Chapter Text
Underground Trial (Instrumental Mix) - Vetrom
An hour passed, and the tension in the Kirigiri Detective Agency was palpable. Komaru, Toko, Hajime, Chiaki, Shuichi, Kaede, and Monomi were all once again gathered in Kyoko's office, alongside Kujo and Tachibana. The room was filled with an anxious energy as they awaited Kyoko's arrival.
The lavender-haired detective herself was in the main hall of the KDA, preparing to deliver the news. As she approached the office, she felt her heartbeat rise.
"Here we go..." she murmured and opened the door.
The Phantom Thieves' eyes were on her immediately, their expressions tense and expectant, and Kyoko met their gaze with a somber stare. She knew the news she had to deliver would not be taken well, but there was no other choice.
As Kyoko entered the room, Monomi looked up at her, a grave expression on her face. Before she even said hello, Komaru was the first one to speak.
"Where is my brother?"
"Be patient," was Kyoko's immediate retort, "If this goes well, we're about to find out."
Komaru bit her lip, and Kyoko sighed, knowing her frustration was warranted.
"You sure don't sound like you're eager to find out," Kaede remarked with a scowl, "Do you even know where Makoto is?"
"I can't tell you where he is. Not yet," Kyoko responded, her tone unwavering, "but like I said, assuming this goes well, we will find the truth soon enough."
"Kaede, stop," Shuichi raised his voice, "Kyoko-sama has done the most work out of anyone here to find Makoto. It's unfair to-"
"Yeah! Because she actively PREVENTED US from doing anything!" Kaede shot back, her voice rising, "She didn't even tell us the full details about Makoto's case until yesterday, and she didn't even let us go investigate. What did you think would happen, Kyoko-SAMA?"
Kyoko's body was still as she felt the glares of the group on her. She sighed and pinched her forehead, closing her eyes in contemplation.
"If you are looking for an apology, I'm not giving you one," Kyoko said.
"Why not?" Toko growled, her nails digging into her palms, "Even if this is just part of your job, you could at least apologize to Komaru for leaving her in the dark, alone and afraid."
Kyoko sighed and shook her head.
"If I had apologized, it would not have solved anything. All it would do is distract us from our goal," Kyoko explained, her eyes sharpening, "The point is, the past is the past. I've asked you all here because we've made immense progress in the investigation."
"Meaning?" Hajime asked.
"Okiri is bringing over a suspect as we speak," she said, "and I do believe, after taking everything into account,I do believe I know who is the real mastermind behind Makoto's kidnapping."
The group looked stunned.
"Really!?" Komaru's eyes lit up, "Who? Who did it!?"
"You're sure about this?" Hajime asked, "I don't want to be a buzzkill, but you better be damn certain this guy is the real deal."
"Trust me, I am. We have a solid lead," Kyoko answered, a confident smile gracing her face, "We just have to wait for-"
But as she was saying that, the door to the room was kicked open, and Okiri stormed in, dragging a handcuffed Hizo Ryu behind him.
Class Trial [Future]- Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
The ferryman's face was pale with fear, his eyes darting nervously around the room. Kujo and Tachibana, who followed Okiri in and supported him with restraining the prisoner.
"Okiri, seriously!" Kujo spat, "What the hell!?"
"Sorry, but time is of the essence. Ryu's been caught red-handed," Okiri snarled, shoving the ferryman against the wall, as the shaggy man struggled and whined, "I saw him making a run for it and chased him down. The guy was panicking like a wild animal and tried to fight me, but I brought him down and arrested him."
"Stay...STILL!" Tachibana growled, "You're not getting out of here, Ryu!"
"W-W-Wait!" the man yelped, his eyes wide with panic, "P-Please, l-let me go! I haven't done anything wrong! I don't know what I'm being charged with, but it's not true! I-I'm innocent!"
"You're only making this worse for yourself," Kyoko glowered, her eyes sharp as daggers, "We have you dead to rights, Ryu."
Komaru's expression hardened the moment she saw him. She stepped forward, fury bubbling in her voice.
"Where is my brother!" she cried, "What did you do with him!?"
Before she could get any closer, Toko moved quickly to hold her back.
"Komaru, wait!" she insisted, trying to keep her voice calm, "Let Kyoko handle this. It's too dangerous for you to get near him!"
Komaru hesitated, and Ryu looked back at her. His eyes darted between her and Kyoko, and his panic seemed to reach a fever pitch. She struggled in Toko's grip but eventually relented, her breath heavy with frustration. Her eyes burned with worry, but she knew that despite her prior doubts, Kyoko was the best person to handle the interrogation.
For her part, Kyoko remained composed and collected. She had already seen through Ryu's lies and had no interest in listening to him play the victim.
"A-Are you sure you want us to interrogate him here, Kyoko-sama!?" Kujo gasped, looking at Komaru with a wary expression, "I know Komaru-sama's brother is one of the hostages, but...I mean, wouldn't it be better if we took him down to the interr-"
"No," Kyoko cut her off, "I need to know, and so does she. This has to end today. So we're going to do this here."
Kujo and Tachibana exchanged worried glances but ultimately nodded and backed off. Ryu trembled, barely able to keep himself standing as Okiri shoved him into a chair. His eyes pleaded for mercy, and his voice was shaky as he spoke.
"Take a seat and shut up," Okiri spat, "Remember, anything you say can and will be used against you in court."
Ryu's face paled, his eyes widening in fear.
"W-Wait, what!?" he squeaked, his voice rising, "Court?"
"Correct," Kyoko's eyes narrowed in cold judgment, "You're under arrest for suspicion of aiding the Victim Catharsis Committee with a smuggling case that involved illegal surgical operations and the kidnapping of one Makoto Naegi. To repeat, anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law."
"P-Please...!" Ryu trembled, "I-I didn't mean to get involved in this! I swear I'll talk, just...don't hurt me!"
Kyoko's eyes regained their stoic calmness as she stared into Ryu's frightened, teary-eyed gaze. She did not have any sympathy for the man, but she had to play along.
Class Trial [Dawn Edition] - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Without a word, she gestured for everyone to settle down, and the room fell silent, but Okiri remained hovering over Ryu, like he was ready to grab and restrain him at any moment.
"It's fine," Kyoko lied, "We will go easy on you and make a deal with you. The sooner we get answers, the better it will be for you.
Ryu swallowed hard, nodding frantically. His entire body was trembling, but it's clear he knows there's no escaping the situation now. Komaru, still fuming, watched every move he made, desperate for any sign that could lead her to her brother.
Kyoko's voice was measured and controlled as she began her interrogation.
"Detective Okiri," she turned to the officer, "please take out the evidence. Our suspect has some questions to answer."
"Right away, ma'am."
Okiri nodded and reached into a box, pulling out an evidence bag with the boat records and schedules. He placed the bag on the desk in front of Ryu, and the man flinched, his eyes growing wider.
"We have reason to believe that you are responsible for the smuggling of illicit goods and services across the river using your ferry," Kyoko stated, her voice low and accusatory, "Your ferry route is perfect for covertly transporting illegal goods by inviting a certain selection of passengers onto the boat. These passengers, prior to boarding the boats, had their stomachs cut open and the illegal sedatives placed inside them, as well as other supplies like machinery and gear, in corrosion-resistant bags..."
The Phantom Thieves, having heard this for the first time, looked horrified, and Komaru covered her mouth.
"That's...That's insane!" Hajime gasped.
"The passengers would climb into crates stored on the yacht in advance, and their stomachs would keep the sedative warm and hidden from any sort of detection. Your job was to drive the yacht with these passengers to a certain location and drop them into the water to be picked up. Then, once the delivery was done, you would go back to retrieve the supplies and rinse and repeat," Kyoko detailed, "Can you confirm that what I've just said is true?"
Ryu knew that she was already confident of the truth, especially since she had laid it out to him in such absurd detail. Dejected, his head drooped, and he let out a quiet whimper.
"Y-Yes...that's right…" he conceded, his eyes filled with regret, "all of it is true...B-But I wasn't involved in the surgery itself. The VCC did that in advance."
"Good. Thank you for your honesty..." she said, her voice steady and authoritative, "Now that we've got that out of the way, let's start with how you first came into contact with Tokichiro Endo."
Ryu fidgeted in his chair, glancing nervously at the assembled detectives before meeting Kyoko's unwavering stare. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"I was tight on money," he began, his voice shaky, "I was working on a side job and had bills piling up, but it wasn't enough. My girlfriend broke up with me, and...I needed more than I had. I was at risk of losing the lease on my home when I received a message from Endo. He told me if I transferred a selection of important people across the Sumida River at certain times on certain days, he'd pay me a hefty sum."
"And did he?" Kyoko asked.
"Yes," Ryu affirmed, "by the time you caught me, he'd given me at least a million yen in cash. That was only part of it, though."
Kyoko noted the fear in Ryu's eyes, but she remained skeptical.
"And what happened after your first few jobs?" she continued. Ryu hesitated, visibly sweating under the pressure.
"I was suspicious of Endo, especially since when I first did the job, nothing seemed wrong. The crates were empty, and the people were quiet, so at first, I thought maybe he might be trying to smuggle wood across the river or something? But it was only when he called me back for the second job that I realized what I was really transferring," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, "By that point, I was already tangled up in the VCC's crime circle. I couldn't back out."
"That's not true," Hajime, unable to contain his frustration, interjected, "nothing was stopping you from reaching out, getting help, and reporting this to the police, was there?"
Living in a Lazy Parallel World - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
"I didn't even know I was dealing with a gang! And what was I supposed to do!?" Ryu shot back, "Endo would've found out I was snitching, and then the whole world would know that I was smuggling drugs! Besides, it's not like I was in any position to refuse."
"So basically, what you're saying," Chiaki's face wasn't angry, but more of a disappointed frown, "is that you were so taken in by the money, you willingly put people's lives at risk. Children, no less."
Ryu froze, and Komaru gritted her teeth.
"My brother has been kidnapped, and now, lots of people, innocent or otherwise, are going to be in danger!" she glowered, forcing Toko to hold her back again, "But of course, you don't care about that, because YOU were only thinking about yourself. YOU got PAID for it!"
"I..." Ryu started, his words dying in his throat, "I-I'm sorry, I-I was only doing what I had to."
"Yeah, you were," Kaede glared at him, her voice filled with disgust, "You were willing to take money to help someone kidnap and torture innocent people. You disgust me."
"I-I had no choice!" Ryu cried, tears falling down his face, "I-I had no choice!"
"You ALWAYS had a choice. Your choice was to keep playing along with these monsters," Kaede spat, her voice cold and unrelenting, "but you had your chance to take a stand. You had a chance to do the right thing. And you didn't."
"Kaede," Kyoko raised her voice.
The pianist, and the rest of the Phantom Thieves, settled down.
"Despite her behavior, I'm afraid they're right," Kyoko's glare turned on Ryu, "You could have stopped this and saved many people, Ryu. It's because of your actions that the VCC was able to slip under our radar. Regardless of whether you were goaded into it initially or not, you are just as to blame as Endo, if not more."
Ryu recoiled slightly at Kyoko's accusation but didn't argue. She seized the moment, ready to continue her questioning. She needed to dig deeper into Ryu's involvement and uncover the full extent of the VCC's operations.
"But if you come forward with all that you know now, you might have a chance at a lighter sentence. So tell me," she said, her tone sharp, "what exactly were you transporting, and who were these "important people?" I believe my theory is correct, but I would like vocal confirmation, if you don't mind."
Ryu took a deep breath, his expression shifting to one of resignation.
"You already know the full extent of the operation. I loaded my vessel with the floating crates in advance," he explained, his voice trembling, "Then, I'd take the passengers on at the agreed time. Once we reached the location I was given, the passengers would climb into the crates, and they'd be pushed off into the water by other passengers who remained on the boat."
Kyoko's eyes narrowed as she processed his words.
"And after that?" she prompted, her pen poised over her notepad.
"At the end of the day, after working hours were over, I and those same passengers would take the same route back," Ryu continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "We'd pick up the now empty crates that had been left in the water."
Kujo leaned forward, a look of disbelief crossing her face.
"Did you know why they were getting into the crates?" he asked, his tone demanding. Ryu's gaze fell to the floor, shame flooding his features.
"The Catharsis Committee...they were indeed keeping their supplies inside the bodies of the passengers," he confessed, his voice cracking under the weight of the revelation, "I didn't want to believe it at first, but I couldn't ignore the truth any longer."
The room fell silent as the gravity of Ryu's admission settled over them. Kyoko could feel the tension in the air, a mixture of anger and disgust. The VCC's methods were more twisted than she had imagined, and now they were one step closer to uncovering the full extent of their operation.
X
"Can I ask a question?" Chiaki piped up suddenly.
"You may," Kyoko replied.
"Ryu-san," Chiaki spoke to him calmly, unlike the rest of the team, she didn't seem upset with the ferryman, "how did you eventually find out that the supplies were being carried inside the people you were ferrying?"
"Um...Endo told me himself," Ryu admitted, "I sent him a letter asking him what it was all for, and he sent one back, telling me that I was carrying his medical equipment and supplies and that the people were willing to help carry the crates and keep the supplies safe."
Chiaki pursed her lips.
"You sent him a letter?"
"Yes..."
"So you know where he is?"
"What? N-No, I don't."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure! I-I swear, I'm not lying to you!"
"Then how did you send him a letter?" the gamer girl asked, "If you didn't have an address or a phone number, then how did you get in touch with him?"
"Huh? Oh! Nonononono! You're misunderstanding!" Ryu panicked some more, "I gave a letter to one of the passengers before they got into the crates. She delivered it to Endo and then delivered it back to me the next day with his response."
"So..." Chiaki tried to piece the puzzle together, "does that mean...you never actually met Endo in person? At all?"
"No, not really," Ryu confirmed, "I just did as he said. I never asked questions. I was too afraid of him. But the letters being passed back and forth were the safest way we could communicate. They left almost no tracks."
Class Trial [Odd Edition] - Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
"So you don't even know where they're based!?" Komaru raged, her anger finally bubbling over, "I can't believe you! You're not even helpful; you're just a coward! You're a spineless, useless, gutless coward!"
"I-I-I may be all of th-those things, and I may be guilty!" Endo cried, trying to shuffle away from Komaru, not that Okiri would let him, "But while I have reason to shame, Endo and the VCC are the real masterminds b-behind this! Beating me up and torturing me won't do you any good, because I really don't know anything else!"
Komaru looked ready to pounce on him, but both Toko AND Tachibana stepped in front of her.
"We're going to need more than that," Kyoko said, "When was the last time you received a letter from Endo?"
"Last night," Ryu replied, a look of dread crossing his face, "the letter claimed that the KDA was onto me. Endo demanded I burn all the letters I had on me and the letter itself."
"What did you do?" Kyoko's voice was tense, her expression hardening.
"I...I did as he said," Ryu whimpered, "I burnt the letters and the letter I was given. I was terrified."
Kyoko sighed, rubbing her temples. The VCC's operations were becoming clearer and clearer, and their ruthlessness was making her skin crawl. They were truly the kind of people she loathed the most, using their status and power to manipulate others and get away with heinous crimes.
"I see," she said, "Anything else you can add?"
"N-No," Ryu clenched his hands, his eyes downcast, "I...I don't think I have anything more to say. I've told you everything I know."
"That's IT!?" Toko snapped desperately, "That was jack squat! You basically just repeated a bunch of shit that we already know!"
"So in the end, this interrogation yielded no new leads..." Tachibana's voice was heavy with disappointment.
"I'm sorry..." Ryu muttered, his face twisted in guilt, "I'm so, so sorry."
Kyoko could see that they had gotten as much information from the man as they were going to get. But unbeknownst to everyone else, she had already prepared herself for this outcome.
Without a word of warning, Ryu let out a shriek as Okiri firmly snatched him by the shoulders and forced him out of his chair.
"I'll toss him in a cell downstairs for now while we continue the investigation," he said, turning to leave, "We're running out of time, and we need to act fast."
The Phantom Thieves exchanged glances, a sense of defeat settling over them as they realized they weren't any closer to finding Makoto's location.
X
Just as Okiri reached the door, however, Kyoko raised her hand, a sly smile creeping across her face.
"Wait," she said, halting Okiri in his tracks, "Keep him here...Just for a little longer..."
Everyone turned to her, the mood in the room shifting once again. There was an air of uncertainty, but also of intrigue, as they waited with bated breath for her question.
Class Trial [Turbulent Edition] - Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
"Wh-What is it, Kyoko-san?" Tachibana asked.
"I've had a realization about something from Ryu's words. It wasn't fruitless after all," she said, "After all, this is the first I'm hearing that the two of you communicated through letters."
"Yes, that's correct," Ryu nodded, his eyes wide with shock, "That's what he requested. Why?"
"Look, whatever it is, you can tell us afterwards," Okiri interjected, clearly impatient to take Ryu to his cell, "Right now, we need to focus on finding this Endo person and putting an end to the VCC. I'll be back to talk about the case once I'm sure Ryu is secure."
Kyoko shook her head.
"Komaru?"
"Huh?" Komaru became alerted when she heard her name called, "Wh-What?"
"I know you have reason to despise him, but I have to wonder," Kyoko said, "looking at Ryu-san, do you get any sense of danger from him? Any bad vibes?"
Komaru looked taken aback by the question and hesitated to answer. However, a moment later, she slowly shook her head.
"Uh...well, I'm not really the best judge of character, but...no, I guess not," Komaru admitted, her anger dissipating, "Now that you mention it, he looks pretty harmless."
"I agree," Kyoko affirmed, "he's not a threat, so...why the rush, Detective Okiri?"
Okiri's brow furrowed, and his expression darkened.
"You can't be serious, Kyoko," he hissed, "You seriously want me to leave him here unsupervised with you and a bunch of teenagers?"
"I may be a teenager, but I outrank you," Kyoko calmly reminded him, much to his chagrin, "You should know that any friends I have can likely fend for themselves. Besides, there's sheer strength in numbers."
"Be that as it may, they're still civilians, and that's not a risk I'm going to take. I'm just taking my job seriously," he replied, but there was a hint of unease in his voice.
"Then keep him here in the office," Kyoko commanded, her gaze unwavering, "Something isn't right here."
The room fell silent as everyone processed her words. Kyoko leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with focus.
"We now know that Endo was aware of our investigation into him, thanks to the KDA, and thus, we're on the cusp of something far more dangerous," she said, her tone grave, "We can't afford to make any mistakes. So I must ask Ryu-san to repeat some information."
"Wh-What information?" he asked.
"You said that you communicated through letters with Endo, passed to you by his agents, and returned to him by those same agents," she replied, "Correct?"
"Yeah, that's right," Ryu said.
"And you never once received a call, a text, or any form of communication from him in the time that you knew him," Kyoko continued, "you never met with him face to face."
"Never," Ryu confirmed, "I only saw the faces of the VCC's passengers and those who would help me transport them."
"I see..." Kyoko brought a gloved finger to her chin, "Then this means that we now have a new lead."
"How?" Kujo asked. Kyoko took a deep breath, her eyes falling closed.
"Let me ask you a question," she said suddenly in the midst of the silence, "if Ryu never saw Endo's face, never met him personally, and only communicated through letters, of which have now been burned to ash without a trace...How can any of us be certain that Tokichiro Endo was really the writer of those letters?"
DISTRUST - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Silence filled the room once again. A new layer of complexity settling over the case. Kujo exchanged a glance with Tachibana, both sensing the implications of her theory.
"What are you getting at?" Tachibana asked, curiosity piqued.
"If Endo was indeed the one behind the VCC and the person Ryu-san has been communicating with, then it seems to me he would have found a way to make contact with Ryu," Kyoko explained, her words slow and deliberate, "It makes no sense that he would rely solely on letters. His job in the VCC was to meet the people who desired catharsis face to face and assess their mental state. So, to me, it seems strange that he would approach Ryu with this level of anonymity."
"Big deal! He just didn't want Ryu knowing his full identity and betraying him, right!?" Okiri snapped, "This is no different than any other crime boss. They're all shady and suspicious. They always think their partners are gonna turn on them."
"So in the midst of a case where a man who retains his name and identity in his crimes put all the evidence in places where they could be easily found and traced back to him, like the mini chemistry lab in his house, he only chose this one instance to try and cover his tracks?" Kyoko asked.
"I..." Okiri stammered, "that is..."
"Whether you want to admit it or not, the evidence we've found so far doesn't seem like Endo is trying to hide," Kyoko continued, "if anything...it's like he's trying to leave us a trail. Now, why would that be?"
"So then...what, you're suggesting that Endo's name is just a red herring? That it isn't him, but somebody else entirely?" Chiaki asked.
"Precisely," Kyoko nodded, "Ryu was instructed to burn the letters, which conveniently removes any evidence that Endo was involved in these transactions. But in the grand scheme of things, he still used his real name and kept the materials in his house, where he could easily be exposed at any time. Besides, I already knew Endo was a scout for the VCC, so there was no need for him to hide his name and face from me. I've met him before, and if the VCC's goal was to taunt me into chasing them, hiding his identity would be pointless."
"It is...strange...now that you mention it..." Shuichi chimed in, "No one has seen Endo himself near his own run-down home, despite it being used as a miniature lab for producing the sedative. It doesn't add up."
"Actually, that's another thing," Kyoko added, her tone serious, "The lab in the basement of Endo's old house seemed far too uncanny. The amount of equipment down there wouldn't even be enough to produce a single vial of the sedative. It's as if someone planted it there to mislead investigators into thinking Endo was developing and transferring tools and supplies."
"So...you're saying...?" Kujo's eyes narrowed as she struggled to understand Kyoko's meaning.
"It's possible that the lab was set up by somebody else to make us think Tokichiro Endo was behind this whole thing," Kyoko said, "The real lab is somewhere more suitable, somewhere that could actually facilitate their operations."
"Wh-What!?" Ryu cried, "You mean...th-the person who was sending me letters this whole time...wasn't actually Endo-san!?"
"It appears not," Kyoko nodded.
"No! No way! It has to be him!" Okiri argued, his patience finally wearing thin, "There's no way this could be anybody else. He's cropped up at every step of this investigation! The lab, the house, the sedative, the VCC. Every time we turn around, there he is!"
"But if Kyoko's theory is right, then that was intentional," Tachibana interjected, "It would mean this whole time, we've been chasing shadows...!"
"Exactly," Kyoko confirmed, crossing her arms, "The setup at Endo's place was too convenient. It served as a perfect cover-up. And not just that...at every point of the way, we've been unknowingly steered in a single direction..."
She paused for but a moment...
A Dead End to the Ocean's Aroma - Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
"And now that I've uncovered this new information, I have a strong feeling we've been lured into a trap."
"A trap?" Okiri and Tachibana exchanged wary glances.
"By who?" Monomi asked. Kyoko leaned back in her chair, her gaze distant as she contemplated the implications of their situation.
"I can't shake this feeling," she began, her voice low, "The Victim Catharsis Committee kidnapped Makoto because they wanted to get to me. But if they've been hiding in the shadows for all these years, they've had ample time to act."
The room fell silent as the weight of her words sank in. Kaede furrowed her brow, sensing the dark turn in the conversation.
"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously. Kyoko continued, her tone steady but heavy with concern.
"I've always kept my distance, never letting anyone get too close, as you've all seen from my conduct today. It was a necessary part of my work," she explained, "but now, I can't help but think that the Committee has been waiting for this exact moment. Waiting for any sign of someone I care about...someone they could use against me. And they found that in Makoto."
Kaede's expression shifted from confusion to horror as the realization dawned on her.
"You're saying they've been watching you?" she asked, "For how long?"
"Long enough. The Kirigiri Detective Agency was founded after the end of the first Duel Noir, and with it, the fall of the Detective Library," Kyoko replied, her voice dropping to a whisper, "For them to know who to target, they must have been monitoring me for quite some time, at least from that point onwards..."
"Are you suggesting that one of us..." Shuichi started, his voice trailing off as the implications hit him.
Kyoko nodded, her expression grim.
"It's possible...that someone within the Kirigiri Detective Agency is a spy for the VCC...and always has been," she unveiled, "They could have been feeding information to the Committee all along, waiting for this exact moment to strike."
Everyone turned to each other, their expressions hardening, as they were forced to consider the possibility of betrayal.
"You...you can't be serious, can you?" Okiri asked, his brow furrowing, "There's no way anyone could have infiltrated our agency! We're meticulous, and our recruitment process is airtight!"
"I understand your skepticism," Kyoko replied, her gaze fixed firmly on her three detectives, "and yet, I still don't have a plausible explanation for what I know."
"B-But, Kyoko-san," Tachibana interjected, "even if we have a spy among us, wouldn't that just mean we need to be more careful moving forward? If what you said was true, and the founding of the agency lines up with the Duel Noir's end, it means that this VCC spy could have been with us from the very moment the agency was founded!"
"And I believe that to be the case," Kyoko, to his surprise, smirked, "it's quite a bold and risky move, and the person responsible is clearly an expert at hiding their true intentions.
It was only now that the Phantom Thieves realized the exact reason why Kyoko had kept them at such a distance.
This whole time, she'd been right. This situation was insane. Far too insane for their liking. Even with their Metaverse abilities, none of them were trained professionals like her. There was no way they could have foreseen this.
"This is the only reason I allowed all of you into the agency today," Kyoko continued, gesturing to Ryu, "to draw out the traitor or traitors. If they're really here, they'll want you out of the picture. I'm sure they'll do something, whether it's by leaking information or sabotaging the investigation in some way. If they do anything, I'll know."
"I..." Ryu's face went blue.
His wasn't the only one. Kujo's breathing quickened as the realization of a potential traitor settled in the air like a thick fog.
"One of us...has been feeding information...to our enemies the moment we all started at this agency," she panted, her voice rising in panic, "How can we trust anyone now...?"
New Classmate of the Dead - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
"We can't waste time worrying about that," Okiri, growing increasingly frustrated, slammed his hand on the table, "We need to catch Endo as soon as possible. He's the key to everything!"
Kyoko interjected calmly, her gaze steady.
"I already told you, Detective Okiri. We can't be sure that Endo is the mastermind behind this," she said, "In fact, I would argue the opposite. This could have been set up to make us believe that he was."
"How are you so sure!? Everything is pointing directly to him!" Okiri shot back, his voice sharp. "You've been chasing shadows, Kyoko. We need to act! NOW!"
"Hey!" Shuichi snapped, "Detective Okiri! What's gotten into you!? Why are you talking to her like that!?"
Okiri didn't respond, instead turning to Kyoko, who met his stare head-on.
"You think that Endo might not be the one responsible, but he's still a dangerous man, and he's STILL OUT THERE!" Okiri's grip tightened on Ryu's arm, "You don't have any evidence proving his innocence! We should be locking this guy up and taking him straight to his cell, not sitting around in an office discussing the case. The longer he's loose, the more dangerous this is going to get!"
Everyone was shocked into silence. Okiri's outburst had taken even Kyoko by surprise. But rather than show signs of worry, her gaze softened.
"Detective Okiri, I'm not dismissing the dangers," she replied, her voice quiet, "I understand how you feel. You want to bring Endo in and get to the bottom of this.But...the truth is...you're wrong about something."
"Wrong?" Okiri's voice became dramatically quiet, "What are you talking about? About Endo not being responsible for all this?"
Taking a deep breath, Kyoko pulled out her phone, her expression serious.
X
"The truth is...Endo is NOT out there," she said, "He never was."
"What!?" Okiri shouted.
"Kyoko, what are you talking about?" Toko frowned.
The detective unlocked her phone and pulled up a message, reading it aloud for everyone to hear.
Class Trial [Revival Edition] - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
"I have some more evidence I didn't show anyone else," she said, "On my phone here, I have a small note that I'm going to read out. It was just sent to me."
"B-By who!?" Shuichi exclaimed.
"Patience," Kyoko's expression remained neutral, but her hands shook slightly. She cleared her throat and began to read...
To whoever may find this,
As I pen these final words, I reflect on the life I have led and the choices I have made..
I understand, or rather, I have always understood that what we did—what I did—was wrong in the eyes of the world. We manipulated pain, took advantage of broken souls, and pushed people to seek revenge in the darkest ways imaginable. We weren't offering true catharsis, but rather, a path to destruction.
And yet, even as I acknowledge that, I do not regret my actions.
Throughout my time with the VCC, I scouted individuals who had lost everything. People devastated by the hands of others, by a system that failed them, or by the harshness of life itself. I, on behalf of the Victim Catharsis Committee offered them the opportunity to exact the justice they craved, the revenge they believed would give them peace of mind. Whether it was a parent mourning a child, a sibling avenging their family, or someone seeking vengeance for the betrayal of a loved one, it didn't matter. They all carried the same fury, the same hollow ache in their hearts.
It was through that anger that I found my purpose. I gave them the means to reclaim their strength, to take matters into their own hands. I did not care for morality; I only cared that they found peace, even if it was fleeting and steeped in blood.
For many of them, the revenge they sought was the only way they could face the next day. If their souls were already consumed by hatred, why not give them a release? A path to end their suffering, even if it left destruction in its wake?
I knew what I was doing was wrong, but for every life I helped ruin, I saw another person find the solace they so desperately needed. That made it worth it to me.
I was never one to let people know how I truly felt, but now that my time is limited, I wish to speak plainly. I'm an old man, and throughout all of my life, ever since I was a child, I didn't believe in the system. I didn't believe in justice through laws or courts. Those institutions had failed so many, and I wasn't about to let people like them be forgotten.
The Committee gave them what they couldn't find elsewhere. An outlet, a chance for revenge.
And if they left the world a little more broken after achieving that, then so be it. At least they felt some control before the end.
Even now, I do not regret my part in this.I will die knowing that I offered people a choice, a way to reclaim their stolen agency. That, to me, is worth whatever condemnation may await me in the afterlife.
To those who read this, know that I am not asking for forgiveness. My hands are stained beyond redemption, and I accept that. But if you understand anything about me, know that I never acted out of cruelty or spite. I believed, foolishly, perhaps, that in helping people exact their revenge, I was offering them a twisted form of peace.
My time is over, but the scars I've left behind remain. Perhaps one day, someone will pick up the pieces of what we've shattered and build something better. But until then, I leave you with the truth of who I was: a man who believed that revenge could heal, even when it destroyed.
- Endo, Tokichiro
Kyoko slowly lowered the phone, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was deathly silent.
"Th-This is..." Ryu stammered.
"What does this mean!?" Okiri snapped, his expression dark.
"Sympathetic in nature," Kyoko sighed quietly, "addressing anybody who bothered to listen, who had fallen victim to the circumstances surrounding him. This is most certainly within Tokichiro Endo's M.O..."
"Wait..." Toko's eyes widened in recognition as she absorbed every word, "What you just read was...It sounded awfully like a will and testament."
"Precisely," Kyoko confirmed.
"Wh...What is the meaning of this?" Kaede whispered, "Kyoko...please, explain what's going on!"
X
"If this letter is authentic, then I can finally conclude the truth of the matter," Kyoko explained, allowing a heavy silence to fill the room before dropping the bombshell, "Tokichiro Endo is not the mastermind...because he has been dead for many years. The Victim Catharsis Committee died with him."
Silence.
The entire room fell completely silent.
Then, after several seconds, the silence was broken by the sound of Okiri's fist slamming the wall, making the petrified Ryu scream.
Wonderful Story - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
"Enough with the lies!"
"It's not a lie," Kyoko responded calmly, "I can show you the image itself. You'll find no trace of editing."
Shock rippled through the group as her words sank in. Kujo's jaw dropped, while Tachibana looked between Kyoko and the others in disbelief.
"I...I-It's not a lie?" Shuichi managed to gasp, his face paling, "But how!?"
"Kyoko," Kaede asked, "are you sure about this? Endo has been dead this whole time?"
"He was already an old man by the time I investigated the Duel Noir," Kyoko explained, "I was 10 or 12 when that happened. That's not a long time, sure, but he was still old enough for his hair to turn grey."
Kaede shook her head in disbelief.
"If Endo is dead...then that explains why I couldn't find his name when I searched the MetaNav...!" she said quietly, so only the Phantom Thieves around her could hear her.
"So, all this time...we've been looking for a man who's not even alive!?" Monomi shook her head, trying to process the information.
"Where did you get that evidence, Kyoko!?" Okiri's frustration boiled over, his fist clenched tightly on Ryu's shoulders, "Why didn't you tell anyone else? This could have helped us!"
His voice was a mixture of anger and desperation, while Kyoko met his gaze with an unwavering calmness that only unsettled him further.
"I received the will and other pieces of evidence directly from the VCC's hideout...Or at least one of them," she stated, each word measured and deliberate.
"So...You know where their hideout is!?"
"I'm afraid not. I've yet to trace the end of the line and find out, but..." Kyoko pocketed her phone, "I'm afraid the VCC heavily underestimated me...AND heavily underestimated my friends..."
X
The room fell silent as the implication sank in. Hajime's eyes widened as realization washed over him, a slow smile creeping onto his face.
"Wait... you mean...!"
Kyoko nodded, her expression serious yet tinged with a hint of admiration.
Climax Reasoning - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
[EARLIER THAT SAME DAY...]
"You think somebody is stalking you?" Kyoko asked Makoto as she polished off the lunch he'd bought her.
"Yes," Makoto answered, nodding his head, "for a while now."
"Makoto..."
"I understand it must sound ridiculous, and I can't exactly prove it myself, but it's just a feeling," Makoto replied, his gaze fixed firmly on his face, "At first, I thought it was the Steering Committee at Hope's Peak, but if they'd really caught onto my identity, there's no way they wouldn't have grabbed me by now. I mean, we just got back in school, and I've been there for most of the summer anyway."
"You're right," Kyoko nodded, "As things stand, I doubt the Steering Committee has caught onto your true identity. So, the question remains, who could be targeting you?"
"That's what I've been trying to figure out," Makoto answered, leaning back in his chair, "I didn't know if you had any ideas, but there's something I've noticed. They only seem to follow me whenever I come to and fro from here."
Kyoko lifted her head.
"I was worried, because I thought they might be after you too," he continued, "but you haven't been followed, have you?"
Kyoko shook her head.
"No, nothing like that."
"Good," Makoto let out a sigh of relief, "I was hoping that would be the case."
Kyoko looked at the copious amounts of VCC-related files and evidence on her desk, drumming it quietly as she pondered her options.
"Hm...Maybe it's them?" she suspected.
"Who?" Makoto asked, before he reminded himself of the files on her desk, "You mean...?"
"It's just a guess," she said, "I can't be sure...But if the Victim Catharsis Committee has somehow become aware that I'm chasing them, maybe they're looking for a way to take me out before I can reveal their identities. In that case, they'd want to find out all they could about me, which would lead them to you. It makes sense..."
"So they're targeting me," he said, "because they think we're close?"
"Aren't we?" Kyoko asked, "Even though I swore I wouldn't let anyone else in my life after what happened to my partner, I let you in. So, yes, they may see us as close."
"Oh..." Makoto's cheeks turned red, "Well, thank you."
"It's not something you should be thanking me for," Kyoko said, "You're in considerable danger if they decide to act."
"I guess so," Makoto sighed, "Doesn't this mean that you need to act before they act before you act?"
"You could put it simpler," she chuckled, "but I'm afraid there's no way I can go about it that doesn't endanger you even a little...In fact..."
"In fact, what?" he asked.
"In fact, I don't think this is a safe place for you anymore," she said, "They'd have to be watching me closely to know of our connection. And since this is the first place they'll look for you, it's not safe."
"So you think that we might be being watched right now?" his eyes quickly scanned the office, looking for potential signs of an intruder.
"There's no way I can confirm that, but I'd say the chances are fairly high," she affirmed, "I don't know who yet, but someone in the agency is leaking information to our enemies. We can't afford to risk it."
She rested her arm on the desk and her head in her hands.
"I don't like the feeling of being stumped," she admitted, "I'm not sure what I'm going to do to keep you safe, but I will do everything in my power to stop them."
However, Makoto's face lit up.
"I think I have an idea," he said, "How about you let me go home by myself? If they're really following me, they might try to strike."
She lifted her head, her eyes wide with surprise.
"You're saying...?" she said slowly.
" If you can't think of a way to take these guys down without putting me in danger... " Makoto grinned connivingly, " why not just put me in danger? If these guys kidnap me and take me back to their base, it's not going to be hard for you to follow. Plus, I could break out of wherever they hold me and send you direct evidence. Then, all you have to do is investigate the ensuing case, get as much information as you can, and keep an eye out for the spy on the scene. That way, we'll gain the advantage before they even realize it."
Kyoko paused as she considered his proposal.
"Makoto..." she said quietly, "it's dangerous...We could get hurt, and you're not experienced at fighting."
Makoto scoffed.
"Don't lie to me," he said, "You've thought about doing something like this once or twice. Remember that thing you told me about how you once covered yourself in petrol and threatened to blow yourself up to get a guy to talk? By comparison, this plan is safer than that."
"Hm, you're right," she sighed, "but if we're really going to do this, I can't let anything happen to you. You've got a family to go home to."
"And I trust that you'll bring me home," Makoto said, "plus, you have people in the force you can rely on, don't you? If this is a chance to catch the spy, I'd say we should take it."
Kyoko shook her head, drumming the desk thoughtfully. Makoto's expression became tense and serious, and he suddenly opened his mouth with some words that caught her by surprise.
"Can you take off your gloves?"
Heartless Journey - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
She blinked, her lips pursed in thought, before her slender fingers peeled back the latex and allowed him to look at her bare, charred, burnt-looking skin.
"You know I'm self-conscious about it..." she reminded him with a frown.
Calmly, he reached over and placed his hands onto hers, holding them gently and reassuringly.
"This is part of who you are. Your hands, they're not something you need to be ashamed of. They're not a flaw. They're a symbol of your strength," he told her, "but neither of us can deny the only reason they are this way is because some bad people got to you, and they're still out there somewhere."
"Makoto..."
"The Phantom Thieves' job is to protect people from criminals and monsters who hide in the shadows and get away with their crimes. If it means I can bring you your own catharsis against these bastards, then I don't mind the danger," he declared.
His grip on her hands tightened, and his eyes burned with a determined light.
"We can help each other."
Kyoko smiled warmly at him, her expression softening.
"You're right," she said quietly, "but remember...There's no backing out once we commit to this plan. It could get pretty risky."
"I'll follow your lead," Makoto replied, "just promise me one thing..."
"What's that?"
"Whatever happens," he told her, "you and I will always make it home safe, together."
He looked up at her, his eyes wide and hopeful.
"Okay?"
Kyoko nodded, a gentle smile on her lips.
"Yeah...together."
Makoto blushed, realizing his hands were still holding hers. He quickly broke the contact, turning away to hide his blushing face, as Kyoko pulled her gloves back on.
"Well, now that's decided," Kyoko chuckled, "I'll call in reinforcements. I'll get a hold of a trusted contact, and we'll get everything prepared. Remember, do not let anybody know about this. Not a word to your friends. And remember...this will be very dangerous. I will do everything I can to ensure you're not in harm's way, but if things go wrong, they could kill you."
"I risk my life every day I so much as dip my toes into the Metaverse," he smirked, "I live for this shit."
Kyoko let out a laugh.
"Someone's confident," she said.
"If it helps you and takes these guys down," Makoto shrugged, "I'll do it a hundred times over."
"Well, hopefully, you won't have to." Kyoko stood up and reached for her phone, "Keep safe out there."
Discussion {HOPE VS DESPAIR}- Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
[BACK IN THE PRESENT...]
"Y-You've gotta be SHITTING ME!?" Okiri cried as Kyoko finished her recounting.
"No way!" Komaru's jaw dropped.
"I can't believe it," Shuichi said, shaking his head in disbelief, "Makoto knew from the beginning that the VCC was after him!?"
"Makoto was never kidnapped. Not in the way the VCC hoped he was, at least," Kyoko detailed, "He's been playing the long game. Both of us knew the VCC would come after him because they wanted to use him as bait to lure me in."
"Are you saying he agreed to let himself be kidnapped!?" Ryu asked, disbelief written all over his face.
"Yes," Kyoko confirmed, her voice unwavering, "Since he got taken, he's broken out on his own, but all day, he's been gathering evidence from the inside to expose them once and for all. And he knew I would come for him."
"But that's so dangerous!" Komaru gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in shock, "He could have been hurt or-!"
"Or worse!" Tachibana interrupted, still trying to wrap his head around the situation, "Makoto-kun is just an innocent civilian who should have had no part in this! You're saying he did all of this on purpose? For you?"
"Yes," Kyoko replied, her voice steady, "all of you...his friends...we detectives...and the Victim Catharsis Committee...all made one crucial mistake that has brought everything crashing down.Everyone involved in this case underestimated Makoto Naegi and the lengths he would go to for justice."
She took a deep breath, allowing her emotions to surface for a moment.
"The VCC ruined my life and took away everyone I cared about," she said, her gaze darkening into something almost...lethal, "I will not let them do it again. I will crush them into paste if that's what it takes to keep Makoto safe."
The intensity in her voice resonated in the room, and the others took a moment to compose themselves, stunned into silence.
"This is insane," Shuichi said, finally managing to get his words out, "even I didn't expect this level of commitment from Makoto-senpai."
"Being a Phantom Thief sure has given him a big head..." Monomi whispered.
X
"Okay...So now what?" Okiri asked, still holding tightly to Ryu, who tried to shake him off, but that only made his grip tighter, "How are we gonna get him back? Is he even coming back?"
However, Kyoko turned her lethal gaze onto Okiri, causing him to flinch.
"What?" he asked.
"I believe you owe me an apology," she uttered, "You've been acting panicked all this time, trying to take the reins on this case, forcing us to act as quickly as possible without hearing me out, and yet now, you're acting calm and composed. How do you explain that?"
"Huh?" Okiri froze, the others suddenly turning to face him, their eyes full of suspicion.
"She's right," Kujo nodded, "You at least owe an apology."
"Okay then, I'm sorry," he sighed, "There, I apologized. Now can we go back to Makoto?"
Rise of the Ultimates - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
"Actually, no," Kyoko folded her arms, "I'm afraid that's not quite good enough. You see...I think there's more to your little panic attack than a mere concern for Makoto."
"What?" he asked, "What do you mean now!?"
"Throughout this investigation, I noticed something...interesting," Kyoko continued, and everyone could tell she was gearing up to drop another bombshell, "You've always been one step ahead of us since the beginning of this case. You've been on the scene before I arrived, feeding us preconceived notions and guiding our investigation. You even introduced us to Ryu as a witness."
"Well, yeah, but..." Okiri stammered, "You told me to, didn't you?"
"Maybe, but your astuteness today has been beyond what you've shown before. Not that I'm mocking your previous commitment to your job, but...there's more to it," Kyoko continued, "whenever I would say something or ask a question, you would get extremely defensive and immediately shut down any ideas you didn't agree with.This isn't the first case that this has happened, so I put it down to a clash of personalities, but it became clear that the only way we would make progress was when we worked alone."
"The tourist yachts that cross the river daily. Those are the key," she began, "They carry large numbers of people and have lower decks capable of holding substantial cargo. The crates we found at the warehouse weren't loaded onto a random boat; they were taken aboard one of these yachts and dropped into the water partway through the journey."
Okiri shook his head almost immediately.
"The river police would've caught on fast if cargo as overt as those crates was being loaded onto a public yacht, Kirigiri-sama," he stated, "There's no way something that blatant would've gone unnoticed. The logs say as much."
"The VCC would have placed empty crates onto the yacht to avoid suspicion," she declared, "it was only once the yacht was out in the middle of the river that they filled the crates with the sedative."
"That still doesn't explain how they managed to sneak the substance onto the yacht in the first place," Okiri argued. "It's impossible for the culprit to slip past security and into a crowd with something as dangerous as that sedative. The entire boat would've been alerted."
"That's just coincidence, Kirigiri," he said, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead, "Look, I said I was sorry. I got too heated and too serious. I just wanted to help-"
But Kyoko's voice cut through the air with an icy calmness.
"You wanted to help?" she parroted, "Or did you want to lead us down a specific path?"
"Alright, what gives!?" Okiri exclaimed, "Where is this coming from!? Why do I feel like I'M the one being interrogated!?"
"Your behavior has been strange from the very start," Kyoko answered, "I had an inkling of what you might have been, but I was certain when I realized something.Not only have you repeatedly drawn attention to the idea of Tokichiro Endo being the mastermind behind everything...but you were the one who originally enforced the idea..."
"Well then, that settles it, doesn't it?" Okiri broke the silence, his brow furrowing in thought.
"Huh? What is?" Kujo asked.
"Okay, maybe I'm jumping the gun on this, but..." he tried to explain, "if they're using this sedative again,we have to consider that Tokichiro Endo might be behind it."
"Why Endo specifically?" Tachibana asked.
"Well, he was the scout in charge of tracking "Victims" and "Culprits" for the Duel Noir cases, right?" Okiri asked, "Even if he didn't do so himself, his team would probably be the ones responsible for administering this drug during the previous Duel Noir cases."
She took an almost threatening step towards him.
"You brought up that argument repeatedly," she continued, "even though...I only confirmed with Detective Tachibana that he was one of my suspects..."
Okiri's face paled, and the color drained from his face.
"No...I've been trying to take the VCC down this whole time!" he said, "I am DOING what I CAME to this agency to DO!"
"I don't doubt that. ANY of that," Kyoko enforced, "but the real question is...what DID you come to this agency to do...Akuma...?"
Discussion {MIX} - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Just like that, Okiri's demeanor changed, and the others watched on in horror as his expression shifted from nervous to enraged.
"Wh-What did...you...just call me...?"
His voice was cold, and his glare was lethal. But everyone else was similarly confused.
"Akuma?" Hajime repeated, "Who, or what, is Akuma?"
"I refer to Detective Okiri's real identity, one he's hidden from us since the moment he walked into the doors of this agency," Kyoko explained, "His real name...isAkuma Endo..."
The room went deathly silent, tension palpable as sweat trickled down Akuma's face. His expression shifted from surprise to a mix of fear and panic, and the weight of Kyoko's revelation hung heavily in the air.
"What...What are you talking about?" he stuttered, desperately searching for a way to deflect her accusation.
"Endo?" Tachibana parroted, "Like...Tokichiro Endo?"
"You mean there's some kind of connection between these two?" Toko accusatorily pointed towards Okiri.
"H-Hold on a damn second!" Okiri snapped, "This just got dropped in out of nowhere! Why are you morons believing her so damn easily!?"
"Who are you calling morons!?" Komaru spat.
"YOU, obviously!" he retorted, "So what, she can just say whatever she likes to you, and you immediately agree with it!? Do you have ANY CLUE what she's accusing me of here!?"
"There was more to what Makoto found in the VCC's secret base than just Endo's will," Kyoko took a step back, her voice steady but charged with intensity as she prepared to reveal the truth, "The real story behind Tokichiro Endo is more twisted than any of us could have imagined. As it turns out...he wasn't a single man. At least, not at one point."
"He had a family," Chiaki affirmed, realizing where this was going.
"Yes," Kyoko affirmed, "a wife and a single son. Regrettably, many years ago, his wife passed away from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease...and his son..."
She lifted her gaze, once again focusing on Okiri, whose entire body seemed to be trembling, his breathing heavy and strained.
"...is standing right in front of us all, right now..."
And with that, the pieces fell into place, and the entire group turned towards the young detective.
"No...way..." Monomi murmured, her eyes wide with shock.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Ryu shook his head, "Y-You mean that the person who was really writing me those letters-!?"
"This entire time, all communications between Ryu, the Kirigiri Agency, and the Victim Catharsis Committee were orchestrated by Akuma. This whole investigation was like a stage show that he'd scripted," Kyoko declared, "Ultimately...he's the one responsible for Makoto's kidnapping."
"It was YOU!?" Komaru shouted, her expression contorted with anger, "YOU are the reason Makoto got taken!? Why, you son of a-!"
"Hold on!" Chiaki shot to her feet before Komaru could do anything she regretted, "There's something that doesn't make any sense!"
Nightmare in the Locker - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
"And that would be?" Tachibana asked.
"Even if he is somehow related to Endo, Okiri-ah...Akuma...still worked to arrest Ryu. Sure, we could say he was planning to silence him or something, but he still dragged him in here when that would have been disadvantageous for him," the gamer explained, "and Kyoko...You said you didn't doubt that Okiri was helping you, right?"
"Yeah, you DID say that!" Okiri exclaimed, "So what gives!? You twisting the knife on me, Kirigiri!?
"I do have a soft spot for him, though I was still suspicious. His behavior today was just far too erratic," Kyoko explained, "I think you're misunderstanding where his loyalty truly lies."
"Please tell me that Naegi found something in that dump that proves my innocence?" he pleaded, not releasing Ryu despite the circumstances
"If you'll be patient with me, I actually do have something he sent me that drew my interests," she said, "another letter, supposedly by Endo."
"Well?" Tachibana leaned in, "Let's hear it."
Kyoko took out her phone and brought up a photo of the letter, which she once again read to the room.
The time is near. I have scouted the necessary individuals, each filled with the pain we've cultivated, and they are ready to deliver the revenge we seek. Our cause has never been about justice, but about giving those wronged a chance to reclaim control.
The Kirigiri Agency remains a threat, but I have an asset feeding them misinformation. Soon, they too will fall. Our true aim, however, is to reignite the Duel Noir. Chaos will expose those who hide behind false justice, while we will rise, offering true catharsis through vengeance.
Prepare yourselves. We've already won. Wait for my signal.
-Tokichiro Endo
"Wait, so the VCC already scouted out their targets beforehand?" Komaru realized, "But we haven't been able to find any records of anyone else other than Makoto being targeted."
"No, that's not right!" Shuichi exclaimed, "That letter is from Tokichiro Endo, but we already uncovered that Endo is dead! That means this letter-!"
"Like the letters sent to Ryu, it's most likely a forgery," Kyoko said.
"And...presumably from the same person?" Kujo's shocked gaze turned on Okiri again.
"What the hell're you looking at!?" he spat.
"Why would Okiri send the VCC a fake letter?" Kaede asked, "I'm not following."
"I think it's pretty simple," Kyoko unveiled, "It's because Akuma was manipulating the VCC under the guise of Tokichiro Endo, just as he did for us under the guise of Detective Okiri."
"But why?" Hajime asked, "I thought he was leading them?"
"No. Looking at this letter, it explains something that's been bugging me. No matter what might have happened, not much remains of the VCC today. Only embers of a fire that has long since died down," Kyoko glanced at her phone again before pocketing it, "The people still with the organization are a couple of stragglers, desperate to cling to their cause."
"And that's what Akuma was waiting for, right?" Shuichi realized, "All the other members had died or abandoned their mission. All he needed was a small handful of followers, and then he could do whatever he wanted. So he could restart the Duel Noir?"
"You don't know WHAT you're talking about!" Okiri began to become more and more erratic.
"A-Ah...C-Can someone please help me?" Ryu pleaded, but as he struggled, Okiri got him in a headlock.
"You aren't going ANYYYYWHEEEERE motherfucker...!" he hissed.
"Yes," Kyoko affirmed, "however, it's worth noting that this Duel Noir he planned isn't for anyone's catharsis but his own."
"Meaning?" Toko asked.
"Meaning,Akuma's true aim was to ignite conflict between our organizations, the Kirigiri Agency and the Victim Catharsis Committee," she explained, pointing a finger at him, "He wanted both sides to tear each other apart, finalizing the twisted legacy of his father, who abandoned him and his mother...all so he could watch every trace of it all burn to ash..."
"And he didn't care if innocent people died because of it..." Monomi concluded, "including innocent civilians like Makoto..."
Tachibana and Kujo exchanged incredulous glances, struggling to process the revelation.
"No, it can't be true," Tachibana pleaded, turning to Okiri, "You have to refute this! You can't be part of something so heinous!"
"Who...Who ARE you!?" Tachibana demanded, "What happened to the young man we used to know!?"
"We never really knew him, did we, Tachibana-san?" Shuichi replied, "He was always pretending."
X
But just like that, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically as Akuma's expression morphed from anger to desperation.
In a swift, chaotic motion, he drew a gun from beneath his shirt and pressed it against Ryu's head, dragging him towards the door.
Objection {CROSS SWORD} - Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
"AAAGH!" Ryu screamed, "NONONONO! HELP ME! I DON'T WANNA DIE!"
"Stop!" Kujo cried, "Don't you dare, or you'll pay the consequences!"
"You think I care!?" Akuma spat, his eyes wild, "Do you think I give a SHIT about him!?YOU THINK I GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ANY OF YOU!? I just need this fucker to keep his mouth SHUT!"
"Please...just put the gun down," Tachibana begged, his voice breaking, "This isn't you, Okiri."
"Wrong! Haha!" he began to grow more and more delirious as the firearm quivered in his hand, "This is who I've ALWAYS been! Right, oh dear Kyoko-sama!? I'm nothing but a heinous monster, just like my father, RIIIIIIGHT!?"
The room fell into stunned silence, everyone frozen in shock.
"Damn you, KIRIGIRI! DAMN YOU" he shouted, his voice thick with rage, his eyes focused on her like a pair of sharp, deadly knives, "Why can't you just die!? You've ruined EVERYTHING!"
"What're you gonna do?" Kyoko asked, her calm expression contrasting his enraged one, "Kill us all? The circumstances have not changed, so let me say it again. The suspect is clearly outnumbered."
"You think you're SO clever, don't you? Always a step ahead!" he thrust the gun closer to Ryu's temple, who trembled beneath the threat, "Well guess what!? I'M the one with the hostage here, so you better back the FUCK off! Maybe this is the end of the line for me, but THIS SCRUB'S life is still in your hands! If he dies,IT'S! ON! YOOOOUUUU!"
"Let Ryu go, and then we'll talk," she ordered.
"I'm not doing shit until you back the FUCK up!" he demanded.
"I'm not moving until you release Ryu," she repeated.
"Just let him go already!" Komaru shouted, her voice trembling with anger and fear, "Why did you kidnap Makoto? What do you want from us!?"
*BANG!* *BANG!*
"AAGGH!"
"KOMARU!"
In a terrifying display of power, Akuma shot the ground just in front of her, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. Toko instinctively yanked Komaru back, both of them wide-eyed in shock.
"Shut up!" Akuma roared, his fury boiling over, "None of this would have happened...If not for him...If it hadn't been for HIM!"
Kyoko noticed that Akuma had barred the door and locked it, so even if gunshots had been heard, no one was breaking into the office easily. Even if they could somehow knock it down, Akuma still had the opportunity to put a few bullets into her and her friends before that happened.
The situation wasn't looking good.
"If it hadn't been for whom?" Kyoko asked, remaining calm, "Tokichiro? Your father?"
"People looked towards that man like he was a mysterious and powerful genius," Akuma hissed, "They praised his vision and his work. But he's NONE of that! He is NOTHING MORE than a piece of shit dad who cared more about the VCC's legacy...than HIS OWN FUCKING SON!"
Ryu whimpered some more as Akuma shoved the gun deeper into his head, enough to leave a mark from the barrel.
"When my mother died, I thought it was the end of the world, but it was only the beginning," His face was pale, and he was clearly unhinged, "the truth is...my whole life has been a series of endless trials, and my father was the one who sentenced me to them! But no one remembers the Duel Noir! No one remembers the victims of the cases! No one read those stories! My life suffered, and nobody gave a shit!"
"Is THAT what you're doing this for?" Kyoko, disappointed in him, shook her head, "All of this, just for spite?"
"No..." he grinned maliciously, "CATHARSIS!"
He pulled the gun away from Ryu briefly. Then, with his arm outstretched, he aimed it directly at Kyoko.
"And you, Kyoko Kirigiri...! You're just as bad!" he spat, "Moving on with your life like it never mattered! Like you're the only person that matters, pushing everyone out and remaining stone-cold, like you know what suffering is!"
"Don't you dare...!" Tachibana warned him, but he clearly wasn't listening. He glared at her, his finger tapping against the trigger ominously.
"This has been years in the making!" he spat violently, "Before I even joined your precious widdle agency, I was plotting this! Your life, and the life of your grandfather, were always MINE TO TAKE!"
"Your actions are twisted!" Shuichi shot back, trying to regain control of the situation, "You think you're above us, but you're no better than the VCC OR your father!"
"Shut your fucking shit-guzzling little mouth!" Akuma screamed, his voice echoing in the small office. He swung the gun towards Shuichi, then back to Ryu, terror and madness dancing in his eyes, "I'll shoot anyone who moves! YOU THINK I'M AFRAID OF A LITTLE BLOOD!?"
The Phantom Thieves stood in a tense standoff, their resolve tested by Akuma's volatile state. The room crackled with anticipation, each breath heavy with the weight of potential violence as they struggled to find a way to defuse the situation. The stakes had never been higher, and every second felt like an eternity as they waited for Akuma to make his next move.
REAL • FICTION - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Kyoko took a steadying breath, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. In a low, resolute voice, she addressed Akuma.
"You think the Duel Noir was just some game to me?" she glowered quietly, "It changed my life forever. You think I've moved on, but I never forget what happened."
Akuma shook his head in disbelief, his grip on the gun tightening.
"You're just trying to manipulate me," he spat, "trying to play the victim! I'm not falling for it!"
"No, I'm not," Kyoko said, "Trust me...It left me with more than just mental scars.
Without breaking eye contact, Kyoko slowly removed her gloves, revealing the scars that marred her hands.
Akuma's eyes widened, his pupils dilating.
"That night...I was so close. So close to saving my partner. But then...I..." she held up her left hand, the skin discolored and damaged, "I lost consciousness and woke up with these...Burned...Charred...and without warmth any longer. It's amazing my fingers even still work."
Everyone expected her to hide the scars under the gloves again...but surprisingly, Kyoko aimed and threw the studded leather lumps directly into the bin, holding her hands up again to show the young Endo the full scope of her damage.
"These scars are a reminder," she explained, her voice steady despite the vulnerability, "a reminder that I can't let anyone get too close. But it happened. I lost everything, and I've had to live with it."
The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone processed her words. The Phantom Thieves exchanged glances, understanding the depth of Kyoko's scars, both physical and emotional. Ryu, still trembling under the threat of Akuma's gun, felt the tension thicken, the air charged with unspoken emotions.
"You think that makes you special? You think you're the only one who suffered? I watched my father abandon me for his twisted dreams! I had to fight for everything!"
Despite the weight of Kyoko's confession, Akuma remained unmoved, his eyes filled with bitterness. He kept the gun pressed to Ryu's head, refusing to lower it.
"No, you're wrong," Kyoko said, "You didn't HAVE to fight for everything. It's easy to forget, but in this world, there are people who are kind to those less fortunate. All you had to do was seek them out, but you were so afraid of the world and so doubtful of everyone that you eventually chose the same path as your father, who you despised...One of erraticism...one of violence...and now you're using it as an excuse to commit atrocity after atrocity..."
Akuma stared blankly at her, the silence in the room deafening. His hands began to tremble, the gun rattling in his grip.
"L-Listen to her, Endo-kun!" Ryu whimpered beneath the gun, pleading for someone to rescue him, "Please, just let me go! I didn't do anything wrong!"
"SHUT UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Akuma snapped, his anger boiling over as he glared at Ryu. He turned back to Kyoko, fury and desperation mingling in his eyes, "You think your scars and sob-story make you better than me!? You're nothing!"
"And if you think throwing around threats makes you powerful, you're sorely mistaken!" Kyoko's anger began to rise, her charred fists clenching at her sides, "You're just another criminal coward hiding behind a gun!"
"Stop it!" Akuma shouted, his voice cracking, "STOP IT!"
But Kyoko's insults only fueled the fire, and her rage reached a tipping point.
"You're a selfish coward who hides behind his father's name and a fake identity. You think you're so smart, but you're a pathetic fool!"
"That's IT!"
X
The gun rattled in his grip, and Akuma's face contorted with anger, his voice rising in a hysterical shout.
"You wanna see how powerful I am!? I'll SHOW YOU!"
"Good..." Kyoko nodded, "NOW!"
"HIIIIYAAGH!"
*SMACK!*
"WHA-!?"
Tropical Despair - Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Kyoko yelled, her voice echoing in the cramped office. Before Akuma could react, Monomi sprang into action, leaping up with a determined shout!
She aimed a swift kick at the gun, sending it flying out of Akuma's hand! The room erupted into chaos as Kyoko seized the opportunity, charging forward with a fierce determination.
"WAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAIT!"
*SLLLAAAAAM!*
With a powerful swing, Kyoko slammed her fist into Akuma's face, knocking him to the ground with a satisfying thud!
The Phantom Thieves froze in shock, their eyes wide as they witnessed the usually composed detective unleash such raw violence.
"Holy SHIT!" Toko gasped, "Did she really just-!?"
"Yeah...she did," Shuichi confirmed.
"Ouch," Ryu winced, darting to the other side of the room to be secured (and slightly comforted) by Detective Kujo.
"I don't believe it..." Tachibana muttered.
But the surprises weren't about to end there.
Everyone watched in shock as Kyoko stomped over to Akuma and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground with ease!
"Gack! What the fuck are you!?" Akuma coughed, "Some kind of demon?"
"A detective," she growled, "a very angry one...!"
She punched him again, forcing him to spit out blood.
"GAGH!"
"A-Aren't you gonna stop her?" Komaru asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"And interrupt a woman defending her honor?" Shuichi smirked, "No thanks."
"Yeah," Hajime nodded, "feels like I should be filming this, or something."
"That's not funny, you guys..." Chiaki puffed her cheeks.
"Kyoko!" Monomi called, her eyes wide with concern, "Don't do anything you'll live to regret!
But Kyoko didn't listen. With a fiery glare, she fastened her hold on Akuma's collar, lifting him off the ground as he struggled to regain his bearings.
"I'm not going to keep asking," she threatened, her voice low and dangerous, "Where's Makoto?"
"Fuck you!" Akuma spat, blood dribbling down his chin.
"Wrong answer...!"
She hissed this, using her toe to kick Akuma's firearm towards their direction. With her free hand, she grabbed it, and smacked it into his forehead! Akuma let out a scream of pain as a mark was left behind, bleeding slightly.
"Guh! Fuck! Ow! Owwww!"
"Tell me, or you're getting ANOTHER one!" she warned, pointing the gun directly at his face.
"Ohmygodohmygod!" Monomi cried, her eyes wide, "She's really gonna shoot him!"
"No, she won't!" Kaede promised but was clearly hesitant, "She won't...right?"
Tachibana and Kujo were sure she wouldn't, but even they were shocked by her display of aggression.
"Gack! Gagck! Ughhh..."
"Tell me where he is!" Kyoko demanded, her voice low and intense, every word laced with urgency.
"You're fucking insane!" Terror flooded Akuma's features as he felt the weight of Kyoko's fierce determination bearing down on him, "I...I don't know! I swear!"
"Try again...!" Kyoko demanded, her grip tightening as she leaned in closer, her eyes fierce.
*SLAM!*
"GACK!"
He choked, the sudden blow catching him off guard as she thrust him into the floor, bashing the back of his head. He tried to squirm out of her grasp, but she was too strong, holding him firmly in place.
"WHERE IS HEEEE!?"
Kyoko's scream shook the room, the desperation in her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. She pressed her fist against Akuma's throat, the pressure making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Uggh! Alright, ALRIGHT!" Tears began to form in the corner of Akuma's eyes, his voice wavering, "I'll tell you! Just please... let me go..."
"Where is he!?" Kyoko shouted, her voice hoarse with anger.
"H-He's at the old warehouse by the docks!" Akuma stammered, his voice trembling, "Please, just let me go!"
Kyoko paused for a brief moment, her heart racing.
"Thank you," she muttered quietly...
....and in a swift motion, she headbutted him, knocking him out cold...
New World Order - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Akuma crumpled to the floor, and the room fell silent once more. The Phantom Thieves exchanged stunned glances, trying to process the unexpected turn of events.
Kyoko stood over Akuma's unconscious body, breathing heavily as she attempted to compose herself. Her face was flushed with anger, her fists clenched, wiping the blood from her forehead with her sleeve.
"What the hell just happened?" Toko was the first to break the silence, "Did Kyoko really just-"
"Yes," Tachibana interjected, his voice firm. He glanced over at the unconscious Akuma, then turned his attention back to Kyoko, his expression stern, "You shouldn't have done that."
"I didn't want to," Kyoko said, "but fear is a powerful motivator."
"Well, I'm glad you knocked him out!" Monomi said, "He would've killed us all if he had the chance."
"I hope he's telling the truth," Kaede said, her expression concerned, "I'd hate for it to be a trap."
"It's not," Kyoko stated firmly, her voice full of conviction.
"How do you know?" Hajime asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I just do," she said simply, turning her attention back to her gloves in the bin.
She gazed at them, like she wanted to pick them out and wear them again, but the look on her face told them she wouldn't.
They could stay there. For now.
"Whatever laws I've broken...it doesn't matter. I'll pay the price, no matter what. But first, we need to get him to safety," she gestured to Ryu.
"Of course," Tachibana nodded, "Ryu?"
"PLEASE just put me in a cell!" Ryu begged, "Anywhere but here!"
"Very well," Tachibana agreed, and the officers led him away.
"And him," Kyoko nodded to the unconscious Akuma, and Kujo went to drag him away, "we're leaving. We don't have time to waste. We need to get to Makoto before it's too late."
