...

"Are you awake? Wow.. that was quick. We only just got here."

Y/n lifts her head off the floor, the first thing she sees is Kokichi leaning against the wall, and she sees it's some sort of bathroom.. the bathroom.. in the Exisal hanger?

"Kokichi.. what.. what's going on?"

"I kidnapped you.. duh."

She quickly sits up. "What.!? Are you kidding me!?"

"..You know.. I thought you'd be more depressed, considering what you just saw."

"What I just-?" Then, it all hits her. "..."

"..I did say I'd stop telling lies. So, the actual reason I kidnapped you, is because you annoy me least out of everyone. If I was gonna kidnap someone to cause despair to the others, I'd kidnap the person that would piss me off least. So here you are. Aww.. how heartwarming! Now we can be best friends!"

"No.. stop it. I'm not gonna play along with whatever you're trying to do. They'll kill you.. now they know you're the mastermind.. they're all gonna kill you."

"..It's all part of my plan, Y/n L/n.. I won't be seeing you until it's actually time for the main plan. And you'll be the star of the show. So, goodbye. You're an interesting girl." He walks out and slams the door, locking it behind him.

She sits in silence and confusion for a moment, then just sighs, and sits with her knees up to her chin.

—

She doesn't know how much time's passed. A night? A day? But.. she hasn't lost hope. Even her illness is getting better. She used to be feeling sick and nauseous 24/7, but now she feels normal. And she hasn't coughed once.

'I don't know how long it's been. I think about a day or two, maybe more. I trust everyone. They're gonna get me out. I know it. I miss them though.. I hope they hurry.. I want to see them. I'm so excited to see them again, because I'm feeling so great! My sickness is gone for now, and when I see everyone again I'm gonna hug them all, I've never missed people so much, and it's only been a couple days. The more I think about it the happier I get. I'm gonna be okay! We all are.'

Y/n writes on a scrap of paper she found in her pocket. She smiles and puts it in a corner of the room. Now and again she wonders what Kokichi's doing in the other room, but she doesn't care.

"Hello.?" She hears a voice at the small window, she gasps a little, then hurries over and looks through, to see Shuichi. "Y/n.!?"

"Shuichi! You're here.!" Y/n chuckles happily. "I've missed you all so much.!"

"..We miss you too.. that's why we're saving you."

"..Saving me? When?"

"Tomorrow morning. We're all coming to save you, it was Maki's idea.. honestly.. we all had given up.. even Kaito. But Maki never even thought about giving up, she did all she possibly could to get you back."

Y/n smiles. "Thank you.. thank you all so much. I've missed everyone.. and I can't wait to see them again. Also.. one last thing.. do you think you can tell Maki something?"

"Of course.. what is it?"

"Can you tell her.. tell her that I'm proud of her, and tell her that I'm okay, my illness is better, I don't feel sick anymore, and I'm not scared anymore. I just want her know I'm alright, and also, tell her that I love her."

"..I will. Don't worry. I'll see you tomorrow, Y/n. You've been brave."

"I couldn't have asked for a better friend than you, thank you." She smiles, and Shuichi leaves.

For the next hour or so, Y/n happily sits in the corner, hopeful for tomorrow. But then.. the door opens.

"It's finally time for my plan, come on." Kokichi says, Y/n's heart drops.

"..What is your plan.?"

"You'll find out, just come on."

Y/n stands up and follows Kokichi out.

"Okay then, you just stand there." He seems so.. calm. So different from a couple days ago when she last saw him.

She knows it's dangerous to defy him, so she does as she's told. Then, Kokichi pulls out a knife.

"H-Huh!?" Y/n steps back.

"Ohh.. I'm sorry.. I forgot to mention that you dying is the first stage of my plan! Haha, silly me!" He slowly walks closer to her.

"Wait.. wait! Please.!" She keeps stepping backwards until her back hits a wall, Kokichi's too close for her to try and run.. so she's screwed.

"After all this.. all the times you were supposed to die, it ends like this. I get the honour to kill the one and only Y/n L/n.!"

"You.. don't have to do this.." Y/n says, trying to get him to back away.

"Yes. I do." He takes the knife and lifts it back, then thrusts it at full speed towards her head, but before it can hit her, the shutter door opens, they both look to see who it is, and an Exisal steps in. Kokichi reaches to get the control, but before he can.. Maki jumps out of the Exisal, and shoots Kokichi straight in the back with a crossbow.

He yells out in pain, then falls over.

"..Maki.!?" Y/n says, as Maki jumps down from the Exisal.

"I couldn't wait until morning, I'm getting you out of here now. And I finally wanted to kill Kokichi."

"You.. promised me you wouldn't kill anyone.."

"..Kokichi is hardly a person. If I kill him.. it'll all stop. You know that.. right?"

"..." Y/n just looks down.

Maki points the crossbow back to Kokichi. "I know about you. You're one of the remnants of despair, trying to continue Junko Enoshima's legacy.. but I won't let you. I'm not letting you win."

"Wh-What are you.. talking about.? Remnants of despair.. what's that.? And.. why are you starting up.. the.. the killing game again? Y-You already know that it's.. meaningless.. th-that I'm.. the mastermind.. do you really love killing.. that much?" Kokichi shakes like mad. He looks like he's trying to hide how much pain he's in, but it's obviously impossible.

"..Shut up.! You asshole!" Maki puts her finger on the trigger.

Before anyone can realise what's going on, even when he's dying he's still agile, just at the very second Maki is pulling the trigger, he knocks her hand a little, so the crossbow fires away from him...

..And into Y/n's stomach.

For a second the shock masks the pain, then she looks down. The arrow is lodged deep into her stomach.

"No.. No.. Y/n.!" Maki yells and throws the crossbow on the floor, then sprints over to her and kneels down next to her.

"Maki.. Maki.. it.. hurts.." Y/n sobs hysterically

"I-I didn't.. This isn't.. Why!? Please Y/n.. Please don't die.!" Maki even starts to cry a little

Y/n just shakes her head.

"The antidote.. Y/n.. i-it's gonna be fine.. I promised I wouldn't let you die.. just please.. hold on." Maki kisses her on the forehead, then runs out of the hangar.

Y/n gets on her feet, holding her stomach, she staggers over to the bathroom.

"Where do you think you're going.?" Kokichi says

"..Away from you.."

—

She doesn't know how much time passes. She sits with her head in her hands, trying to ignore the pain.

"Y/n.!? Can you hear me? Drink this antidote.!"

She looks up and sees Maki through the small window, she throws the glass bottle down, Y/n goes over to reach for it, but Kokichi walks in and stops the bottle with his foot, he picks it up.

"Sorry.. but I can't die here.." Kokichi says, still looking weak

"Wait! There's only one antido-" Maki calls out

"Oh, you don't have to worry about Y/n.. now she can solve the number 1 conspiracy.. of what happens after death." He smiles, then drinks the antidote. "Phew! I feel much better now. Well I guess that's a wrap.. but now, a new class trial is gonna start, and you'll be the blackened who killed Y/n."

"I.. killed Y/n?" Maki looks horrified

"No.. Maki.. it's okay.. It's alright." Y/n tries to calm Maki down.

"No.! It's not okay! You're gonna die!"

"..Don't worry.. everything will be fine.. don't be sad Maki.. I don't want you to be sad.. so run. You have to get away from here.. and you have to live a good life. For me." Y/n looks at her and smiles weakly

"Awww.. how sweet. Even when you shoot her she's trying to save you over herself. Doesn't that make you sad, Maki? Remember when she risked her life to save you from a bomb? That was when she hardly even knew you.. this whole time she's been risking everything for you.. and how do you thank her? By killing her!" Kokichi chuckles

"I.. I'm.." Maki looks lost for words

"Please.. go.. you've got to.. I'm not scared.. I'll be alright." Her voice gets quieter, she's obviously struggling to hold on

"I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry.. I.. love you." Maki says quickly, then runs off before anyone can say anything.

Kokichi pauses for a second. "Wait.. are you two.? Oh my god.! It all makes so much sense now! Everything connects! What you were talking about after the second trial.. what Korekiyo said.. why you two snuck off together out of the virtual world.."

"..Shut up."

"Wow.. you're being rude to the person who's about to save your life." He walks over to her with the antidote, which is full. He never drank it..

He hands it to Y/n, and she drinks, it tastes awful, but once she drinks it, she feels less weak.

"Well.. now we have to do something about the arrow.. hold still." He grabs onto the end of it, and she tries to stop him, but he yanks it out anyway. She shrieks in pain and quickly holds her stomach to stop the blood.

He then sits down in front of her, so they're face to face.

"I wasn't expecting this to happen.. but we can work with it. In exchange for me saving your life, you owe me. And you'll pay me back by helping me end this killing game.. and beat Monokuma."

"..No.."

"Huh?"

"I'm.. not going to help you. I don't owe you anything.."

"God! You're so annoying! Well.. I don't care if you want to help or not. You'll help wether you like it or not." He stands up and grabs her by the hair, she tries to hit him and pull his hands off, but it doesn't work. He slams her head into the metal wall, and she collapses instantly.

"Tch.. I should've known. She'll see.. I'll make it as painful as possible.. yeah.. she'll see."

Kokichi begins executing his plan. He drags her unconscious body out of the bathroom and to the hydraulic press, leaving a trail of blood. He then lifts her up just enough to get her onto the press.

He takes her shoes and places them right next to the press, everything is going well so far.. he even stole one of the cameras from Y/n's lab to use. He sets up the camera facing the press, with Y/n on it, he starts recording, and also pressing the down button on the control panel.. it slowly goes downwards. He stops it as it's just showing her arm in the camera, and he pauses recording.

He hits a problem. A problem he didn't think about. He thought Y/n would be in on helping.. but she's knocked out. Who will kill Kokichi and finish the plan.?

He has to get someone else in to help.

There's only one choice, Maki would just murder him on the spot, Shuichi would never agree, the rest of them wouldn't have the guts to kill someone.. so there's only.. Kaito.

Kokichi leaves the hangar and sneaks down to Kaito's dorm, it's the dead of night, so nobody's around to see him. He quickly writes a note.

'Come to the Exisal Hangar. Now.'

He doesn't elaborate, he just slides it under the door and goes back.

A very short while later.. Kaito arrives. Kokichi's standing outside the shutter, waiting.

"You.. You dumbass! Do you know what you're doing!?" Kaito yells

"Jeez.. calm down.. I just asked you to come here to.. help me with something."

"As if! Stop wasting my time.. I'd never help you with anything!"

"Not even for your.. precious friend?"

"..What?"

"Are you really that stupid? Did you forget about Y/n.? You wanna know what I did.? I smashed her head in.. and stabbed her with an arrow."

"Huh.!? You.. what?"

"Oh don't worry.. she's not dead. But you can save her.. that's what you've all been trying to do, isn't it? Help me with my plan.. and she'll be fine."

"..." Kaito doesn't say anything, he just looks at the closed shutter.

"My plan is to end the killing game. I'm not interested in explaining it all to you. I'm gonna die soon anyway.. I also know about Y/n and Maki.. imagine what Maki would do if she found out you gave up the chance to save her beloved Y/n.. what would everyone think? What's it gonna be? You.. or Y/n?"

"..Damn it.. I swear.. if you do anything to her.."

"So is that a yes? You agree to help me?"

"..Just tell me what to do." Kaito sighs, then Kokichi opens the shutters into the hangar.

The first thing Kaito sees is Y/n lying on the hydraulic press, the metal just a little above her face.

He tries to keep calm, for his sake and her's.

Kokichi explains his plan.. that he's not the mastermind.. everything. He has no choice now. If he doesn't do this.. the killing game will just continue. He can end it all now.. and save Y/n's life.

He takes Y/n out of the press and Kokichi gets in. Once he puts Y/n aside.. he starts recording, then presses the button.. and in an instant.. he's dead. Everything he did.. all of it lead to now.. and he's just.. gone? Just like that.?

Kaito exhales loudly. He just murdered Kokichi. But he has to keep going. He goes down and avoids stepping in the huge puddles of blood leaking from the press, then cuts the wire so that it can't be lifted again.

For the very final part.. he takes Y/n out of the hangar, being extra cautious so that nobody sees him, and puts her down in his dorm.

Perfectly timed, Y/n begins to regain consciousness.

She looks around the room looking baffled, she's sitting on the floor with her back against the wall.. in one of the dorms.?

"What.? What's.. What's going on.?"

"Shh. Don't freak out." Kaito whispers.

She looks down at her stomach and starts to panic a little. "Why am I.!? What's happening.!?"

"I said don't freak out.! It's alright.. I have it all sorted out.. you don't have to worry about anything."

"I'm.. I'm confused.. Why am I in here.!? Where's Kokichi.?"

"He's dead. I killed him."

Y/n doesn't say anything, she just stares at him in surprise.

"I don't have much time.. but just know.. I had to. I did it for everyone.. for everyone's sake. You would've died if I didn't.. you have to understand."

"..I can't believe this.. did you actually.?"

"Yeah. I didn't have a choice.. it was either me or you."

"No.. Kaito.. Why.? You'll get executed.. you'll.. die.."

"I know, Y/n. Shuichi'll figure it out some way or another.. and then everything'll be fine, yeah? I even left clues that I was there."

"No.. No it's not fine.! You're gonna die.! You can't die.!" Y/n starts to cry, a few tears running down her cheeks

"Hey. This is the last time we'll get to talk.. so you can't cry.. I wanna see you smiling."

Y/n pauses for a second. The last time.. ever. She's never going to see Kaito ever again after this. She bursts out into hysterical crying, hardly breathing.

Kaito just pulls her into a hug, she can't hug back as she can't move her hands, but she just sobs into his shoulder.

"If you keep crying like this.. I'll start crying. And Kaito Momota never cries.!" He laughs a little.

Y/n can't even get any words out.

Kaito pulls away from the hug. "Y/n.. just listen for a second.. it's almost morning. I'll have to leave soon."

Y/n just shakes her head.

"I just want to say goodbye, and see you smile one last time."

"..." Y/n stays quiet for a second. "Y-Yeah.. I'm sorry.."

"Don't be sorry. At least you're letting it out, it's better if you cry all the time than to not cry at all."

"I'm sorry for everything. If I wasn't so selfish.. If I had just said yes to Kokichi.. you would've lived.."

"What'd I just say? If I have one final request, it's that you don't blame yourself! Only weak people blame themselves! You hear that?"

"..."

"Y/n, I'm proud of you. You've done a lot for everyone. You even got an emotionless assassin to fall in love with you! Don't ever be sad about this, none of it was your fault, okay? And also, when I'm gone, make sure to keep doing training! You're definitely not ready to go to space!"

Y/n chuckles. "I will. Thank you Kaito. You.. really helped me.. shit, you saved my life. If you have any dying wishes, I'll do it. No matter what it is. Please.. I won't be able to live with myself."

"Then.. I want you to live. There's people out there. I know it, just trust me on that one. I want you to escape with everyone, then find them, and live. Live your lives. But never forget, Kaito Momota! Luminary of the stars!"

"..Okay. I'll do it. I promise."

"Goodbye Y/n. Never forget this!" Kaito stands up, he walks to the door, and just before he leaves, he looks at Y/n, she smiles and nods, then he shuts the door.

As soon as it shuts, she bursts into tears again. She cries for hours.

She even coughed up loads more blood, so much that it covered all her shirt in blood.

How could this happen.? If only she had just said yes to Kokichi. Everything would be different..

Kaito..