"Hmmm.... The matrix the movie?" Chihiro thinks about it, "You know what... I think Kaede is on to something." Chihiro explains.
"What really? Is there really a pill like that?" Kaede asked.
"I'm not sure about that part, but we do have someone on our side. Alter Ego! He's in there somewhere I just know it. Doing his best to fight off the corruption and fix himself. If I can talk to him... maybe lead him to fixing himself.... Maybe he can take over the situation and get us out." Chihiro explained.
"Yes! That's great! Please do!" Kaede cried.
"I'll give it a shot." Chihiro nodded.
"Perhaps there are might be weak spots in this simulation. Like places we can glitch through. I think we should search the idea for this in mind!" Taka explained.
"Let's be careful though. No telling what happened to us it we suddenly fall into the abyss or whatever." Mondo nodded.
"If you glitch you die!" Gundham shouted.
"Perhaps there is another way to hook into the matrix that we over looked. We must make sure we found all possible options!" Korekiyo nodded.
"I just remembered! I'm a fucking inventor. I'll just build us a new computer!" Miu laughed smiling.
"Yeah! That's perfect!" Kaede cried in joy.
"See guys! What did I tell you?!? There is Hope still!" Kaito shouted.
"I'll watch over Shindo from now on... I think he needs a bit of time before he can recover." Rantaro explained.
"I got this!" Kaito punched Shindo in the face knocking him to the floor and gives him an inspirational speech about making it through the killing game to be reunited with his twin brother as Rantaro winced.
Shindo slowly gets up rubbing his face, "I'm sorry... I don't... I..." Shindo looks completely crushed.
"Come on Shio! Don't give up!" Kaito asked.
"I'm sorry. I can't seem to pull myself together..." Shindo cried.
"I think I should handle this Kaito. Do your best with Kaede to lead the others. Leave Shindo to me." Rantaro begged.
"Alright. Do your best to cheer him up! I got everyone else!" Kaito smiled.
Rantaro nodded and gently takes Shindo into his room to hold him tightly and kiss him. Trying to let him know he's not alone and loved.
"R...rantaro..." Shindo kissed him back and gets aroused.
"Don't worry... I'm here with you. I won't let you deal with this alone." Rantaro assured him and they make love.
"Miu managed to make a computer in three days and Chihiro hacked back into the matrix. The new motive was we all have bracelets that have a forbidden action. If we do that action we die. Miu was no swearing. Kaede was no touching instruments. Mine was no talking to Kaede. Shindo was no having intercourse. Ibuki was no taking in the third person. Taka can't enforce rules. Chihiro can't run. Honestly we were all thankful that it wasn't something against hacking for Chihiro or inventing for Miu. Kaito can't say anyone's name." Rantaro narrated.
"I bet Kokichi's would of been not to lie or be an asshole. I have no idea what Mukuro's would of been. Leon and Sayaka can't argue with each other, which might be more of an issue had Shindo had worked hard to get them to forgive each other. Gundham can't touch his hamsters, so I offered to take care of them for him. Mahiru can't hold her camera. And Shindo had to pull me over for a second." Rantaro narrates.
"You can use sign language to by pass your bracelet." Shindo tells Rantaro weakly, who looks at him in shock, "I think... at least. Because your not technically speaking.... It's a bit of technical play around it. If not hit write down what you want to say. Or tell others to deliver messages on your behalf." Shindo explains weakly.
"Shio... thank you." Rantaro smiled softly as he relaxed.
"I'll teach you some sign language... but... Kaito's cough... Kaito's still sick from his game.... Kokichi's told me everything that's happened... Kaito probably won't last long... He'll kill over eventually if we can't escape and get him to a hospital... than again it might be better if he died... that sickness might only be effecting his avatar... or it could be effecting both the avatar and the vessel... than that be a problem." Shindo sighed.
"Alright I'll talk to Kaito about it. Try not to touch anyone." Rantaro sighed, "And if you do. Run away and lock yourself away from them so you can't have intercourse." Rantaro explains.
"I'm worried. If masturbation also counts. God!!! This hell..." Shindo cried.
"Chihiro has a portable computer thanks to Miu and is hacked in. We're going to be okay!" Rantaro assured him.
"Seems Monokuma is going to open that vault door and deactivated the machine guns allowing us to the new area. That's the only place we never got past that would make the logical sense this other part exists." Shindo explains softly.
"Your doing great Shio. You got this." Rantaro smiled.
"I'm scared... They really hit me hard with this... I... I don't feel okay... I can feel myself slipping... I'm trying to stay with you all... But I'm scared... I'm not going to last long either... Eventually I just might snap and go psychotic on you all... Rantaro... you're the only one who can stop me if that happens... please... even if you have to kill me. Do it... take Kaede with you. And promise me to take care of my twin for me." Shindo cried.
"I'm not letting you die here Shio! I'm getting you and the others back home!" Rantaro is determined.
"Yeah... I know... I believe in you." Shindo cried.
"I want to hold you..." Rantaro looks sad.
"Wrap me in a blanket. As long as you don't touch my skin... I think I'll be okay." Shindo explains.
"See. Your already coming up with crazy solutions to our problems." Rantaro smiled.
"We have two days to escape. Chihiro and Miu need to bring their A game as we bring ours to search for clues about that graduation trial. We have two options here." Shindo explains.
"Kaito sacrifices himself killing himself to free us from the motive. Or we prematurely active the graduation trial and hope it interferes with the motive." Shindo explains.
"I understand." Rantaro nodded.
"It's just up to you, Kaede and Kaito now. You three are the leaders. I'll guide you all for as long as I'm able." Shindo touched his chest.
"We won't fail you!" Rantaro swears as Shindo nodded.
"Hey if you can. Kaito needs to confess his sickness to everyone and if he wants to kill himself or have someone else do it. Than we should respect that decision. But everyone needs to hear that decision too." Shindo explains.
Rantaro talks to Kaito and brings him to met with the group confess that he in fact wants to use his life to protect them from the motive.
Korekiyo nodded, "I'll do it..." Korekiyo volunteered.
"Kori..." Rantaro winced.
"I know I haven't had enough time to redeem myself for my past crimes... but I want to protect you all... maybe that will help the spirits who I killed in the past understand... I've changed." Korekiyo explained.
Everyone nodded. They left Kaito as he said goodbye to everyone even hugging Rantaro, Miu, Kaede and Shindo.
"Shindo. I hope you survive... Kokichi needs you in his life. He keeps pushing everyone away and that's only going to hurt him. So do your best to help everyone get out of here alive." Kaito explains.
Shindo cuddles him, "I promise... to do my best."
The group leaves Kaito to be killed and returns and goes to the trial. It's another easy trial that leaves Korekiyo being voted as blackened and punished. Seeing how hard Kaede's taking things Rantaro starts trying to comfort her and he realizes he loves her too.
They met up with the gang to start exploring the beach. Rantaro absolutely holds Kaede's hand and Shindo sees this. They are met with a mono beast that Sayaka thinks is fake, but Leon protects her from almost kissing her.
Monokuma opens the second island for them and they continue the rest of the day finishing up the investigation of the first island. Shindo walked away from the group and went to the gym to pick up the sword that he used on his twin and cuts his arm biting his lip.
"It's okay brother... I'm staying strong somehow. I promised right. I just need to recenter myself." Shindo starts training alone in the gym allowing him swing his sword as if he's slicing the world with all his feelings.
"Where's the little gremlin twin?" Miu asked noticing he's gone.
"Oh no! Shio is missing!" Ibuki panicked.
"Let's search for him!" Taka explained.
"Did anyone see him break off from the group?" Mondo asked.
"Oh! I think I saw him head to the school. Atua thinks he needs time alone." Angie explains.
The group finds Shindo slashing at the air screaming intensely and Rantaro freezes as his heart beats fast. He forgot how excited Shindo makes him feel. It was like watching something dangerous like an animal and wanting to touch it and bond with it. It was a very weird feeling for him.
"Shio! Are you okay?" Kaede called out to him.
Shindo looks at them as he drawls a circle around him and nodded stabbing the sword into the ground to treat his cut.
"Ah your bleeding!" Kaede cried running over to him.
"Back up! I'm unstable and I..." Shindo picks up his sword pointing at them and slowly puts it back into the ground, "Breath... just... breath..." he tells himself trying focus in a meditation way.
"Shindo how can we help you?" Kaede asked.
Shindo thinks about it and points his sword at Rantaro, "Stay away from me if you want to live." Shindo glared hateful at Rantaro, who felt confused than realized he's been holding Kaede's hand.
"Shio! I!" Rantaro felt horrible.
Shindo turns his back on him shaking his head, "I don't want to talk to you or even think about you. You don't exist anymore." Shindo tells him.
Rantaro felt a bit unhinged by that, "Did you get into a fight with him?" Kaede asked confused.
"I..." Rantaro starts crying.
"Come in Shindo. You can talk this out. I know you can!" Kaede offered.
"No... not this time..." Shindo sighed deeply, "Hurt.... To much... want to... want to.... Hurt others... want to kill..." Shindo growled clutching his chest.
"No please don't do that! Don't lash out on the others just cuz your upset with me!" Rantaro begged.
"I'm... doing best... I promised.... Them... I promised them.... I would save you all... I'm going to save you all... even if it kills me." Shindo cried.
"Shio..." Rantaro felt sad.
"I only need Keechi. I've only needed Keechi. I don't need anyone else." Shindo hugged himself.
"Shindo please. I don't like seeing you in pain. Just talk to us." Kaede cried.
Shindo sighed, "I have a job to do..." Shindo leads the way out of the building.
"Where you going!" Kaede cried.
"To challenge those obstacles and get them out of our way." Shindo tells them.
"You can't! They will kill you!" Sayaka cried.
"Good." Shindo smirks, "Than I can stop worrying about it being me that kills you all." Shindo explains.
He stands, before the third island mono-beast as Monokuma popped up looking nervous.
"Is defeating them against the rules?" Shindo asked Monokuma.
"Well no... but it's not going to happen." Monokuma explained nervously.
"When you have nothing left to lose. You'll be surprised how much your willing to take." Shindo gets ready to fight.
"Ibuki don't know if she should cheer for him or not!" Ibuki explained.
"You fool! This demon is the sun! You are but the angel about to fly to close to it!" Gundham shouted.
"Shio!" Rantaro cried looking unhinged knowing this is his fault.
"Shut up and don't stand in my way! I'm fighting back and I'm choosing to do it in my own dam way! Now fall to my blade!!!" Shindo screams as he fights off the mono-beast as everyone watching horror.
Shindo takes them down one by one until he gets to the last one. He's badly hurt and looks like he can barely can stand
"One more! One more!" Shindo laughed manically.
"No stop!" Kaede hugged him crying.
"Ah Kaede!" Rantaro panicked.
"You're too injured to continue this! Please! You have to stop!" Kaede cried.
Shindo shivered and turned around to kiss Kaede and try to seduce her as she turned blood red. Rantaro punched Shindo so hard that it knocked him out.
"What the hell Rantaro?!? That wasn't his fault! You didn't have to hit him like that." Ibuki shouted.
"Everyone let's just calm down and get Shindo to the infirmary... geez..." Kaede blushed and they put Shindo in the infirmary and treated his wounds.
Rantaro looks so pissed and upset. It's taking everything inside him not to continue to try and beat Shindo up.
"Well thanks to the crazy gremlin. We can explore lots of places now! Let's get started!" Miu is eager to look for clues.
"To think he beat our mono-beast... Ahahahaha Shindo is really the strongest one of you all. You know what! Just like we have a gift to Kokichi. We are giving a gift to Shindo. But that's going to be a secrete between me and him. Phuhuhuhu!" Monokuma laughed and vanished.
"He seems so unstable. What are you and him fighting about?" Kaede asked frowning.
"It's..." Rantaro winced, "Don't worry about it." He assured her.
"Rantaro! He was ready to kill himself over this! Please!" Kaede cried.
"I'm sorry I don't know what his problem is." Rantaro crossed his arms.
"Rantaro!" Kaede shouted at him.
"What about me?!? He should apologize to me!" Rantaro shouted.
"What?!? What did he do to you?" Kaede asked.
"He knows what he did." Rantaro growled.
"I'm sure if we talk to Shindo... we can fix this." Kaede sighed and they watched over him as he recovered.
Shindo wakes up looking at them blankly, "Oh... I blacked out... still alive?" He asked weakly.
"Shindo! Please don't act so reckless again! We need you! I don't know what you and Rantaro are fighting about... but just apologize to him and make up." Kaede explains.
"I'm sorry that your girlfriend hugged me and I kissed her in front of you. That wasn't intentional." Shindo replied.
"What?!?" Kaede went red.
Rantaro looks away feeling bad, "Shio... I... I didn't mean it! I lost control... I..." Rantaro whimpered.
"You have chose her over me. You broken my heart. I just want you to leave me alone." Shindo tells him.
"Ah... Shindo..." Kaede felt bad.
Shindo gets up testing to see how injured he is, "I have one mono-beast to destroy." He explains.
"No please!" Kaede gets in his way blocking his path crying, "Rantaro isn't worth you dying over. So please... I don't want you to keep recklessly hurting yourself... Please..." Kaede cried.
"It's the only way to keep myself from turning around on you guys. There's an anger in me demanding bloodshed. I rather direct that at my enemies than those I called friends and one I once called my lover." Shindo explains as he walked past her.
"Shindo." Kaede cried in pain.
"Shio...." Rantaro thinks hating himself.
"This... this is your fault!" Kaede tells Rantaro as she runs after him.
"Kaede... I..." Rantaro sighed and knew she was right.
"Hey! Guys gather up! We got some epic news for you all!" Miu shouted and the gang gathers up at the portable computer, "I found a usb and guess what!" She smiled.
There was Keebo on the screen, "Keebo!" Kaede cried.
"Hmm..." Shindo looks thoughtful.
"Don't worry guys! I'm here to help." Keebo smiled.
"Man. Am I glad to see you Keebo." Rantaro sighed in relief.
"Alright let's tell him what our situation is!" Kaede explains and begins telling him everything that's happened so far.