The students, who had been deep in debate, eventually agreed that they should first examine the materials Monokuma had prepared. I agreed too, but as I stepped out of the classroom to begin the investigation, I suddenly fell into thought.
"...Something's been feeling off for a while now... but what is it...?"
It felt like my memories kept cutting out. Even if I wanted to explain it more clearly, some bizarre phenomenon I couldn't logically account for kept repeating itself.
"Hinata! Why do you keep spacing out? Hurry up and come on!"
"C-Could it be... you're going to collapse again...?"
"...Hinata-kun collapsed?"
"N-No...! I'm fine. Let's go."
When Nanami started looking at me with that worried expression, a strange stab of guilt hit me. So I hurried out of the classroom, leaving the others' anxious gazes behind.
.
.
.
"Everyone...! Look at this!!"
"Wh-What is this...? A hologram...?"
"What manner of witchcraft is this...? To conjure an illusion this vivid... I find myself curious what sort of sorcery could produce it..."
When we entered the music room, a monument-like object and a green window filled with text were floating in midair.
"This is... the Future Foundation emblem, isn't it...?"
On the monument-like object, the following was written:
- The Future Foundation was established, centered around graduates of Hope's Peak Academy, in order to oppose [The Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Event in Human History].
"...What!?"
"I-I knew it...! The Future Foundation really were the good guys...!"
"That bastard Monokuma... feeding us total garbage..."
After reading it, the students started cursing Monokuma with bitter, twisted expressions. Amid them, I quietly sank deeper into doubt.
"...But if the Future Foundation are the good guys... then why were we dragged here by them after losing our memories?"
No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't find an answer. My confusion only deepened—then a voice rang out beside me.
"Wait... what is this supposed to mean?"
The others were staring at the green hologram floating nearby. When I stepped closer to check, I saw the following text written there:
- As I reported before, we have found a lead regarding the whereabouts of Class 77. It has been determined that, after disappearing following 'that incident,' they are currently active as '&☆♧♤ □◇,' and their total number is fifteen. As an aside, it seems the [Neo World Program] is nearly complete. That is all for now.
[Ultimate Spy Kamishiro Yuuto]
"W-What does that even mean...?"
"If it's talking about Class 77... that's us, right...?"
"What's with those broken characters...?"
The text was clearly about us, the members of Class 77, but the information was so fragmentary and restricted that we couldn't grasp its meaning with any certainty.
"Guys...! Come to the office right now...!"
"Huh? The office...?"
"Yeah! There's something seriously shocking in here...!"
The students, who had been agonizing over the meaning of the message, headed to the office at Koizumi's call.
.
.
.
.
.
"Th-That's... Saionji... ?"
"That's... me...?"
"Saionji, do you maybe have an older sister with the exact same name or something?"
"As if that's possible!!"
When we entered the office, there was no way we couldn't be rattled.
A newspaper clipping was pinned to the blackboard, showing a photo of someone who looked nothing like the current Saionji—and yet looked far too much like Saionji to dismiss.
"This newspaper... it says 'Saionji Hiyoko,' doesn't it...?"
"Is there... is there no date on it?"
"This is downright supernatural... what the hell happened here...?"
"Upupupu, isn't it obvious? That really is Saionji Hiyoko herself!"
At that, every eye in the room snapped toward Saionji. Sweat started pouring down her face, and then she let out a shrill scream.
"I-I don't know anything about this!! Being short is already a complex of mine... this has to be one of Monokuma's sick jokes...!"
"...Yeah. Mocking someone's height is crossing a line. That Monokuma bastard went too far."
For some reason, Kuzuryu chimed in with deadly serious conviction. The others were just about to dismiss the whole thing as another one of Monokuma's pranks and turn away, but—
"Upupupu... that's not the only information you can find on the blackboard, you know...?"
"...What?"
"Isn't that right, Togami...?"
"..."
At Monokuma's loaded remark, everyone's attention was dragged back to the blackboard.
"W-Wait... why is Togami's name the only one missing...?"
"Instead of Togami's name, it says [Ultimate Imposter]...? Why would it say that?"
"Don't tell me... Togami isn't actually Togami at all, but some fake who was impersonating him...?"
At Souda's words, the atmosphere went glacial.
"...N-No, I was just kidding...! I mean, that's obviously Monokuma messing with us too..."
"No. That's real."
".....!"
The students, who had been trying to laugh off the tension, froze solid at Togami's next bombshell.
"I was going to tell you someday... but the truth is, I'm not 'Byakuya Togami.' I'm the nameless [Ultimate Imposter]. I'm sorry for deceiving all of you until now."
"....."
"Yeah... I knew it'd come out eventually. I should've told you sooner. If I had, maybe I could've been forgiven... but now that it's come to this, I don't even deserve—"
"So from now on, does that mean we can officially call you Mr. Pig's Trotters?"
"...What?"
Saionji smiled at him as he stood there, utterly dejected, and spoke.
"What? You don't like it? But you did trick us all this whole time, right? So as punishment, your name is Mr. Pig's Trotters now! Kyahaha...! A person named Mr. Pig's Trotters...! Puhuhu..."
Saionji cackled in the same rude, bratty tone she used to have, but the others only smiled quietly as they watched her.
Unlike before, there wasn't a shred of malice in her words.
And the man who had spent his whole life as an impostor, unable to possess even a name of his own, seemed to realize that too. He answered with a faint smile.
"Thank you... Saionji."
"Uh... then... Togami—no, Mr. Pig's Trotters? Let's get along again, okay?"
"An impostor? That's a pretty badass talent, actually...! Hey, can you do impressions too!? C'mon, show us one!"
"W-Wait... if that's real... then does that mean Saionji's photo is real too...? Then... does that mean I'm actually that tall too...?"
"No! That's fake! I'm literally standing right here like this!"
"...Damn it, so it's not."
As Mr. Pig's Trotters stood there, visibly embarrassed by the others' warm response, Nanami walked up to him and spoke.
"...The leadership you've shown while guiding us until now was real. So we won't judge you by your talent. We'll judge you by the way you've acted all this time. So... could you lead us again?"
As she said that, Nanami glanced at me and gave the tiniest wink.
"...He once said that if you trust others, rely on them, and build bonds with them... then someday you'll be able to define yourself. It seems he was right. Very well. As your friend, I ask this of you all. Let's quickly find the next message."
"Ah! A green hologram just appeared over there!"
"Hm? Good. Then... shall we see what it says?"
The others all crowded around the hologram in a rush, leaving only Nanami and me in front of the blackboard.
"...Nanami, what you said just now..."
"Right. I said it to Mr. Pig's Trotters... but I said it to you too, Hinata-kun."
"....."
"Mr. Pig's Trotters proved it himself, didn't he? What defines you isn't your 'ability'—it's the 'bonds' you build through your interactions with other people."
"...Yeah. I think you're right. I understand that now."
"So..."
".....!"
Making sure the others were still focused on the hologram, Nanami suddenly leaned in and kissed me. Then she smiled softly and whispered:
"I'm a bond more precious than anything else. So this time, stay with me until the very end."
"...Yeah."
And just like that, while the others pretended not to notice, we shared another kiss.
"...You bastards."
"Is this some kind of law of couple conservation...? Haha..."
"Haaah... I wanna date Sonia too..."
"So now you're just saying it right in front of her..."
"Eheheh... eheheheheh..."
Of course, the others had only been pretending not to see.
"Enough... let's just read this."
"Mm... this one's kind of long, huh?"
"Not kind of long—it's insanely long!! I'm getting dizzy just looking at it!!"
"No matter what it says, after seeing... that, I really don't feel motivated anymore..."
The students began reading the message with vacant expressions, but before long, those expressions curdled into confusion.
- Regarding the matter of Class 77, whose recent investigation results have been reported, I order that all of them be promptly #@. In addition, the recent movements of the [Remnants of Despair] are far from ordinary. Junko Enoshima has certainly been neutralized, but the [Remnants of Despair] are still moving in a highly organized fashion. Therefore, everyone receiving this message should suspect and remain wary of the existence of 'another leader.'
[Future Foundation Vice Chairman Munakata Kyosuke]
- Munakata's order regarding Class 77 has gone too far. Therefore, as the Branch Chief of the 13th Division, I will exercise my veto against that order.
[13th Division Branch Chief Chiaki Nanami]
- As the Branch Chief of the 14th Division, and as the representative of Class 78, I will exercise my veto.
[14th Division Branch Chief Kyoko Kirigiri]
- The 3rd Division will also exercise its veto.
[3rd Division Branch Chief Kizakura Koichi]
- The 5th Division will also exercise its veto. Munakata, not this time.
[5th Division Branch Chief Chisa Yukizome]
- Veto, exercised.
[7th Division Branch Chief Miaya Gekkogahara]
- As the Branch Chief of the 10th Division, I exercise my veto. The radicals' recent conduct has been far too extreme. Even if it is for hope, please do not cross the line.
[10th Division Branch Chief Ryota Mitarai]
- According to regulations, if seven of the fourteen divisions—that is, half of them—exercise their veto, the order is suspended temporarily. I have now confirmed that seven vetoes have been exercised, including the special veto of Class 78. Therefore, as of this moment, Munakata's order is suspended and will be submitted as an agenda item for the upcoming branch chiefs' meeting.
[Future Foundation Chairman Tengan Kazuo]
- It has already been a month since discussions began regarding the treatment of Class 77. If this dispute continues, the side that will ultimately suffer is hope itself. Therefore, by invoking the authority of the 14th Division, we will secure them ourselves. This is a power that was promised to us when we joined the Future Foundation, so I will accept no objections. And to everyone reading this message, remember this: they too once fought alongside us for hope.
[Deputy Branch Chief of the 14th Division K]
"...Wh-What is all this supposed to mean...?"