Chapter Text
Unlike how the loop started in the hotel room, this time, I woke up in a completely dark place, with a red door in front of me and nothing else around. My instinct screamed at me to get away from that door at all costs, although something invisible pushed me towards it. Something told me to go inside.
After a few seconds of a red panorama, a silhouette very similar to Yuki appeared in front of him. It didn't cause any sensation of fear; however, it had a very strong aura. When they met face to face, the expression of this silhouette was a mystery, but something told him that it didn't matter now.
"If you're here, it means the experiment was a success. It was worth stealing that data from the ultimate neurosurgeon to see the secrets of all my classmates, your friends."
"Who are you?" Yuki asked, who didn't understand anything this shadow was talking about.
"I'm someone evil, someone who regrets, someone who took everything from you on a whim to live a different life. I thought hard after getting you into this game. I came to a different conclusion than expected when I saw all those feelings towards you, a real Yuki Maeda."
"The real Yuki Maeda?" Yuki whispered.
"I will avoid explaining the plan because that no longer interests me. It will be another one of my whims that will hurt Akane, but that is my wish now, that everyone lives around you, allowing me to see something I will never be able to have. Now, you are the pillar that supports the class."
Yuki got fed up with so many meaningless words. He tried to grab this shadow by the neck, but he pierced it as if it were an illusion. The shadow didn't even flinch at such an action.
"Don't even bother touching me," the shadowed figure said again. "I don't exist as such; I'm just a representation of your mind that manages to manifest temporarily. Calm down; this is the last time you will see me, one of the causes of the destruction of the world."
"Who are you?!"
"You can call me Utsuro, the mastermind behind the whole death game situation, but that's over. When you wake up, you will not only gain full control of the body but also be able to leave the island. While you were unconscious, your friends found the way out; Yamato Kisaragi and Monokuma self-destructed. I will only ask you one more favor, even if he doesn't deserve it."
Still not understanding much of the situation, Yuki asked seriously. "What is it?"
"… Take care of Akane Taira for me."
…
Yuki Maeda felt like something was pulling him toward the ground. Still, he managed to hold on to that memory with Utsuro. When he woke up, he looked at his room with joy inside because he had not seen those strange toys again. In addition to that uncomfortable motel atmosphere, his flat and simple room was without anything remarkable. Yuki sat on the edge of the bed, checking under the pillow, and seeing the key he won split in half, with its golden color entirely off. It was over.
He could hear the door lock unlocked, which was strange because it required his key, which was inside with him. He didn't expect to see his friends run toward him like an avalanche.
"Yuki!"
"Huh?!"
If Yuki could survive all those embarrassing situations in dreams, the feeling of being crushed by your friends would be nothing.
"Are you guys, ok? I'm fine. I just spent one night asleep."
"Idiot." Whispered Akane, who was the only one still hugging him tightly, on the verge of tears. "You were in a coma for four days."
"Four days?!" He never thought that dreams could take so long in real life. From his point of view, they were fleeting moments.
"Yes, Monokuma took care of your attention before self-destructing and showing us the way out. He said it was important that you complete your mission, and we complete ours." Someone approached, a face Yuki recognized immediately.
"Yamato Kisaragi."
"Monokuma was right. He said you would recognize me somehow. As you will see, I am the only one who can talk to you without feeling some embarrassment."
When they saw their other friends, none but Yamato could see him in the face; they were looking for another object to admire or cover their faces. Yuki could see that slight crimson color on everyone's cheeks, which rubbed off on Yuki, but twice as much. Hadn't Monokuma said he would be the only one to remember everything?
Yamato continued. "We don't know why, but knowing the risk you took to find that key, being in a coma, and feelings that we can't understand at all, we feel tremendous gratitude to you, Yuki.
Yuki scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Seriously guys, it's not—"
Yamato interrupted, his voice being severe. "Still, I think you, me, and a couple of others know the truth of what happened, who is behind this, and all the misfortune it caused. I can never forgive him, even though I know that you and that person are totally different. It may be another of my stupid bets, but I want to bet on you again."
"Yamato-ni..." Mikako whispered, looking at him. She had already recovered from her headache, with her personality restored.
Yuki looked at Akane, still burying her face in his chest, refusing to part with him. "I know; I want to bet on that too, on a future where we all get ahead, even with this world plunged into despair."
Yuki and Yamato smiled. Yuki did her job at the Love Hotel, and Yamato brought the class closer on those four days so they could escape. Utsuro, what were you looking to see in all those scenarios inside the head of your fake personality?
Akane got her moment alone with Yuki when they were all walking towards the exit, where a helicopter from the Kisaragi foundation was waiting for them to pick them up after sending a distress signal. Afterward, the island would be investigated, and they would be assigned to different departments to help clean up the world. Although for Akane.
"I never understood Utsuro-sama. He never told me why he created this new me. I hope he can experience the love he could never have. That I couldn't give him.
Yuki shook her head. "If Utsuro knew any affection in a world of loneliness, it was because of you, Akane. I think you know that. I will never forgive him, but he gave us a chance because of it."
"Yes..." Akane smiled, "Yuki, no matter how many new rivals I have, I will always fight to be your life partner in this new world."
"Please don't say it like that," Yuki said, embarrassed. He lowered his head, not knowing that the rest of the class was watching them from the front, declaring a silent war for Yuki Maeda. No one was going to give up.
Perhaps they could remember a little of those moments with the possessor of divine luck. Monokuma was a troll at the end of the day.